Author: Sharnice Neale-Ottley

Written by Mansur Buffins, a GC Educator based in Boston, Massachusetts When I entered the teaching profession as a social studies teacher in Atlanta, GA, I had my eyes set on teaching Black Studies. Now, nearly a decade later, I finally had the opportunity to do so. I am Mansur Buffins, a Black man who… Continue reading From the Classroom to City Hall: Teaching Black Studies Through Civic Action

Featuring: Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg & Megan Brandon   As Generation Citizen begins a new initiative, thanks to Carnegie Corporation of New York, , two key leaders—Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, a national expert on youth civic engagement and one of the originators of the concept of Civic Deserts, and Megan Brandon, GC’s Senior Program Director, South Region—reflect on the… Continue reading Bridging the Civic Gap: A Conversation on Rural Communities Building Civic Health

At Joseph F. Quinn Intermediate School 77 (IS 77) in Ridgewood, Queens, two sixth-grade classes led by teachers Sandra Cardillo and Nell Worden have spent the school year engaged in a powerful and deeply personal community-based civics project through Generation Citizen. Their journey began with tragedy. In October, the school community was shaken by the… Continue reading Partner Spotlight: IS 77 Students Take Action to End Subway Surfing in Queens

Written by Ryan Byrne, a GC educator based in Long Beach, CA Civic education feels more relevant than ever. In an age of increasing polarization and urgent local challenges, I’ve seen how Generation Citizen projects bring curriculum to life in ways that resonate deeply with my students. These projects connect academic learning to real-world issues… Continue reading Why I Teach Civics (and Where It’s Going)

Written by John Grant, a GC educator based in New York City My name is John Grant, and I teach Social Studies at Quest to Learn High School in New York City. Over the years, I’ve taught Global History, U.S. History, and Economics, but I consider my role as a Civics teacher to be the… Continue reading How Teaching Civics Became My Most Important Role

Written by Generation Citizen CEO Elizabeth Clay Roy Since January, I keep hearing, “we are living one big civics lesson”, often referring to adults learning nuances about the roles of each branch of government and Constitutional authority. So, this Civic Learning Week is right on time. This annual weeklong celebration is an opportunity to highlight… Continue reading One Big Civics Lesson Requires Relevant Civic Learning

Written by DanielleChina Bone, a GC Educator based in Attleboro, Massachusetts As an educator, I’ve come to understand that teaching isn’t just about imparting knowledge—it’s about connection, growth, and transformation. My journey into the classroom wasn’t conventional, but it’s a path that has profoundly shaped who I am today. Through my work with Generation Citizen… Continue reading How Civics Education Helped Me Find Purpose in Teaching

Written by Generation Citizen students Chantel M. & Yebriana C. from Lawrence, Massachusetts Hello, my name is Chantel M. I was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and come from a large Hispanic family. Family means everything to me because, at the end of the day, that’s all we have. When I started my junior… Continue reading Breaking Barriers: The Inspiring Journey of Chantel and Yebriana’s Civic Action

Written from the shared perspectives of Elizabeth “Liz” Clay Roy (Generation Citizen CEO), Wilfred Chirinos (Generation Citizen Manager of Policy & Advocacy), and Savannah Slayton (Generation Citizen Board of Trustees) WILFRED: Walking into The Well in Baltimore, I felt a wave of imposter syndrome. Here I was, a young Emerging Leader surrounded by 500+ social… Continue reading Bridging Generations for a Stronger Democracy: GC’s Impact at The Well

Written By Josephina “Josie” Johnson I have high hopes — for where my family lives, for the quality of public education and for this nation’s ability to pursue common goals, despite inevitable differences of opinion. It was these hopes that made me truly excited to vote as soon as I hit 18. I expect the… Continue reading Why Voting Matters to Teenagers Like Me: We Have Power to Make Politicians Listen