Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Supports Rural Student Civic Engagement

Rural schools are at the forefront of civic engagement in rural communities, often serving as polling places, community meeting locations, and educating students about how government works and the role each citizen plays in democracy. This fall, RSC’s Iowa Regional Hub partner Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD) invested in regional schools to deepen their importance as civic institutions. The Get Out The Vote initiative provided small grants to schools to engage in non-partisan voter registration efforts, which is especially important for upperclassmen who may be eligible to vote for the first time in their lives. These grants were awarded to four area high schools: Bellevue Marquette, Edgewood-Colesburg, West Delaware, and Clinton High School.

These grants helped support efforts at each school to engage in voter registration, which included both students eligible to vote in this year’s election and students 17 years of age who will be able to vote in future elections, once they are 18. Funds helped increase turnout and participation in the events by providing snacks, posters, stickers, display information, decorations, and more. Josie Manternach, RSC Iowa Regional Hub Lead and Program Officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, shared the following reflection from one grant recipient: “On behalf of Clinton High School, thank you for allowing us the great opportunity and investing in our voter registration drive yesterday. We had a great turnout for students pledging. We were able to inform the student body of the importance of voting and having their voices heard. It was a great learning experience for all.”