Nearly 300 ACLU of Illinois members and supporters from every corner of Illinois will convene in Champaign on Saturday, April 22nd to explore organized efforts to increase citizen participation at all levels of government. The summit, entitled Defending Democracy in Our America, features discussions and innovations that allow individuals concerned with protecting constitutional values to become more involved in the process of policy-making. The event marks the second consecutive year that the ACLU of Illinois - the state's largest and most influential civil rights and civil liberties organization - has hosted a large membership event in Champaign.

For pictures of the event and to download materials, please visit http://www.aclu-il.org/conference/.

"We believe the best way to protect basic constitutional values is to encourage an informed, prepared citizenry to participate in government," said ACLU of Illinois Executive Director Colleen Connell in advance of the Summit. "This event provides an opportunity to organize at the local level and share plans for not only involving ourselves more in the electoral system, but also encourage others to participate. From voting to attending public meetings to visiting political leaders, attendees will discuss ways that those of us concerned about abridgements of basic constitutional rights to turn concern and angst into anger."

The ACLU Summit convenes at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 22nd, in the White Oaks Ballroom at the Hawthorn Suites and Convention Center in Champaign. The opening session features a keynote address by University of Illinois Communications Department Professor Bruce Williams, who will discuss the fate of civil liberties and constitutional rights in the "new media environment." Assistant Professor Amy Gajda, of the School of Law and Journalism Department at the University of Illinois, will deliver remarks at lunch discussing the way in which law today defines journalism. Another session will focus ways to use the media - including the use of web logs - to advance concerns about constitutional issues. That panel will include Steve Fast and Beth Whisman, co-hosts of "The Drive" afternoon radio program at WJBC in Bloomington, and Jim Leach, radio talk show host at WMAY radio in Springfield and author of AbeLog - an on-line political journal.

A set of substantive discussion sessions will focus on specific areas that can increase civic participation, including: Registering to vote; Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act; Poll Watching and new Voter Technology; and, Attending and Addressing Public Meetings.

"We have a great line up of speakers to share their expertise with our members," added Connell. "Using this information, I believe that we will see more active, more involved, more visible members of the ACLU of Illinois across the state in years ahead."