Intro Post

 Hi everyone! We are a group of high school juniors passionate about promoting civic education and awareness in our community. 

In a country where political polarization is increasing day by day, there is a sense of discomfort in every resident. Walking through the halls of a public school, there will either be groups radicalizing over everyday politics or flinching at political opinions out of fear of being deemed politically incorrect. The youth of America is caught in the cross-fires of political division and social pressure, and, as their surroundings change, they are less and less prepared to traverse these circumstances in an informed manner. As of 2022, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows that civics scores of American students are consistently dropping, with now only 22% of students “at or above a ‘proficient’ level” of civics comprehension. While this may seem like a distant national statistic, it’s a reality in our own high school where the number of students enrolling in social studies and civics classes during the school year is dropping year by year because people no longer feel like these classes are necessary for their future success. However, civic literacy is one of the key factors in preserving safe and just democracies. The youth must be equipped not only with  memorizable facts but with tools to stay informed about current policies, process of legislation, and major social issues. This is where our project, Can We Talk About the Political and Economic State of the World Right Now, comes in. Originally, this was a comment made by actor Jaden Smith during an interview, and though it was not serious and was publicly ridiculed, it was a statement that stuck with us because we realized that beneath the irony, there was a real call to action, something we needed to act upon.

Our program will tackle political division and gaps in political knowledge by uniting the community through podcasts that raise awareness and civic simulations that help participants better understand how different levels of government work. By using podcasts, we can reach a wide audience across the community, offering neutral, educational content with diverse perspectives from ourselves and tguest speakers. A huge issue we are currently facing is the unwillingness of either side of the political spectrum to listen to someone that may disagree with their views. Our goal is to combat political polarization by encouraging open-minded listening. The podcast will be uploaded biweekly on YouTube for accessibility and growth. With input from teachers, state senators, and city officials, we’ll ensure content is factual and relevant. We’ll also promote through Instagram, our own website, and the school newsletter to expand our reach and engage new listeners. Next, our “Civic Quests” will bring government and court proceedings to life for elementary and middle school students through hands-on, immersive activities. By working with teachers and principals, we’ll set aside dedicated time for students to fully engage in these experiences. In our “Walk in My Shoes” simulation, students take on civic identities — like immigrant, mayor, or protestor—and act out a day in their role. A group discussion will follow to reflect on how power, privilege, and resources affect daily life. Our Congressional Committee Hearing Simulation, modeled after real House and Senate hearings, will have students research current Michigan issues, present their views in speeches, and work toward compromise solutions for the state. In the Mock Trial Simulation, students will take on roles in a fictional court case about a missing school principal, weighing evidence, questioning witnesses, and delivering a verdict as a jury. We’ll also include interactive experiences like Q&A sessions with public officials, initiate field trips to local courts, and give-away compact USB civics kits with essential info, easily accessible anytime, anywhere. To keep our initiative running long-term, we’ve developed a detailed funding plan (attached in the budget/funding portion of our application).

By implementing this program, we hope to first spark an interest in civic engagement in the youth. By directly impacting elementary and middle school students, our program will generate curiosity in these groups and push them to take a greater stand in their community. We seek to educate students in civics, increasing their confidence on the topic. This newfound comfort will immediately boost their participation in the community. In the long term, we want to see our efforts in educating the youth transform into increased civic awareness and participation in older populations, at which point civics education is a necessity to navigate the world. Presently, Americans aren’t well equipped to make educated civic decisions and contribute to society, resorting to the aforementioned political polarization. Our vision is to flip this narrative, and we hope to do this by seeing change in our youth first. Success is a new generation of citizens that can approach their communities easily and understand their role in contributing to it. Our key milestones on the virtual portion of our initiative are to reach an average of 1,000 viewers per episode and around 200 subscribers through YouTube. In the in-person portion, we want to see a general increase in participation and curiosity around our events, as well as improvements in personal progress checks that will be used to quantify student learning. 

We plan to reach 400 individuals through our virtual initiative, assuming we will reach around 150 from our Instagram campaign, 200 through our podcast, and 50 through our website, based on general turnout on these platforms. We also plan to reach around 100 individuals in person; assuming that each class we visit has 20 students, we would reach around 80 students with visits to four classes, and through our summer program, we’ll reach around 20 students based on turnout to past camps.  

As we develop our own approach to address this issue, we recognize and appreciate the valuable efforts being taken by other organizations in our community, including the Troy Historic Village and the Michigan Center for Civic Education:

The Troy Historic Village is an interactive history center that preserves Troy’s rich cultural and civic heritage, aiming to improve historical and civic education in our city. By hosting several programs and classes to help every visitor become aware of their civic responsibilities, THV is constantly striving to ensure that the community is educated about the foundational role of government, both now and in the past. 

The MCCE is a nonprofit corporation committed to creating active and informed community members through law-related and civic education. They recognize that a theoretical education is insufficient, and create opportunities for students to learn and practice citizenship skills, helping them understand the role they can each play in the process. 

Building on this foundation, our project’s main goal is to complement and enhance these efforts. We intend to cultivate the next generation of informed, strategic leaders who understand the complexities of governance and policy making. Rather than simply encouraging participation, our idea immerses students in simulations like mock trials and congressional committee meetings that demand essential critical analysis, negotiation, and decision-making skills. By simulating such intricacies of government, students gain a profound, experiential understanding of the systems that underpin democracy. These insights will shape their perspective and actions long after they leave the classroom, equipping them to approach issues with nuance and to cast informed votes as they enter adulthood. Moreover, they’ll emerge as discerning stewards of civic life who engage in reasoned debate, advocate for their community, and thoughtfully navigate the complex responsibilities of citizenship. All of this unfolds in an environment that is dynamic, hands-on, and fun, showing that civic learning can be both impactful and exciting.

Thank you so much for reading! Please check back soon for more posts :)