Our Blog
Up-to-date information about GC and the broader community we serve.
Jan082018Read More >TEACHER MEETUP SPRING 2018
CALLING ALL GENERATION CITIZEN EDUCATORS JOIN THE MEETUP AND FIND SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHING ACTION CIVICS THIS SEMESTER PURPOSE An Action Civics project can be challenging both for the students and the teacher. It requires a lot of planning and preparation by everyone involved and the implemented lessons and activities are often different than […]
Dec282017Read More >WATCH: GENERATION CITIZEN BY THE NUMBERS 2017
As 2017 comes to a close, we are grateful to Generation Citizen students, teachers, Democracy Coaches, and supporters for another tremendous year of growth and impact. Watch this video to see how many of you helped advance action civics education this year.
Dec242017Read More >We’re Hiring a Program Associate for the Teacher-Led Program
Generation Citizen New York City Program Associate (Teacher-Led) Position Overview Generation Citizen New York City is looking for an exceptional young professional to join our team as New York City Program Associate. The Program Associate will work directly with teachers and youth to support Action Civics programming in New York City classrooms. About Generation Citizen […]
Dec222017Read More >College Ready: Hunter College Democracy Coach Exposes GC Students to University Life
Democracy Coach, April Snape, Shares Her Howard University Experience with Generation Citizen Students Serving as a Generation Citizen Democracy Coach, from the Hunter College Chapter, in the fall of 2017 gave me the platform and voice to not only help students learn the importance of being civically engaged, but to aid them in becoming college-ready. […]
Dec202017Read More >Generation Citizen Launches New Action Civics Programming in San Diego, CA and Camden, NJ
Generation Citizen’s Juanita Montes de Oca, Manager of National Program and Curriculum Development, and Sarah Andes, Director of Programming, with Cooper’s Poynt School teacher Erin Garrity and U.S. Wiggins College Preparatory LAB Family School teacher, Larry Livingston, in Camden, NJ. Generation Citizen Launches New Action Civics Programming in San Diego, CA and Camden, NJ New […]
Dec112017Read More >Kaira Watts-Bey, Generation Citizen Student, Shares Public Testimony on the Importance of Action Civics and Diversity in Schools
On December 7, 2017, Generation Citizen NYC student, Kaira Watts-Bey, submitted public testimony to the New York City Council’s Education Committee. Here she explains her experience in a Generation Citizen class and how it empowered her to address the issue of diversity in New York City public schools. Read on! Testimony by Kaira Watts-Bey […]
Dec082017Read More >Generation Citizen Selected as Grant Recipient by the Texas Bar Foundation
For Immediate Release: Friday, December 8, 2017 Contact: Meredith Norris mnorris@generationcitizen.org 512-914-4812 Generation Citizen Selected as Grant Recipient by the Texas Bar Foundation AUSTIN, TX (December 7, 2017) — The Texas Bar Foundation has selected Generation Citizen as a grant recipient for its work “Growing Young Civic Leaders in Central Texas.” The support […]
Dec072017Read More >What We’re Reading
Every few weeks, GC picks out a selection of articles that are relevant to our work and to the civics education space as a whole. We at GC love to expand our learning in every aspect of what we do, and we hope you enjoy our selections! Don’t Stop the Presses! When Local News Struggles, […]
Dec042017Read More >Carrying Out My Grandpa’s Vision
Carrying Out My Grandpa’s Vision Finding inspiration through a presidential historian’s belief in the citizen By Scott Warren When I tell the origin story of my motivation behind founding Generation Citizen, I talk about growing up abroad as the son of a Foreign Service Officer. I observed democratic elections in Kenya, witnessed a coup in […]
Nov302017Read More >Can Introverts Be Advocates?
Can Introverts Be Advocates? Making space for quiet, reflective types in Action Civics By Caitlin Paul, Director of Programming, Bay Area These are the words that typically come to mind when we talk about great political change-makers, leaders who make their voices heard and accomplish great feats. And none are the words that come to mind […]
- Nov222017Read More >
What We’re Reading
Every few weeks, GC picks out a selection of articles that are relevant to our work and to the civics education space as a whole. We at GC love to expand our learning in every aspect of what we do, and we hope you enjoy our selections! Think Students Won’t Consider Opposite Political Views? Here’s […]
- Nov162017Read More >
Generation Citizen Selected as Partner in National Effort to Strengthen Relationships Across Young People’s Lives
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (November 16, 2017)—Search Institute has selected Generation Citizen to be one of five national partners to co-create and test innovative ways to strengthen the relationships that young people in marginalized communities experience in their schools, programs, and families. Generation Citizen and the Massachusetts site will work with Search Institute to examine young people’s […]
Nov142017Read More >Generation Citizen 2017 Annual Report
We are excited to share our 2017 Annual Report. The report highlights key achievements from the past year, including our new three-year strategic plan, our advocacy work, and the many ways our students have gone Beyond the Ballot, turning political frustration into meaningful, passionate, sustained civic participation. Click here to read on.
Nov132017Read More >Launching Generation Citizen’s 2017–2018 Policy + Advocacy Agenda
Our vision for federal, state, and district policies that will bring Action Civics to every student Generation Citizen’s (GC) policy and advocacy agenda describes our approach to prioritizing Action Civics in federal, state, and district-level policies, laws, education standards, and programming. Our agenda is not intended to serve as a definitive statement to be applied in all communities. […]
Nov072017Read More >A Cycle of Non-Participation: The Breakdown of Our Democracy
A Cycle of Non-Participation: The Breakdown of Our Democracy Our democracy is plagued with non-participation and a large civic engagement gap. What can be done? By Lena Bilik, Generation Citizen Advocacy Fellow It’s election day! And given recent voter turnout rates, it is highly likely you won’t be voting, especially if you are a young, low […]
Nov022017Read More >Taking Action on Gun Violence
Taking Action on Gun Violence: GC student reflects on how an effective civics education can make a difference and prevent issues within a community By Julian Viviescas, Generation Citizen Student Leadership Board member The incident that recently took place in Las Vegas which took over 55 lives still hurts the families of the victims, the city, and the […]
- Nov022017Read More >
Radeha Haque, Generation Citizen Alumna, Shares Public Testimony on the Importance of Action Civics Education
On October 29, 2017, Generation Citizen NYC alumna, Radeha Haque, submitted public testimony to the New York City Council’s Education Committee. Here she explains her experience in a Generation Citizen class and how it empowered her to address situations of bullying and discrimination. Read on! Testimony by Radeha Haque 9th Grade Student at […]
- Nov022017Read More >
Testimony to the New York City Council Education Committee
On October 29, 2017, Generation Citizen NYC Executive Director, DeNora Getachew, submitted public testimony to the New York City Council’s Education Committee during the Oversight Hearing re: the DOE’s Response to Incidents of Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination in NYC Schools and Efforts to Improve School Climate. Here she explains the role of Action Civics in effectively […]
- Feb112015Read More >
Welcome to Our Newest Intern, Gabrielle!
Hi! My name is Gabrielle Aaron. I am a student at Washington University in St. Louis, not to be confused with Washington University in Washington—I promise this one is in Missouri. I am studying Psychology, Marketing and Children’s Studies. If you ask how they all go together, the answer is simply that these topics all […]
- Feb112015Read More >
Swimming Like a Duck
By Scott Warren I’ve always had a weird admiration for ducks. When I was younger, my grandparents lived steps away from a pond filled with ducks. I used to visit it frequently, illegally feeding them breadcrumbs, searching for ducklings, watching them swim. It’s a little cliché, but one of the most fascinating aspects […]
- Feb112015Read More >
Teach Young People About Civic Duties
By Rep. Javier Martinez / Democrat, Albuquerque and Scott Warren / Executive Director, Generation Citizen. Published by Albuquerque Journal New Mexico’s high school students spend a lot of time at school. Approximately 140 hours per month, not counting extracurricular activities. How this time is structured, financed and spent is decided by a governing school board, […]
- Feb092015Read More >
Welcome to our Newest Intern, Admera!
Hi everyone, my name is Admera Khan and I am a transfer from Syracuse University studying the best two combinations, which I consider to be Politics and Spanish at NYU. I am currently a sophomore pretending to be a “real New Yorker” by living the life of a student/intern who thinks they understand how to […]
- Feb252014Read More >
To Change the Status Quo, We Need to Change Who’s in Charge
It’s often said that those in social change work are “trying to change the status quo.” It’s why we do the work. We live in a country in which the vast majority of the population lives paycheck to paycheck, if a paycheck even exists. And so, as we build our organizations, whether engaging in direct […]
- Nov252013Read More >
2012-2013 Annual Report
We are extremely excited to share our Generation Citizen 2012-2013 Annual Report. Click here to download our PDF and read below for an introductory letter from Executive Director, Scott Warren. Dear Friends, It would be a little bit trite to say that Generation Citizen is in the midst of finishing an incredibly busy year. Over […]
- Oct242013Read More >
An Open Letter to Democracy Coaches…
Dear Exhausted-But-Diligent Democracy Coach, I know. I get it. I remember waking up in a dark room, rising before the sun did. My roommate groaning at my blaring alarm, crawling deeper under his covers as I eat my Cinnamon Toast Crunch and review the day’s lesson plan. My eyes mere slits until I get my […]
- Aug092013Read More >
Bridging The Gap: An Intern’s Perspective
Going to an independent, all-girls school in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I have been indoctrinated to believe that youth, specifically young women, play an integral role in the communities where we live and study. Ask any of my fellow seniors about their community involvement and they will retort with a lengthy enumeration of activities. It […]
- Aug052013Read More >
Direct Democracy in California: Meaningful Civic Engagement?
Before I moved here, all I really knew of Golden State politics was Arnold Schwarzenegger, marijuana and Proposition 8. In my first semester as a graduate student at Cal’s Goldman School of Public Policy, my understanding of the political landscape—specifically the effects of direct democracy—increased immensely. I worked with a group of my classmates to […]
- Jul312013Read More >
Can Philanthropy Save our Educational System?
Peter Buffet’s recent op-ed, “The Charitable Industrial Complex”, has been rocking the interwebs since its publication Saturday. His basic but harsh argument, that philanthropy is essentially preserving the status quo while causing small blips of success that allow the wealthy to feel “heroic,” has some people praising him for finally speaking truth to power, while others […]
- Jul252013Read More >
Gee(k), I love politics!
“I’msuchahugefan! It’ssonicetomeetyou! I’vebeenafanofyourclimatepolicyforsolong! MayIbeacompletedorkandgetaphotowithyou?” As I gushed, I’m pretty sure it all came out in one long word. Senate Candidate Ed Markey was very kind, saying it was nice to meet me too, and obliged me with a picture. After the fact, Christina, our New Sector Fellow in the office this summer, assured me that […]
- Jul252013Read More >
Introduction from RI Program Associate
My name is Emily Flower and I’m joining Generation Citizen as the Rhode Island Program Associate. From a young age I was surrounded by civic influences. I woke up early everyday to watch a re-run of The West Wing with my dad before work and would follow my mom to community meetings after school. The […]
- Jun212013Read More >
Let’s Go Chasing Waterfalls
I’ve been on “vacation” in Ecuador almost two weeks now, and it’s largely been great. I’ve been able to do a ton of hiking, some horseback riding, some rafting, and some reading. But along the way, I have not done a great job of letting go of work. At all. Part of this is that […]
- Jun132013Read More >
Let’s Have an Identity Crisis
In the midst of a trip throughout Ecuador, re-connecting with the country where I graduated high school, I had the opportunity yesterday to speak at my high school, Academia Cotopaxi, addressing a mix of 6th-10th graders. My speech consisted of two main themes. The first focused on Generation Citizen – the reason I created it […]
- May162013Read More >
Being a Good Citizen…and a Good Person
Fron a speech I gave at this year’s Civics Days: My speech today was going to be about the theme of Generation Citizen, the notion of being an active citizen. The notion of working in your communities, using the democratic process, to make change. To make things better. This, after all, is what you did […]
- Apr252013Read More >
My Obsession With The West Wing
I was biting my nails to see if President Bartlet would run for a second term or not. I cling to each word of Sam Seaborn’s speeches. I am definitely a Josh Lyman and Donna Moss fan. I am with CJ Cregg each time she steps up in front of the press corps. I did all of these […]
Apr222013Read More >Redefining American Power
One of the most fun parts about traveling, for me, is learning about other nations’ image of the United States. They range from the amusing (nobody uses plastic bags for grocery shopping, only blank brown paper bags) to the alarming (nearly everybody in Texas walks around with a gun in his or her back pocket). […]
- Apr192013Read More >
Boston is not Powerless
Everyone in Boston feels pretty powerless right now. We are stuck inside our homes. We can’t take the T. We can’t go to work. We can’t get a coffee. We don’t know if we are safe. As the Boston manager of an organization that specializes in empowering the powerless, I have a few thoughts about our powerlessness […]