by Lucinda Dugger

There is still time to register for a Web seminar/audioconference on ?Building Public Will: Promoting Citizen Engagement to Improve Your City?s Schools.? The seminar will be held on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m. EDT.

The Web seminar, sponsored by NLC?s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and the National City Network, will highlight cities where mayors are responding to the challenges of improving local public schools by engaging various segments of their communities.

In particular, the seminar will focus on a new series of case studies published by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. The case studies identify promising approaches by mayors and other municipal leaders to effectively mobilize a range of constituencies to support local schools.

The featured speakers will be Michael Grady, deputy director, Annenberg Institute; Marc Hill, director, Mayor?s Office of Children and Youth, Nashville, Tenn.; and Maria Guajardo Lucero, executive director, Mayor?s Office for Education and Children, Denver.

How the Web Seminar Works
This Web seminar/audioconference is free, but it is available only to a limited number of participants. Therefore, advance registration is required by close of business Tuesday, Sept. 19. A separate registration is needed for each Internet connection/phone line that will be used in listening to the call.

The seminar has both an online component and an audio component. Participants will be able to view speaker presentations online while also listening to the presentation via computer speakers or by phone. At least one day prior to the call, each registrant will receive an e-mail providing both the website address needed to access the seminar as well as a toll-free, dial-in phone number for those unable to hear the seminar?s audio component through their computer speakers.

How to Register
To register, e-mail or fax the participant?s name, title, organization, mailing address (including street, city, state and Zip code), telephone number, fax number and e-mail address. No telephone registrations can be accepted. E-mail the contact information to iyef@nlc.org or send it by fax to (202) 626-3043.

Details: For questions regarding the Web seminar/audioconference, leave a detailed message on the information line at (202) 626-3014.

For more information on NLC?s programs to help municipal officials improve public schools, contact Lucinda Dugger at dugger@nlc.org or (202) 626-3052.