Generation Citizen
Model & Strategy
Generation Citizen aims to strengthen our nation’s democracy by empowering young people to become engaged and effective citizens. The solution starts in our schools. Generation Citizen partners college students (called Democracy Coaches) with classroom teachers to teach an action civics course in which teens solve problems they are facing in their own communities. Over the course of the in-class program, students choose an issue they care about, develop a focused, strategic plan to address the issue, take real action and then reflect on their successes and challenges.
Through direct engagement in real-world advocacy, guided by near-peer college Democracy Coaches and teachers, students gain the civic knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to effect change in their communities. Generation Citizen closes the civic engagement gap by teaching students how to harness the power of our democratic system to make a difference in their own lives.
Scott Warren, co-founder and Executive Director of Generation Citizen, grew up abroad and his passion for activism stems from his experiences living in Latin America and Africa. In 2002, Scott served as an observer in the first truly democratic elections in Kenya’s history, where he began to recognize the transformative potential of democracy. During college, Scott served as the National Student Director of STAND, a national student anti-genocide coalition. Scott also helped lead successful campaigns to divest Brown University, the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island from companies conducting business in Sudan.
Scott founded Generation Citizen his senior year at Brown with the aim of helping to create an authentic democratic experience for all youth across the country, keeping in mind the transformative power he first witnessed in Kenya. He is an Echoing Green Fellow and was recognized as one a Forbes “30 Under 30”.
IMPACT
At the end of the program, 91% of students report that they believe that challenging injustices is important.
Evaluations have shown that Generation Citizen students are not only increasing their civic knowledge and skills, but also their intended civic engagement, such as the likelihood of voting, volunteering, and participating in the political process, and their collaboration skills.
Generation Citizen News
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Join us on Thursday #NYC at @nypl for a #civics read-in. @CivicJuice @NYCVotes @LitPartners #ConstitutionWeek
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"#Civicseducation was incorporated into daily learning, allowing students to gain the ability to effect positive ch… https://t.co/VhT8GUNPEJ
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RT @zakmal: @MerritJones with a timely piece recounting the transformational impact civic education had on her trajectory. Cc. @CivicEdNow…
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RT @greenlightbklyn: Our Civic Engagement Series is hosting Generation Citizen on Sept 24! @gencitizen works to ensure that every student…
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It is our responsibility to ensure that all students are given the tools they need to be effective and engaged memb… https://t.co/en2rx0Q9lK
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Our ultimate mission at #GC is to ensure that every young person in this country receives an effective action civic… https://t.co/zkniDwguaj
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#ActionCivics is all about giving students the hands on skills they need to embrace their voice and use it to make… https://t.co/qo1pwjkDJR
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#GC teacher Cate O'Connor on the impact that the #GC curriculum made in her classroom! #ActionCivics… https://t.co/JvfwUrVfaY
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Student #ChangeMaker Samara Henry explains why #CivicsEngagement and #YouthVoice are so important in our #Democracy… https://t.co/iHzaN04cF0
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Inspiring #ChangeMakers on the power of #YouthVoice. Read more incredible stories from #CivicsDay 2018 below.… https://t.co/MzVwGKyLLN
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Empowering students to use their voices to engage in their community is vital to the future of our #Democracy. Join… https://t.co/SRRLMmHHJz
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#ActionCivics gives students the tools to tackle issues in their communities that are important to them. Join the m… https://t.co/KwU9yplBqk
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RT @jessica_lander: Inspired by my student and @gencitizen #studentleadership board member @ViviescasJulian - who shared his powerful stor…
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RT @TheBushCenter: "Civics education matters for this simple reason: It is difficult to expect people to value or participate in what they…
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#superintendents interested in cultivating students as #civicleaders should check out our school district… https://t.co/vbAm813NH4
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We are so grateful for our #DemocracyCoaches. Thank you for using your voice to help our #Democracy be the best tha… https://t.co/ws8wtDpvU7
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RT @meremcnor: Getting ready to testify at the Texas #SBOE meeting for stronger civics education standards for our students. Tune into the…
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"Young people are worth the investment. This is not only a moral imperative; it is an equity issue and a practical… https://t.co/PaEmfRv3GU
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#Democracy depends on political participation but young people are often caught turning away from politics. This cy… https://t.co/4QkZbpx35m
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"#Civics education matters for this simple reason: It is difficult to expect people to value or participate in what… https://t.co/iE5vnVNZzS