In the morning, they were encouraged to use their talents and skills to make a positive impact on the community by participating in politics.
During the day, they learned how to do this from the minds of political leaders and elites.
In between, they talked about the future of the Republican and Democratic parties, built their networking skills, learned how to turn their work into jobs, and got tips for social change.
Welcome to the fifth annual Mid-Atlantic Policy Summit (MAPIS), presented by the Rowan Institute for Social Studies & Citizen (RIPPAC) on August 4. In all, about 130 students participating this summer in politics, government and advocacy descended on Rowan University’s Business Hall for a daylong event designed to develop their skills as they pursue political careers, leadership and government. .
Ben Dworkin, founding director of RIPPAC said, “In a time of partisanship and public hostility with politics, MAPIS stands out as a place where students from across the political spectrum can come together for dialogue. through politics, leadership training and networking,” said Ben Dworkin, founder of RIPPAC.
“These were many of the most talented, hard-working, and ambitious people of their generation. In the next ten years, we will definitely see elected officials, senior government officials, and senior political officials coming from the students who joined us in MAPIS.”
Currently training in six states (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Maryland and Washington D.C.), students attend 48 different colleges and universities, and nine different universities. , in 13 states.
During the morning session, police heard from Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-1) and Matt Denn, former Delaware Attorney General, who gave a speech entitled, “Challenges Facing America and Why Young People Need to Get Involved.”
A spirited networking session — “Your network is worth its weight in gold,” Dworkin told the trainees as he encouraged them to connect with each other — was followed by breakout sessions focused on topics that ranging from the future of the Democratic and Republican parties to discovery. work in Washington, D.C. to use the art of disagreement without disagreement.
The professional dinner, in which the record got “talk shop” and got job tips from 16 different pros, was followed by three different presentations, was followed by three presentations and looking forward to:
MAD Global Strategy founder Mike DuHaime, former political director of the Republican National Committee (“From Intern to Presidential Campaign Management: Lessons from Success in Political Life”);
Demos CEO Tafia Smith Butler, formerly of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (“Driving Social Change”);
And Dworkin (“What’s Next? Turn Your Work into Action.”)
Additional presenters include, among others: Mary Campbell Cruz, Norcross chief of staff; Neil Eicher, health expert and activist; Brendan Gill, an influential political analyst, who ran the campaign for NJ Gov. Phil Murphy and Senator Cory Booker; Seth Hahn, executive director of the NJ Assembly Majority Office; and former political strategist Stacy Schuster, founding executive director of Women for Stronger New Jersey.
Dworkin noted that DuHaime “started as a coach and, 13 years later, was running a presidential campaign.” DuHaime held key positions in the campaigns of President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and many others.
The same can happen to coaches attending the event, Dworkin told the group.
“In 12 years, one of you will be in an elected office,” Dworkin said, adding that statistics show that coaches are hired 60 percent of the time.
“Your practice is a long job interview.”
RIPPAC’s signature event, MAPIS is an example of the center’s mission in action.
“We are committed to the development of workers for democracy and this is a shining example of how we are continuing this goal,” he said.
