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Washington, District of Columbia 20008
United StatesThis is a campus activist. Ben Smilowitz
based in Washington, DC
cell: 314-761-7631
bensmilowitz@alum.wustl.edu
topics: youth activism, civic engagement, lobbying/organizing training, progressive issue advocacy, civil liberties, student rights/representation, education reform.
Ben began his political activism in elementary school campaigning outside supermarkets with his state senator in his hometown of West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1996, he co-founded the International Student Activism Alliance (ISAA). Ben served as the organization’s leader and helped the ISAA grow to over 180 chapters nationwide before his high school graduation. In 11th grade, Ben won a major legislative victory in Connecticut after leading a yearlong campaign to pass a bill he authored that created seats for two students on the State Board of Education. In 1999, Ben was named as one of Teen People's "20 Teens Who Will Change The World" and was more recently featured in the book, Boys Who Rocked the World.
Ben has helped thousands of young people around the United States realize they have the power to impact change on all levels of government and in their communities. He has been profiled in dozens of news articles, debated his causes in forums ranging from his local school board to live broadcasts on NPR, C-SPAN and CNN and he has published many journal articles and op-eds defending students’ rights and promoting youth involvement on nonprofit and government boards. Ben has also served on a number of Board of Directors including National 4-H Council, Connecticut Voices for Children and the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union.
In 2002, Ben became Missouri Governor Bob Holden's Youth Coordinator and he created and coordinated the groundbreaking Missouri Governor’s Youth Network, Youth Cabinet and Youth Service Council.
In May 2003, Ben graduated from Washington University in St. Louis where he studied political science and nonprofit management. He is now the Education Campaigns Organizer at Campaign for America's FutureAdded on 10-01-2004 Updated on 10-04-2004 |
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