Archive for December, 2010

Hi, my name is Eric. After school I followed my dreams to be in a rock band and played bass for The Dismemberment Plan. After years on the road with great musicians like Death Cab for Cutie and Pearl Jam, I put my bass down and became a teacher in the DC public school system.

Recently I joined the staff of Rock the Vote to lead a new high school program called Democracy Class. With this cool lesson on voting, I will be able to reach more than just one classroom but hopefully hundreds of thousands of young people.

In our cash-strapped high schools, students are often taught about government and politics, but not trained in the skills needed to participate in our democracy.

In fact, the top reason that most people don’t vote when they turn 18 is that they didn’t know they had to register to vote, where to do it, and by when.

So, I’m working on a solution – Democracy Class.

Rock the Vote has spent the past year developing (with the help of tons of great students, educators, elections officials, artists, and more) a short program which reviews the history of voting rights, and explains how and why to register and vote. There are videos, music, and mock elections. It’s not your ordinary class. It is a memorable and powerful way to educate high school students on how our democracy works and give them the tools to participate.

And this year, for the holidays, I want as many students as possible to experience Democracy Class in their classroom. I need your help to do it.

Help me give teachers and schools the supplies they need to teach their students about voting. For every $15 we raise, another school will receive a Democracy Class teaching pack! Your contribution can help us give the gift of democracy. Please consider giving today.

You can make a tax-deductible donation HERE.

Thanks and happy holidays.

P.S. My old band is doing a short reunion tour next year – check us out on Jimmy Fallon’s show January 20th.

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