10/29/03

10/29/03 NORTHWESTERN LAW ADOPTS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL

Northwestern University School of Law is adopting Talcott Elementary School in West Town as part of an educational partnership with Chicago Public Schools’ Futures Exchange Program.

The partnership kicks off with members of the School of Law participating in the CPS “Principal for a Day” event on Oct. 29. Participants will include Kalli Hilbrenner, director of firm and corporate relations; Maureen Stratton, public service coordinator; and Susan Huang '05, president of the Student Effort to Rejuvenate Volunteering (SERV) student organization.

On Oct.31 SERV volunteers will participate in Talcott's Halloween celebration by dressing in costumes and visiting classrooms to distribute treat bags to students. Talcott Elementary serves a mostly low-income, Latino student population, 30 percent of whom have limited English skills.

SERV has initiated this project as part of the School of Law’s Public Service Program, designed to encourage students to understand the importance of giving back to their communities. Law students perform a minimum of 40 hours of public service prior to graduation. The service must be carried out during the school year without compensation or academic credit.

“We are trying to foster a culture in which all our students desire to give back to the community and understand the importance of doing so in a variety of ways,” said David Van Zandt, professor of law and dean of Northwestern University School of Law. “Our students are broadening the definition of public service beyond legal work to include work in community organizations, government agencies, and a wide variety of non-profit organizations.”

SERV will work with Stratton to plan additional events with Talcott Elementary throughout the year. Upcoming events include a pen pal program to help students improve their writing skills, lessons from the Constitutional Rights Foundation teaching students about the U.S. legal system, and a tutoring program for eighth graders studying for the Constitution test in spring. Talcott students will also be invited to the law school to participate in a mock trial of Goldilocks for breaking and entering the home of the Three Bears.

For more information, please contact Maureen Stratton.