Murray State is hosting a roundtable discussion with Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. Grimes recently kicked off the inaugural Civic Health Initiative, a statewide series of roundtable discussions at Kentucky’s universities and colleges to improve Kentucky’s overall civic health.
Grimes kicks off her University visit at 11 a.m. on Jan. 31, in the Curris Center Theater.
Grimes will be just one of many state representatives to sit on a panel discussion with students, faculty, staff and community members interested in the civic health of the Bluegrass. She said she is eager to talk with students and community members to better understand possible strategies for increasing engagement, volunteerism and voting.
“Earlier this year, my office released Kentucky’s first ever Civic Health Index, which unfortunately shows that civic engagement in Kentucky is generally declining,” Grimes said. “As the Commonwealth’s chief advocate for civic engagement, reversing that trend is a priority.
By involving students at the state’s higher learning institutions, Grimes hopes to inspire and enlighten future leaders to more effective steps in civic engagement.
“Kentucky is at its best when everyone is engaged,” she said. “The Civic Health Initiative is the first step toward establishing new partnerships and formulating fresh strategies that will bridge existing participation gaps.”
President Randy Dunn will be taking part in the roundtable discussion. Dunn said he was happy to host the Secretary of State in this necessary discussion for Kentucky’s future.
“Students are and will continue to be faced with a polarized political climate, both regionally and nationally,” Dunn said. “By engaging in civic education and active involvement, they accept the charge of Americans to be informed citizens. It doesn’t matter what field they’ll study or what job they acquire, a foundation in your community’s civic health is a must for a successful future.”