More than 500 DPS high school students will attend a Town Hall Meeting with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 15 at South High School to raise issues ranging from the problems of gangs and racial profiling, to standardized tests in education, same-sex marriages, city curfew and youth employment.

"Given that Denver's youth represent our future, it is wonderful that Denver Student Voices engages them in the issues that affect our community," said Mayor Hickenlooper. "Their early interest in public affairs will help to create a culture of civic engagement that will enhance the decisions that we, as a community, make."

The Town Hall is sponsored by Denver Student Voices, a national civic education initiative of the Annenberg Public Policy Center that works to engage young people in politics and government. Reggie Rivers, Denver Post columnist, PBS talk show host and former Denver Bronco, will moderate the Town Hall Meeting.

Students representing nine different Denver high schools will pose questions to Mayor Hickenlooper on issues facing Denver. The students represent nine Denver public high schools: Abraham Lincoln, Denver School of the Arts, Career Education Center Middle College of Denver, Contemporary Learning Academy, John F. Kenney, Manual, Montbello, South and Thomas Jefferson.

"Young people are concerned about the issues confronting their community, both the local and the global," said Kelly Bovio, Project Manager of Denver Student Voices. "But many are reluctant to speak out because they don't think politicians care about what they have to say. Through their interactions with Denver politicians, like Mayor Hickenlooper, our students come to realize that their opinions count, their ideas matter and they can make a difference, a difference that often begins with their decision to vote for the first time."

The Student Voices Project is a national civic education initiative of the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania, with funding from the Annenberg Foundation. The project works in cities throughout the country to help high school students learn about local political campaigns and ongoing policy issues in order to become more informed and involved citizens. During the Denver mayoral campaign, Student Voices hosted a Candidates forum attended by 600 students and all nine of the mayoral candidates. In its second year in Denver, the project involves over one thousand students, and sixteen teachers in nine Denver high schools.

South High School is located at 1700 E. Louisiana Ave. For more information, contact Veronica Sepsey, 303-571-4343.