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
Through GC’s Action Civics curriculum, students recognize the power of their individual voice to advocate for change in their communities. Evaluations have shown that GC students are not only increasing their civic knowledge and skills, but also their intended civic motivation (i.e. the likelihood of voting, volunteering, and participating in the political process).
To date, GC has served over 80,000 students and is on track to serve 30,000 additional students in the 2020-20 academic year. GC has sites in California, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as remote programming in Utah, Alabama, and Kentucky. It has helped to organize the entire civics education field as it becomes a more prominent discipline.
Generation Citizen News
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RT @JFKLibrary: Teachers and school librarians: Join us on 3/24 for the virtual conference Dignity and Justice for All: Stories of Protest,…
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We’re looking for Teacher Leadership Board members in California, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island,… https://t.co/5kgrxxOFBH
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The late American activist & US Rep John Lewis said, "The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most pow… https://t.co/84ovrpVyc7
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RT @Vote16USA: "Districts and states may also want to consider lowering the voting age to 16 for municipal elections to enable greater stud…
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Have some fun and support the future of our democracy, all at the same time! Join us for trivia night in support of… https://t.co/9qXLT0Mz1Z
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Polls show that teachers want to make their classrooms a force to counter racism, but few feel they have the resour… https://t.co/ezjMl6VtRu
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"I want us to have a vision that isn't just about kids taking in content, but about equipping them with skills and… https://t.co/I1B56XQ4J0
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RT @UMDCollegeofEd: It's essential that kids have the skills to be active citizens in addressing racial and equity issues, the political pr…
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RT @UMDCollegeofEd: Join COE at the #mdcivicssummit for a kick-off with @JohnBKing & Dean Rice! https://t.co/1BxMaDVcD9 https://t.co/L7yeU2…
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Look beyond the month of February to incorporate the stories of Black youth activists because #BlackHistory is Amer… https://t.co/GYpQVMCTNh
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RI students and educators testify on #CivicLiteracyAct: "We need culturally responsive, equity-centered civic learn… https://t.co/dvzNbKdF3k
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We are so excited to share our partnership with @linguafrancanyc - LF x GENERATION CITIZEN. $100 from each sweater… https://t.co/8wJm9IzVzu
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“We have to take math and English for 12 years. Why not civics education?” RI students say @RIHouseofReps-proposed… https://t.co/yJbVZjHBiy
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When young people participate in the civic process, it leads to real change in their communities. #ActionCivics at… https://t.co/NEhQWjMv2A
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RT @lizclayroy: I am energized by the resilience and passion of @gencitizen students who are channeling community challenges into positive…
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RT @MortonCivics: Building Consensus and picking our focus issue in the digital age. No more tape on the ground. @gencitizen @CarraFraker @…
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RT @Vote16USA: Youth-led grassroots efforts to extend voting rights to 16 and 17 year olds on the local level are making progress around th…
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RT @Vote16USA: BREAKING NEWS: Today, @repgracemeng introduced legislation proposing a constitutional amendment to extend voting rights to 1…
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RT @DaveEdelman: I am so proud of my @usahsnyc students who’s activism around the issue of improving access to lead free drinking water has…