GenerationNation

What does civic learning look like in NC? Many things, including: ?K-12 students learning first-hand how their local and state governments work ?Children beginning to learn about and engaging in their communities ?Lawyers helping teens learn about the legal system and careers ?Field trips enabling students (and teachers) to explore their communities and state ?Youth councils advising officials and serving in their communities ?Mock trials in real courthouses and courtrooms ?Young people engaging in civic problem-solving ?Mock elections where students can build voting skills and make their voices heard ?Professional civics educators learning and collaborating ?Youth building their civic leadership networks and expertise And more! Who makes civic learning happen? ?Amazing civic education providers across NC, the NC3 members: Carolina K-12 , Center for Civic Education, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Courts4Civics, Facing History & Ourselves, GenerationNation, Tarheel Girls State, 4H KV Durham, LWV NC, Learning Happens Here at North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, North Carolina Bar Foundation, NORTH CAROLINA COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES INC, North Carolina General Assembly Youth Legislative Assembly, YMCA Youth and Government NC Happy #civiclearningweek !

High school student leaders Zahara Mushinge and April Alonso write about the importance K-12 civic literacy…and recommendations for prioritizing it in NC. VA, FL, GA, TN and other states invest in preparing our state’s young civic leaders. Will NC? https://lnkd.in/ek4zTnX7 #civiclearningweek

I’m incredibly honored to publish my first article alongside my colleague April Alonso: “Civic Learning Week: Students Ask Leaders to Promote Civic Literacy.” Civic education is the backbone of our democracy—yet it’s severely underfunded. In our latest piece for EducationNC, April and I highlight the urgent need for investment in civic literacy. Right now, STEM receives $50 per student, while civic education? Just 5 cents. In North Carolina, K-12 civic education gets zero dollars in state funding. If we want informed, engaged leaders for the future, that needs to change. More funding. More opportunities. More youth voices at the table. ?? Read our article here: https://lnkd.in/eHpcnEdk Huge thanks to GenerationNation for continuously amplifying youth voices and ensuring young people are at the center of these critical conversations. It’s time to make civic education a priority. Who’s with me? ?? #CivicLearning #FutureLeaders #EducationMatters #CivicEngagement

Happy Civic Learning Week, North Carolina! Shout out to all the amazing educators who help students learn about and get involved in civics, government, and leadership! Thank you Governor Stein for helping us to highlight and celebrate civic education across the Tarheel State! GenerationNation is proud to partner with iCivics to be a National Civic Learning Week Champion, with our NC Civics Coalition leading NC efforts as a state ambassador. Learn about Civic Learning Week at www.civiclearningweek.org Find NC Civic Learning Week resources at https://lnkd.in/ediFjVpZ #civiclearningweek

Young people are often neglected in a fundamental aspect of democracy: the exchange of ideas and policy decision-making at the local level. Youth are disadvantaged because they cannot vote until they are eighteen, and many move for the first time around that age, and then move several more times as they pursue college or a career. The "moving years" mean that local decision-makers do not have consistent access to an exchange of ideas with this age demographic. ?? ?? I applaud the City of Charlotte for wanting to learn more about young peoples' perceptions and ideas about how they would like to be more involved in city government. The city already has many beneficial youth programs, including employment training and opportunities, civic engagement through GenerationNation, and housing, but the city is not sitting on its laurels. Leaders recognize that building youth agency is a multifaceted, multi-generational process that benefits the local community. ?? Since December I have been facilitating Co-Creating Our City https://lnkd.in/eaJSFCj3 in Charlotte, NC, while partners in Duesseldorf, Germany are implementing the same project. It is organized through German Marshall Fund of the United States and dpart - research for political participation. I work with a group of youth co-researchers and city of Charlotte employees using principles of Citizen Science to learn what opportunities and communication strategies youth seek in Charlotte. We have developed research knowledge and skills and are now developing three research instruments: one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and a survey tool, to determine Charlotte youth perceptions of civic agency and their aspirations regarding engagement with the city. Most excitingly, German youth will visit Charlotte in April to exchange information and ideas about their respective projects and findings.? ?? The young people I am working with are extraordinary. They are developing their research skills on nights and weekends outside of school hours. They share a strong desire to belong deeply to their community. And a desire to get through the "moving years" and come back to a city where they can flourish and where perhaps one day their families can flourish too. ?? A big thank you to all Citizen Scientists in this project! Our donor and partner, The Gambrell Foundation, shares our big aspirations for youth in our community. We want to help build a city where young people feel that they belong and where they have opportunities to thrive and have a great life. We strive to build a place where young people feel empowered to make a lasting impact on their community and where they can use their knowledge and skills to help democracy grow. ??

Join us on March 12 at 5:30PM for a youth-led forum with the state’s top K-12 education decision-makers. Topics include civic literacy, leadership, and K-12 education in North Carolina. The forum is hosted by NC Civics Coalition with GenerationNation as part of Civic Learning Week 2025. #civiclearningweek

Our statewide initiative, NC Civics Coalition, continues to grow! Welcoming 3 new member organizations this month: Carolina K-12, Center for Civic Education, and Facing History and Ourselves. Together, we are working to strengthen and advance K-12 civic education across the Tarheel State!

Congrats CMS SGA grant recipients: student governments at Ardrey Kell, CEECTEC, CPCC Early, Garinger, Harding, Hawthorne, Hopewell, Independence, Levine, Merancas, and West Charlotte! GenerationNation is awarding each of these student governments $250 to help student leaders innovate and solve problems! Projects ahead include campus improvements, engaging students in dialogue and decision-making, supporting students with disabilities, recognizing student leaders, connecting students and alumni, and more. Can’t wait to see how your projects take shape over the next few weeks!

We love partnering with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to educate, engage, and inspire students to be leaders!

Charlotte-Mecklenburg HS student governments: here’s a mini-grant opportunity for you! Apply now for the Winter 2025 grant to fund an innovative project or idea at your school that does one or more of the following: *Increase student voice connected to policy and decision-making at your school *Improve or beautify the school’s campus, especially areas viewed or enjoyed by students, teachers, and the public (for example, the front of your school) *Connect your school with and/or benefit the immediate neighborhoods/communities where your school is located *Problem-solve an issue impacting your school or the nearby neighborhoods/community Apply now: https://lnkd.in/grvpf_Vx