Month: February 2015

GC Launches Demand-Building Efforts Through Advocacy Briefing Webinar

Generation Citizen is excited to share a recording of our Advocacy Briefing Webinar, which focused on our newest workstream: building demand for action civics. We were thrilled to be joined by Ford Foundation Program Officer Sanjiv Rao. In addition to continuing to strengthen and grow our direct programming, GC will now engage in targeted advocacy… Continue reading GC Launches Demand-Building Efforts Through Advocacy Briefing Webinar

Defending Social Studies Funding in Massachusetts

On March 9, 2015, Greater Boston Advocacy Manager Leila Quinn gave testimony before the MA Foundation Budget Review Commission in defense of funding for social studies and civics courses. Below you will find an abridged version of her testimony.   State law charges our schools with a civic mission that we must revive. Students often learn… Continue reading Defending Social Studies Funding in Massachusetts

GC Success: Sweeping Away Outdated Policies on Litter

By Ryan Castellano   “Yeah, wow, this really has to change,” said Councilman Antonio Reynoso, the chairman of the City Council Committee on Sanitation, validating months of work that began with a student asking if we could do anything about litter. When the class of seniors at the Academy of Urban Planning in Bushwick chose… Continue reading GC Success: Sweeping Away Outdated Policies on Litter

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… Continue reading Swimming Like a Duck

GC Boston Class Helps Passage of Homeless Youth Services Law

By Kristen Lobo   Before leaving office, Massachusetts Governor Patrick signed the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth bill into law providing shelter and services to homeless youth on Tuesday, January 6th.  According to the law, a homeless young person is defined as “a person 24 years of age or younger who is not in the physical custody or care of… Continue reading GC Boston Class Helps Passage of Homeless Youth Services Law

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,… Continue reading Teach Young People About Civic Duties

#Trending @ GC

The increase in incarceration is not the leading cause of a decline in crime. – The Atlantic   F.B.I. Director Comey discusses the racial biases present in policing. – The New York Times   Differences in the quality of college counseling between rich and poor schools can determine students’ post-high school prospects. – NPR   A Washington D.C.… Continue reading #Trending @ GC

CCF Fellow Miajia Speaks at the Ford Foundation

On January 23, 2014, Generation Citizen co-hosted an event at the Ford Foundation called “Educating for Democracy:  The Role of Young People in Re-Invigorating our Democracy.” During this event, as part of the “Scaling Civic Learning” panel, GC alum and Community Change Fellow Miajia Jaware spoke as a youth participant. We could not be more proud… Continue reading CCF Fellow Miajia Speaks at the Ford Foundation

How Do We Educate to Improve Our Democracy?

How do We Educate to Improve our Democracy?   As Generation Citizen matures as an organization, we’ve realized that it’s not enough for us to solely focus on our in-school programming.  We continue to improve and iterate our action civics curriculum and teacher and volunteer training, but we have also recognized the necessity of building… Continue reading How Do We Educate to Improve Our Democracy?