Gore, Alexander to host conference

Former Vice President Al Gore and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander will conduct a daylong bipartisan workshop this summer at Vanderbilt for young Tennesseans and other young Americans on citizenship, political advocacy and grassroots civic involvement.

Gore

The session, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 11, will bring together young people from around Tennessee and other states, with the goal of increasing involvement in the electoral process by young people in both major parties.

"The issue of citizen engagement in the political process is essential for the future of our democracy, and Vice President Gore and Gov. Alexander are uniquely qualified to start a bipartisan dialogue," said Chancellor Gordon Gee. "We are proud to welcome back two members of the Vanderbilt family for such an important event."

Alexander

Gore and Alexander each have longstanding ties to Vanderbilt. Gore attended the Graduate School in 19711972 and the Law School from 19741976, when he left to run for Congress. Gore and his wife, Tipper -- an alumna of Peabody College -- have participated in Family Re-Union in each of the nine years since its inception. Family Re-Union has been held at Vanderbilt since 1997. Gore's mother, Pauline, was the 10th woman to graduate from Vanderbilt Law School, and the only female in the Class of 1936.

Alexander graduated from the College of Arts and Science in 1962, and served as the editor of the student paper, the Vanderbilt Hustler.

Former Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chip Saltsman and Gore's former Tennessee State Director Mark McNeely will coordinatethe conference.

The attendees will be invited based on their interest, experience and potential as well as their desire to learn how to become more actively and productively involved in the electoral process.

The session will focus on the need to combine knowledge of the nuts and bolts of party organizing with civility and respect for differences of opinion and ideology.

Alexander and Gore will both personally participate, along with experienced grassroots organizers.

The session will include Democrats, Republicans and others interested in the improvement of democracy in America and the greater involvement of young people in the political process.