Stevenson High Students To Participate in ACLU Summer Institute In Washington, D.C.

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL — Two local residents are joining nearly 900 high school students from across the country in a special program in Washington, D.C. this month. Sandhya Veerabahu and Vivek Rivera, students at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, were chosen as part of the American Civil Liberties Union's annual Summer Advocacy Institute.

According to the ACLU, the program is intended to give students the tools they need to engage in their communities on issues around civil liberties and civil rights. Participants will receive first-hand experience from lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts dedicated to defending these constitutional rights.

In July, participating students will engage with lawyers and political activists "to build expertise and knowledge in advocacy, including issues such as criminal justice reform, voting rights, and religious freedom; participate in debates; and develop successful media and social networking strategies, all while observing policy development on Capitol Hill," the ACLU said. The students will also take part in a day of action during the Institute. They will take to the steps of the Capitol at the end of the week to advocate for their First Amendment rights.