Nassau Community College Celebrates Constitution Day

“Be a Changemaker:  Your Right to Petition the Government”

Event Includes Zoom Meetings with Elected Officials and Civic Leaders, an On-Campus Viewing Party for Advocacy Panel & Voter Registration Assistance

September 12, 2023, Garden City, NY - Nassau Community College, five other SUNY institutions, and institutions in the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education will celebrate Constitution Day 2023 with “Be a Changemaker: Your Right to Petition the Government.” The virtual programming will be held on Tuesday, September 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and includes an on-campus student viewing party for the Advocacy Panel from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. and voter registration assistance from 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. on the Nassau Community College campus in the CCB Building, Room 251.

Constitution Day occurs each year on September 17 to commemorate the first signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Although not yet a federal holiday, Constitution Day, previously called Citizenship Day, is now widely recognized by federal agencies and federally funded schools. The 2004 Congressional legislation requires the former to provide employees with educational information about the Constitution, while the latter is required to hold programs for students each September 17. In 2009, President Obama expanded the observance by schools to be week-long, from 9/17-9/23 (Library of Congress Law, www.loc. gov/law). These actions provide citizens and would-be citizens with valuable information about the Constitution, providing opportunities for unity, active citizenship and, for some, a path to citizenship.

This is the second year this “SUNY+” group has organized a Constitution Day virtual event. The group this year includes SUNY Cortland, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Oswego and SUNY Nassau Community College, as well as the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. All participating institutions are holding student-centered educational and participatory discussions to mark the occasion.

“In observance of Constitution Day, Nassau Community College and our SUNY and Massachusetts partners are pleased to present a program where students can engage in democratic processes including advocacy and voter registration. They will have a chance to meet elected officials across party lines and states, and dialogue with them and each other about issues that matter to them and the upcoming election,” said Dr. Susan Cushman, English Department Professor and Chair of Civic Engagement, Nassau Community College.

Programming includes:

• Keynote Address at 10:00 a.m.: "From Student to State Rep: My Advocacy Journey"
  Natalie Higgins, Massachusetts State Rep, will be interviewed by Dr. John Reiff, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s Director of Civic Learning and Civic Engagement.
• Advocacy Panel Discussion:

• Panel 11:30 a.m. - 12: 45 p.m.: Moderated by John Suarez, SUNY Cortland’s Institute for Civic Engagement Coordinator. The panelists will discuss their professional advocacy experiences and best practices for citizen advocacy and lobbying.
  • Adam Saccardi, Director of Constituent Services for State Rep. Nick LaLota of NY Legislative District 1.
  • Frederick Brewington, Esq., a Hempstead, NY-based, nationally known civil rights attorney.
  • Manu Meel, CEO of BridgeUSA, a youth-led 501(c )(3), with chapters in 50+ U.S. colleges and high schools, promoting civic problem-solving across differences.

• Hands-on Advocacy Workshop 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.: Moderated by Dr. Susan Cushman, NCC. Students will work in break-out sessions with facilitators to explore advocacy strategies and state legislation on current issues of interest.
• Voter Registration Rush - 2:30 p.m.: Students who wish to register to vote can do so with help from Ann Paulson, Adelphi University adjunct professor and member of the League of Women Voters of Central Nassau.

Each programming session will include faculty, staff and students from the above-named SUNY campuses, as well as from Massachusetts state colleges. Individuals must register via Zoom for this event REGISTER HERE. After registering, they will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For more information, contact Dr. Susan Cushman, at susan.cushman@ncc.edu.

About Nassau Community College

Nassau Community College, a campus of the State University of New York, provides a comprehensive public college experience designed to transform lives through higher education. Serving 14,000 full-time, part-time and continuing education students, NCC offers more than 80 programs that lead to the associate’s degree or certificate. Through on-campus and online offerings, the College educates local and international students, and boasts 160,000 alumni. Situated on 225 acres in Garden City, Long Island, the college grounds reside in historic Nassau County, one of the most desirable locations to live in the United States and an epicenter for business and careers. Since 1959, NCC has earned a nationwide reputation for academic excellence, affordability, and ease of transferability to four-year schools. 

Media Contact:  Lindsey Angioletti | lindsey.angioletti@ncc.edu | C:  (516) 320-0695

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