South Dakota Issues Forums (SDIF)

Public deliberation on policy issues

Center For Civic Participation & Leadership (CCPL)

Group discussions on public policy & community development

South Dakota Public Policy Institute (SDPPI)

Training on deliberative democracy and issue framing

Institute for Educational Leadership & Evaluation (IELE)

Independent Program Evaluation and Research

Kids Voting South Dakota (KVSD)

K-12 civic education curriculum

Institute for South Dakota Leadership & Participation (SDLP)

State independent think tank for local and public policy

Safe Kids Project (SKP)

An initiative to eliminate abuse and violence in a child’s environment

Rapid City Character Counts Project (CC)

Help build the character of the next generation ...one child...one teenager...one parent...one teacher...one coach...one person at a time.

	UPCOMING EVENTS OUR PROJECTS ABOUT US PUBLICATIONS DONATIONS QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER SUPPORTERS & ASSOCIATES LINKS CONTACT US HOME   2008 South Dakota Youth Congress: The US Congress and State Legislature Responding to Youth Issues The University of South Dakota campus July 23 - 25, 2008 The South Dakota Youth Congress is an annual roundtable conference for high school juniors and seniors. Some 35 student leaders participate in this intensive youth leadership experience where they deliberate a topic, decide what the opportunities, concerns or barriers are and then make recommendations to state decision makers. The 2008 South Dakota Youth Congress will focus on how the U.S. Congress and South Dakota State Legislature reponds to youth issues and how citizens can participate in making changes for the betterment of state and federal government. Click Here for more Information Next Event	The Chiesman Foundation For Democracy is a private nonpartisan operating organization that serves as a space and channel to provide greater awareness of the meaning of democracy and the importance of all citizens to be active participants in the democratic process.
		RAPID CITY (Main Office) 1641 Deadwood Ave. Rapid City, SD 57702 605-341-4311 • Fax: 605-341-3902 E-Mail: Info@chiesman.org Contact Person: Dr. John J. Usera PIERRE 306 East Capitol Ave., Ste. 20 Pierre, SD 57501 605-224-9286 • Fax: 605-224-9325 E-Mail: kvsd@usdemocracy.org Contact Person: Patty Pearson SIOUX FALLS 1000 N. West Avenue, Suite 200 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 605-2754878 • Fax: 605-275-4879 E-Mail: tmuenster@chiesman.org Contact Person: Ted Muenster, J.D.