The Forum will feature groups convened simultaneously in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks where speakers and scholars will deliver presentations and participants will have opportunities to discuss issues.  Using videoconference and webcast technology, the core of the convocations will be distributed to regional hub communities around the state. The pairing with public radio and public television also will be incorporated into the multimedia-driven dissemination of the proceedings. A key element in the Forum events will be a website that includes multimedia, youth-oriented, collaborative Web 2.0 technology such as blogs, video and audio-sharing, social networking and geoportal capabilities. The interactive website also will help to raise awareness of the events, provide participation details, publicize the policy recommendations that emerge from the activities, and continue the conversation once the structured Forum ends. Prior to the Forum, young Alaskans will be invited to post opinions and comments related to Alaska public policy questions. These posts and the responses to them will help form the topics addressed. The steering committee will work with high school government teachers and university political science professors to encourage participation on site by offering incentives, such as extra credit, for students who post a reply to one of the policy questions or who participate in the Forum.  

The Forum is scheduled for October 4, 2008.

Questions about participation in the Forum can be directed to:
Ian Michael Hebert, Coordinator
Conference of Young Alaskans
Information Insights
450-2487
ian@iialaska.com

http://youngalaskans.org/forum-of-young-alaskans/