The LEX Program at Exchange City on May 1st with Attorney General Lisa Madigan as our Honorary Chairman is an amazing first-time event in Chicago where major law firms and individual lawyers have stepped up to provide sponsorship dollars through the Experiencia Immersive Education Foundation to selected schools which they have "adopted" so that thousands of students who might not otherwise have been able to take advantage of the amazing Exchange City program can attend this year.
LINKS: (You can also click on the title to this post to see Lisa Madigan segment)
Lisa Madigan:
http://mfile.akamai.com/21867/wmv/cmfour.download.akamai.com/21880//wm.communications-four/7277Tullman/LisMadigan.asx
Howard Tullman:
http://mfile.akamai.com/21867/wmv/cmfour.download.akamai.com/21880//wm.communications-four/7277Tullman/HTullman.asx
We have had great support from CPS and our schools, from Lisa Madigan and her staff, of course, from our favorite U.S. Senator who still pays attention to his constituents, from many law firms including those who committed for next year's program as well, and from the non-stop efforts of our Experiencia team headed by Barbara Pollack and Christina Sirtak who simply can't take "no" for an answer when it means that CPS students will lose out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like Exchange City. Elaine Mondschein, Elizabeth Stamberger and Jannette Rho were also instrumental in helping to line up partner schools and other participants. And no one shuffled more papers and took more phone calls effortlessly than Claire Plowgian, my administrative assistant and resident linguist.
First order of business was the presentation to Attorney General Lisa Madigan of her own key to Exchange City.
LETTER TO EXPERIENCIA FROM THE HONORABLE RICHARD J. DURBIN - U.S. SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS
May 1, 2007
Dear Friends:
Greetings! I am pleased to welcome you all to the annual "Law Day USA" celebration. Gathered here today are those for whom the message of "Law Day USA" - Justice, Liberty, and empowerment - strongIy resonates, from the architects of the law to the stewards of American freedom.
Established in 1958 by President Eisenhower, "Law Day USA" celebrates American liberty, bringing attention to the way in which the laws of the United States - with their recognition of equality as a guiding principle - shape the American experience. This year, "Law Day USA" recognizes the importance of listening to the voices of young people to better ensure that the law serves their interests.
This year's "Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy" theme also seeks to instill in the young a respect for and awareness of the way in which the law of the United States shapes their experiences.
It is with this theme of youth outreach in mind that Experiencia, Inc. created the "LEX" program. The LEX program endeavors to teach students about the importance of America's democratic framework and systems, such as laws, elections, and other aspects of American life that are a testament to the unique character of our democracy.
Illinois' Attorney General, the Honorable Lisa Madigan, will be the Law Day Honorary Chairperson celebrating Experiencia's LEX program, and will acknowledge the many firms and interests that made this program possible.
Again, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all "Law Day USA" attendees. I wish you best of luck in all your future efforts.
Very truIy yours,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
EXPERIENCIA AND ATTORNEY GENERAL LISA MADIGAN TEAM UP WITH CHICAGO LAW FIRMS FOR LAW DAY 2007
Law Day Is May 1, 2007 With A Theme Of “Empowering Youth”
CHICAGO – In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of the Law Day 2007 theme, “Empowering Youth,” Attorney General Lisa Madigan has agreed to be Honorary Chair for Experiencia Inc.’s ® special Law Day Program “LEX” (which means law in Latin). As part of “LEX,” Experiencia's Chairman, Howard A. Tullman and Madigan are urging area law firms to help sponsor and select individual neighborhood Chicago Public Schools so that they may participate in Experiencia’s Exchange City® Immersive Learning® Program.
Law Day is an annual event held May 1 to expand awareness of how laws and the justice system affect our lives. The 2007 theme of Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy addresses the needs of youth and focuses on the issues facing young people today. The “LEX” Program seeks Chicago law firms who will contribute a donation of $3,500 to provide scholarships for the attendance and participation of over 100 CPS students at Exchange City.
“Nothing is more necessary, or more rewarding, than reaching out to our nation’s youth” said 2007 Law Day Chair, Judith S. Kaye. “Surely we have the skills, the resources, and the will to help empower youth, assuring their future as well as ours.”
Experiencia, Inc. has developed a program which offers a concrete and meaningful way for law firms to assist 5th and 6th and 7th graders from local Chicago Public Schools this year in the Exchange City Immersive Learning Program.
With Mayor Daley’s support and encouragement, Experiencia has built a new 25,000 square foot Immersive Learning Center in downtown Chicago, where they expect to have over 30,000 Chicago Public School students per year come to “run” their own realistic mini-city, after studying a proprietary curriculum with their own teachers in their own classrooms for about 40 hours. This proven curriculum is based on state and national classroom curriculum standards for government, economics, math, social studies and entrepreneur studies.
During their much anticipated visit to Exchange City, students manage and apply important concepts and skills, as they are challenged by real-life business and governmental issues. They use state-of-the-art technologies and equipment in a realistic environment, where they write and enforce laws for their city and take on roles as consumers, business owners, police officers, a judge and even the city’s mayor. They run their own LaSalle branch bank, publish their own newspaper, maintain retail shops with consumer services and products, learn about supply and demand, write resumes and deliver the mail. The students even film their own WTTW TV broadcasts and create a DVD of the day’s events.
Over 5,000 Chicagoland students have already taken advantage of this new, uniquely effective learning environment since it opened last May with extraordinary results and proven benefits in improving essential skills. However, not every CPS school can afford to have its students participate in the 8 week program without some additional financial assistance. This is where the law firms will join many other Chicago businesses and make a HUGE difference by giving something back to our City’s youth. “The Experiencia Exchange City program provides a wonderful opportunity for CPS students to put what they learn into action,” Attorney General Madigan said. “With the help of many law firms, CPS students from all over Chicago can have this learning experience.”
The Exchange City Program is approved, supported and endorsed by the Mayor’s Office and by Arne Duncan, Chicago Public Schools CEO, as well as teachers, principals, parents and students throughout Chicago. As Arne Duncan said recently:
“I think it lets them know what they can accomplish, what they can become, and what it takes to get there. I think so often students don’t understand why what they learn in school is important to their long-term future. This makes it real in a very hands-on manner.”
Each contribution to the Experiencia Immersive Education Foundation will be fully tax-deductible. Experiencia Immersive Education Foundation is a duly-registered a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Full credit, acknowledgements and thank you notes from the schools and the students will be provided to each participating firm.
Law firms requesting more information about participating in the Experiencia’s Law Day Program “LEX,” should contact Christina Sirtak at 312.733.5400. More information about Experiencia, Camp Programs and video clips from Exchange City and additional Programs are available at www.experiencia-world.com.
# # #
Media Note: On May 1st, Law Day, 2007, a celebration ceremony for participating law firms of the “LEX” Program will be held at 10:30 AM at Experiencia’s Exchange City, 770 North Halsted. The media is invited to attend. For more information, please contact Julie Rusin at 773-244-3776 or Christina Sirtak at 312.733.5400.
