James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2014 | Page 11

CENTER

FOR THE

CONSTITUTION

STRATEGIC PLANNING SUMMIT WITH

JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR
O

n November 3 and 4, 2013,
the Robert H. Smith Center for
the Constitution at James Madison’s
Montpelier hosted a strategic planning
summit with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor,
her iCivics organization, university
presidents, and thought leaders from
across the nation. Participants discussed
how technology can be used to reach both
young and adult learners with the goal
of inspiring them to be active, engaged
citizens.
Justice O’Connor reminded the group
that civic knowledge is not something
you are born with. It must be taught to
each generation. Through iCivics, an
organization Justice O’Connor founded
in 2009 to reverse Americans’ declining
civic knowledge and participation, she has
been a committed leader and advocate
dedicated to teaching the next generation
to understand and respect our system of
governance.
Montpelier, working in collaboration
with non-profit, for-profit, and government
partners, plans to take a prominent role in
refining the summit’s vision in the years to
come. Montpelier’s Robert H. Smith Center
for the Constitution has demonstrated its
handle on web-based technology with its
online courses for adult professionals.
The Constitutional Foundations and
Constitutional Amendment: the Bill of
Rights online courses are free and open
to the public. The Center has worked with
over 18,000 people from all 50 states
and mor