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.
 
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.
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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.