FAQs

image41

How is 1st A-1st V, Inc funded?

  • Private Foundations
  • Publicly-funded Grants & Underwriting
  • Corporate & Individual Contributions
  • NYS BOCES Co-Ser Program Eligibility
  • In-kind Donations

What's the demographic comprising the 2020 cohort?

Total Students: 120 

  • New York State regions served: CNY, WNY, Rochester-area, Southern Tier
  • Priority: 10th & 11th graders representing a diverse student population

How many students can participate from each high school?

  • 5 girls per high school 

What does the program cost per student?

  • $504

Is there a cost to school districts for participation?

- 50% of program cost/student covered by 1st Amendment-1st Vote, Inc

- Districts participating via a BOCES CoSer program: depends on aid ratio; cost

  gap covered by 1st A-1st V, Inc

- Student transportation to/from program venues

- Staff substitute per diem for chaperone release time

- NO COST to participating students and their families

How are students recruited for program participation?

Each high school recruits and selects participants. 

1st A-1st V recommends a diverse group of students who:

  • demonstrate leadership, in some way.
  • demonstrate positive, personal characteristics that are representative of her high school.

What are required program dates & components for students and chaperone?

  • Program covers a calendar year
  • 30 minute in-school orientation meeting with program facilitator (prior to Seminar)
  • Full-day instructional SEMINAR (off-site, Feb, March or April)
  • FIELD TRIP: historic Seneca Falls, Birthplace of Women's Rights in America (Sept)
  • Two-day LEADERSHIP ACTION SUMMIT (October/venue TBD; overnight stay in Buffalo-area)

Does student participation require time away from school?

YES, including one overnight stay in Buffalo area in October. See above for

expected attendance.

Does the program align with NYS Standards/Themes?

NYS Social Studies Standards address: Foundations of American Democracy; Civil Rights and Civil Liberties; Rights, Responsibilities and Duties of Citizenship; Political and Civic Participation; and, Public Policy....all of which are built into 1st Amendment-1st Vote's program content. Program content is presented via the instructional SEMINAR, FIELD TRIP visit to Historic Seneca Falls, and Leadership ACTION Summit where students finalize and present their school-level ACTION PLAN for REAL CHANGE in their home schools; and, engage in a simulation addressing strategic campaign roles for a local elected office including the "candidate's" 3-minute stump speech focusing on a local environmental or civic rights "hot button" issue. 

Are there follow-up opportunities for participants?

YES...opportunities may vary from year-to-year, such as:

  • Serve on 1st Amendment-1 st Vote, Inc Board of Directors as its student representative
  • Serve a volunteer internship at Women's Rights National Historical Park or Erie County Commission on the Status of Women, or other related affiliation
  • Recruit one classmate for following year's program...and/or serve as a program presenter
  • Volunteer in her community on a Presidential, Congressional or local candidate's 2020 campaign
  • Program Ambassador