“Making Community Decisions About Alabama’s Dropout Situation”

On Wednesday, June 22, from 9:00 a.m to 2 p.m., the David Mathews Center for Civic Life will host a unique, free event entitled “Making Community Decisions About Alabama’s Dropout Situation” at Auburn University Montgomery’s Taylor Center for citizens interested in creating and sustaining more effective civic engagement in local communities on the issue of high school dropouts.

Participants will learn what Alabamians are thinking and doing about the dropout situation in their local communities through a report on the Mathews Center’s program Alabama Issues Forums, which has included more than 700 citizens in over 30 forums around the state to date. Participants will also have an opportunity to learn about successful local programs through a fast-paced learning exchange. Dr. Tommy Bice, Deputy State Superintendent of Education, will speak during lunch.

“Education is not just a school issue; it’s a community issue,” says Chris McCauley, Director of Operations for the Mathews Center. “We won’t have the educational outcomes we want until we have the communities we need. Citizens are making decisions about how to make education truly ‘public,’ where all the resources in a community are used to their full potential, and this event will provide an opportunity for citizens to reflect on their work, share their experiences with others, and determine what future actions need to take place.”