Ellie’s Eighth Grade Endeavors, Episode 1: Democracy Coaches Learn Too

[one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] GC’s very own FAO Schwarz Fellow Ellie Sanchez is currently teaching the GC Core Program to an 8th grade class at the Joseph Lee K-8 School in Dorchester, MA. While Ellie’s primary job is to be Boston’s Program Associate, she’s also stepped into the shoes of our Democracy Coaches to teach a… Continue reading Ellie’s Eighth Grade Endeavors, Episode 1: Democracy Coaches Learn Too

Should Politics be Fun?

Should Politics Be Fun?               As the 2016 elections approach, the missing youth electorate is becoming an increasingly prevalent story.  Despite a slight upwards tick of youth participation in President Obama’s victories in 2008 and 2012, the 2014 midterms saw the lowest youth voting rate in the last forty years, with only 19% of… Continue reading Should Politics be Fun?

My Adventures in Democracy

– David Pechefsky   Recently, GC has embarked on a project in which we ask ourself #WhyGC. Where to start? I have been working in government/politics/democracy building for close to 20 years. Back in 1996 I was an intern in the office of Brooklyn Council Member Steve Dibrienza. This was when Mayor Giuliani’s administration was… Continue reading My Adventures in Democracy

Does Civics Cross Borders?

As I’ve talked about extensively, the idea for Generation Citizen initially came about after my observing emerging democracies at work resulted in a realization that the American democracy needed a youth revitalization. Specifically, observing the successful 2002 Kenyan elections as a fifteen year old showed me the power of individuals coming together to make a… Continue reading Does Civics Cross Borders?

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

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

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?