Thank You for Attending
From April 26-30, 2021, MCLC hosted our inaugural Massachusetts Civic Learning Week, a series of digital morning, afternoon and evening events all across the Commonwealth designed to build broader awareness of and support for civic learning; amplify and celebrate youth voice; and empower participants to envision themselves as changemakers in our democracy. In partnership with non-profits, teachers and students from across state, MCLC brought together 48 different events that were attended by 500+ people and had over 400,000 in social media impressions. We so appreciate everyone who joined us. Videos of those events that were recorded can be found below. To keep civic learning going all year long, join our mailing list!
MA Civic Learning Week: Core Events
Monday, April 26th, 5:00pm-6:00pm: Civic Learning Week Opening Keynote
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students (K-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations, General Public
To kick off Massachusetts Civic Learning Week, WBUR Radio Boston’s host Tiziana Dearing moderated a panel discussion of young changemakers who are engaging in civic action in their communities across the Commonwealth: Khymani James, Gabriel Jung, Phebean Ogunsanwo, and Alice Wanamaker. The discussion highlighted the work that youth are doing to exercise their voice and power to enact systemic change and show examples of the many different forms that civic action can take. The panel discussion featured diverse young leaders from across the state who have taken action in their communities on a wide range of societal challenges. The Director of the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition and former Lead of Social Studies curriculum in Boston Public Schools, Natacha Scott, provided a brief introduction to the Coalition’s commitment to providing equitable active civic learning opportunities for young people across the state and will introduce the panel discussion with youth leaders. To View a Video of the Event: Opening Keynote.
Tuesday, April 27th, 10:00am-11:00am: Supporting Civic Learning within Your District
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC) and Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE)
Event Designed For: Superintendents & Executive Cabinet (CAOs, etc.)
MCLC and DESE invite District Superintendents and Executive Cabinet members to join us and discuss the current state of civic education within Massachusetts. This session will include a focus on the 2018 Civic Legislation, “An Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement”, and the requirement it created to engage students in nonpartisan, student-led civic action projects. We will also discuss current research on the state of civic education in Massachusetts, facilitated through a collaboration between Tufts and Boston University, and the recommendations and best practices for schools and districts that emerged from this work. Beyond the research, we will also explore specific strategies to support civic learning in your district. To View Slides from the Event: Supporting Civic Learning.
Tuesday, April 27th, 1:30pm-2:00pm: Civics In Action: Civic Education - Where Do We Go From Here?
Presented By: Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) Civics Program and the MA Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students, Educators, Administrators, General Public
Join Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, Director of the Edmond J. Safra Ethics Center and renowned civic innovator, for a conversation about the work we have left in developing effective models of civic education. Danielle Allen is the Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and a political theorist who has published broadly in democratic theory, political sociology, and the history of political thought. Widely known for her work on justice and citizenship in both ancient Athens and modern America, Allen is the author of The World of Prometheus: the Politics of Punishing in Democratic Athens (2000), Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship since Brown vs. the Board of Education (2004), Why Plato Wrote (2010), and Our Declaration (2014) and co-editor (with Rob Reich) of Education, Justice, and Democracy (2013). Allen is also the principal investigator for the Democratic Knowledge Project, a distributed research and action lab at Harvard University. The Democratic Knowledge Project seeks to identify, strengthen, and disseminate the bodies of knowledge, skills, and capacities that democratic citizens need in order to succeed at operating their democracy. The lab currently has three projects underway: the Declaration Resources Project, the Humanities and Liberal Arts Assessment Project (HULA), and the Youth and Participatory Politics Action and Reflection Frame. Allen is a frequent public lecturer and regular guest on public radio affiliates to discuss issues of citizenship and education policy, as well as a contributor on similar subjects to the Washington Post, Boston Review, Democracy, Cabinet, and The Nation. To View a Video of the Event: Danielle Allen.
Tuesday, April 27th, 3:15pm-4:00pm: Massachusetts as a National Leader in Civic Education Reform: The Impact of 2018 Legislation
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students (6-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations, General Public
This event featured two legislative champions of civic education in Massachusetts: Representative Linda Dean Campbell and Senator Jason Lewis; middle and high school students who are led civic action projects in their communities: Calysa Alba, Anailys Moreta Garcia, and Morgan Gibson; and Shawn Healy, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at CivXNow. The legislators spoke about past and present legislation to improve civic education in Massachusetts, including the 2018 Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement, which made Massachusetts a leader in civic education reform nationwide. Students shared their experiences of leading civic action projects at their schools. Shawn Healy contextualized the Massachusetts legislation within ongoing nationwide efforts to reform civics education. After their presentations, the guest speakers engaged in dialogue to discuss what the future of civic education should look like. To View a Video of the Event: Massachusetts Legislation.
Wednesday, April 28th, 3:30pm-4:30pm: How to Apply and Partner to Implement Civics Teaching and Learning District Grants
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations
This event provided an overview of the DESE Civics Teaching and Learning District Grants (CTLG) and shared best practices for crafting strong proposals. Participants then engaged in multiple breakout rooms in a ‘meet and greet’ style to learn from different MCLC member organizations about ways in which districts can partner to implement grants. This event was intended for administrators and educators interested in applying for a grant for their school district. To View a Video of the Event: Civics Grants. To View Slides from the Event: Civics Grants.
Wednesday, April 28th, 4:15pm-5:00pm: Ask Me Anything: Massachusetts Elected Officials
Presented by: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students (6-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations, General Public
This student-moderated panel discussion featured elected officials from Massachusetts, including State Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley of Mattapan, Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington, Holyoke City Councilor Rebecca Lisi, and Cambridge City Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler. Attend this panel to hear and ask questions about their current work as elected officials and what inspired them to run for office. To View a Video of the Event: Massachusetts Elected Officials.
Monday, April 26, 2021
11:00am-12:00pm: Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice - A Community Conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton
Presented By: Facing History and Ourselves
Event Designed For: General Public
Please join us or a conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton, author and Community Educator for the Equal Justice Initiative. Mr. Hinton was wrongly convicted of two murders and spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row before he was exonerated in 2015. Mr. Hinton’s story is told in Bryan Stevenson’s memoir, Just Mercy: A True Story of Justice and Redemption, and in his own bestselling memoir, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row. Mr. Hinton will lead a discussion about his own experiences and the continued fight for justice in America, followed by a Q&A. This event is made possible in partnership with International Paper. To Register: Community Conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton
3:30pm-4:30pm: Developing Civic Identity K-5 Massachusetts
Presented By: Civic Learning Coalition, Discovering Justice, History's Mysteries
Event Designed For: Elementary Educators
How can we ensure our elementary school students are prepared to be active members of our democracy and cultivate their civic identity? In this interactive workshop for elementary educators, teachers will engage with the history and social science practice standards to learn how to integrate civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions into all content areas across the school day. The session will explore concepts like perspective taking, inquiry, and questions of justice. There will be opportunities to talk to your colleagues and you will walk away with the context, tips, tools, and resources to use the very next day with your students! To Register: Developing Civic Identity
3:30pm-4:30pm: Boston Athenaeum: Open House
Presented By: Boston Athenaeum
Event Designed For: Educators
Educators of all grade levels are invited to join us for an introduction to the Athenaeum, an opportunity to network with each other, and a chance to view materials in the library's collections related to active citizenship in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We'll get a close-up and real-time look at documents and visual materials under a document camera, demonstrating how classes can visit the Athenaeum virtually at anytime during the school year. To Register: Boston Athenaeum: Open House
4:00pm-4:45pm: How to Tap into the Power of History
Presented By: got history
Event Designed For: General public, Parents
Do you feel like the history you learned in school left you cold, and that it was boring and disempowering? In this interactive session, got history will share strategies and tools for accessing the kind of history you need to get inspired about your own possibilities to make change, and for helping your child find and expand their identity as an active member of the community. To Register: Power of History
4:15-5:00pm: Leveraging Learning Science for Civic Education
Presented By: Composer Education
Event Designed For: General public, Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community organizations
How can we use learning science to improve how civics is taught? Join the Composer team to explore a few simple ways you can leverage insights from learning science to strengthen your curriculum planning. Composer is an innovative digital platform that empowers schools and organizations to search, create, deliver and share powerful sequences of citizenship education. To Register: Leveraging Learning Science
5:00pm-6:00pm: Civic Learning Week Opening Keynote
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students (K-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations, General Public
To kick off Massachusetts Civic Learning Week, WBUR Radio Boston’s host Tiziana Dearing moderated a panel discussion of young changemakers who are engaging in civic action in their communities across the Commonwealth: Khymani James, Gabriel Jung, Phebean Ogunsanwo, and Alice Wanamaker. The discussion highlighted the work that youth are doing to exercise their voice and power to enact systemic change and show examples of the many different forms that civic action can take. The panel discussion featured diverse young leaders from across the state who have taken action in their communities on a wide range of societal challenges. The Director of the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition and former Lead of Social Studies curriculum in Boston Public Schools, Natacha Scott, provided a brief introduction to the Coalition’s commitment to providing equitable active civic learning opportunities for young people across the state and will introduce the panel discussion with youth leaders. To View a Video of the Event: Opening Keynote.
6:15pm-7:00pm: Artworks, Exhibitions, and Historic Homes as Sites for Civic Engagement
Presented By: Trustees of Reservations
Event Designed For: General public, Educators, Parents
How can exploring art museums and historic homes lead to civic engagement for students, teachers, and families? Join Trustees Associate Director of Learning Julie Bernson in an inquiry-based discussion demonstrating the interconnections between place, history, the present, monuments, racism, anti-racism, and taking a stand for what you want to see in the world. Artwork by Sonya Clark on view at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Elizabeth James Perry’s (Aquinnah Wompanoag) Decolonized Map of Massachusetts from Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, and The Old Manse in Concord will ground our discussion. The session demonstrated the role of inquiry in a museum setting to spark conversation and activism around some of today’s most important topics and issues. To View a Video of the Event: Artworks, Exhibitions, Historic Homes. To View Slides from the Event: Artworks, Exhibitions, Historic Homes.
7:00pm-8:30pm: Lifting Student Voices! How to use the Mock Town Meeting Format to Create a Platform for Student Civic Engagement
Presented By: Lexington Town Meeting Members Association and Lexington Public Schools
Event Designed For: Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community organizations, Town Meeting Members in Massachusetts
Lexington’s Town Meeting members have partnered with the Lexington Public School Social Studies Department to offer “The Mock” for eighth grade students since 2013. Learn how your school, PTA/PTO, or community can create a dynamic civics experience that is engaging, educational and fun! The workshop offers the chance to differentiate instruction, can be easily adapted for a classroom session or a grade-level session. It works during the school day, as a field trip, or during afterschool hours. We will offer a brief role play during the session to help participants experience the excitement of “The Mock” for themselves! Though we focus on the importance of local government, students experience an opportunity to advocate for a policy, respond to counter-arguments, apply evidence and gain confidence with public speaking. This has proven a very helpful civics engagement strategy for Lexington and we’re excited to share what we have learned along the way! To Register: The Mock
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
10:00am-11:00am: Supporting Civic Learning within Your District
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC) and Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE)
Event Designed For: Superintendents & Executive Cabinet (CAOs, etc.)
MCLC and DESE invite District Superintendents and Executive Cabinet members to join us and discuss the current state of civic education within Massachusetts. This session will include a focus on the 2018 Civic Legislation, “An Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement”, and the requirement it created to engage students in nonpartisan, student-led civic action projects. We will also discuss current research on the state of civic education in Massachusetts, facilitated through a collaboration between Tufts and Boston University, and the recommendations and best practices for schools and districts that emerged from this work. Beyond the research, we will also explore specific strategies to support civic learning in your district. To View Slides from the Event: Supporting Civic Learning.
10:30am-11:15am: Tuesday Story Time
Presented By: Boston Athenaeum
Event Designed For: Children ages 2-6 and their parents
Join us on Facebook Live for Story Time with Sam, our Children's Library Intern. These Story Times are for anyone needing some old-fashioned fun and something simple but engaging. The books and stories have civics themes and are chosen with kids ages 2-6 in mind, but they're really for everybody. To Tune In: https://www.facebook.com/BostonAthenaeum
1:30pm-2:00pm: Civics In Action: Civic Education - Where Do We Go From Here?
Presented By: Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) Civics Program and the MA Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students, Educators, Administrators, General Public
Join Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, Director of the Edmond J. Safra Ethics Center and renowned civic innovator, for a conversation about the work we have left in developing effective models of civic education. Danielle Allen is the Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and a political theorist who has published broadly in democratic theory, political sociology, and the history of political thought. Widely known for her work on justice and citizenship in both ancient Athens and modern America, Allen is the author of The World of Prometheus: the Politics of Punishing in Democratic Athens (2000), Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship since Brown vs. the Board of Education (2004), Why Plato Wrote (2010), and Our Declaration (2014) and co-editor (with Rob Reich) of Education, Justice, and Democracy (2013). Allen is also the principal investigator for the Democratic Knowledge Project, a distributed research and action lab at Harvard University. The Democratic Knowledge Project seeks to identify, strengthen, and disseminate the bodies of knowledge, skills, and capacities that democratic citizens need in order to succeed at operating their democracy. The lab currently has three projects underway: the Declaration Resources Project, the Humanities and Liberal Arts Assessment Project (HULA), and the Youth and Participatory Politics Action and Reflection Frame. Allen is a frequent public lecturer and regular guest on public radio affiliates to discuss issues of citizenship and education policy, as well as a contributor on similar subjects to the Washington Post, Boston Review, Democracy, Cabinet, and The Nation. To View a Video of the Event: Danielle Allen.
3:15pm-4:00pm: Massachusetts as a National Leader in Civic Education Reform: The Impact of 2018 Legislation
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students (6-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations, General Public
This event featured two legislative champions of civic education in Massachusetts: Representative Linda Dean Campbell and Senator Jason Lewis; middle and high school students who are led civic action projects in their communities: Calysa Alba, Anailys Moreta Garcia, and Morgan Gibson; and Shawn Healy, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at CivXNow. The legislators spoke about past and present legislation to improve civic education in Massachusetts, including the 2018 Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement, which made Massachusetts a leader in civic education reform nationwide. Students shared their experiences of leading civic action projects at their schools. Shawn Healy contextualized the Massachusetts legislation within ongoing nationwide efforts to reform civics education. After their presentations, the guest speakers engaged in dialogue to discuss what the future of civic education should look like. To View a Video of the Event: Massachusetts Legislation.
3:30pm-4:00pm: Empowering Students through Media Literacy
Presented By: Education Development Center
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators
This session for educators made the connection between media literacy and civic empowerment. After a quick tour of curricular resources in the Education Development Center's Media Literacy Toolbox, we used a tool to discuss and deconstruct a short media clip as one example of activities you can implement in your classroom. To View Slides from the Event: Media Literacy.
4:00pm-4:45pm: Strengthening Civics Learning with Social Justice Data Investigations
Presented By: Education Development Center
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators
This event shared information about a project funded by the National Science Foundation that has developed curriculum modules for high school students to investigate social justice issues with quantitative data. The project's modules support student investigations of income inequality and immigration in the U.S. using large-scale data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The modules have been developed with the input of high school social studies and statistics teachers and have been tested in both disciplinary settings. The session provided an overview of the materials, initial research findings about student engagement with the materials, and an opportunity for session participations to discuss their interests in and strategies for incorporating quantitative data analysis into their high school civics curricula and student projects. To View Slides from the Event: Social Justice Data.
4:00pm-5:00pm: Civic Learning through Games!
Presented By: iThrive Games
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators
Discover a new tool that integrates civics and social and emotional learning for high school students. In this session, you’ll experience the web-based role-playing technology and supporting curricular surrounds, and get free early access to bring a simulation to your classroom. iThrive Simulations are scaffolded interactive role-playing experiences that invite students to practice core skills in real time including collaboration, negotiation, decision making, and stress management. Designed with educators to deeply engages students in civics content with heightened relevancy, iThrive Simulations provide students an opportunity to ideate, explore, discuss and collaborate meaningfully with their peers. To Register: Civic Learning through Games
4:00pm-5:30pm: The Intersection of Racial Justice and Civic Action
Presented By: Newton North High School
Event Designed For: Students (6-12)
This event organized by students at Newton North High School discussed the intersection of racial justice with civic action and people of color in public service in order to encourage students 6-12 to enter this work either uplifting people of color (if they are white) or aware of their people of color experiences and perspective (if they are a people of color). We hoped to engage students in activities such as examining the perspectives people of color bring to public service jobs, exploring issues that intersect race and civic action (zoning, education, etc), and working on example issues. To View a Video of the Event (an excerpt): Intersection of Racial Justice and Civic Action.
5:00pm-6:00pm: Well-Being for Well-Doing
Presented By: Changemaker Communities
Event Designed For: General Public, Students (9-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Administrators
The pandemic has caused massive disruption in our lives and been a source of significant stress, anxiety and exhaustion. All of this stands in the way of being engaged as a civic participant. In this experiential and interactive workshop by VIpin Thekk, founder of the Changemaker Communities project, you will explore how to build practices that deepen your personal well-being so that we can cultivate well-being in others and become more effective change agents and educators in the world. This workshop will give you tools to reflect on where there is the presence and absence of wellbeing in your life and we will collectively explore ideas on how you can develop practices which nourishes your body, mind and spirit. To Register: Well-Being for Well-Doing
6:15pm-7:00pm: Boston Maptivists
Presented by: Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center
Event Designed For: General Public, Students (9-12), Educators, Community Organizations
11th and 12th grade students at the Jeremiah Burke High School in Dorchester are working with educators from the Leventhal Map & Education Center in a one-semester elective class that focuses on the key question: “How do racial ideas become spatial practice?” Using Boston as the focus, students will explore their own and other Boston neighborhoods, in the past and present, and explore the role of race in policies that affect housing, transportation, gentrification among many other topics using maps and digital mapping. Educators and students from the class will talk about their research and work and show some of the maps they have created as part of their final project. To Register: Boston Maptivists
7:00pm-9:00pm: “Dawnland” Online Film Screening and Q&A
Presented By: Upstander Project
Event Designed For: General public, Students (9-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Community Organizations
Join filmmaker and Upstander Project director Adam Mazo and Upstander Project learning director Dr. Mishy Lesser for a screening of their Emmy award-winning film, DAWNLAND. The screening will be followed by a conversation about the impact of settler colonialism and the relationship between the taking of Native people's land by colonial settlers and the taking of Native children, which continues in many states today. To Register: Dawnland
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
3:30pm-4:30pm: Across the Aisle: New Faces of Congress
Presented By: The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
Event Designed For: General Public
Sit in on a bipartisan panel of new Members of Congress to discuss the current state of affairs in Washington as well as opportunities for finding common ground and forging collaboration in the 117th Congress. In a time of political polarization, members from both sides of the aisle will join in conversation about the challenges and opportunities they face as newly elected officials, their early aspirations for their time in office, and what roles they can play to ensure Congress can work together to move America forward. The conversation will include: Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04) and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). To Register: New Faces of Congress
3:30pm-4:30pm: How to Apply and Partner to Implement Civics Teaching and Learning District Grants
Presented By: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations
This event provided an overview of the DESE Civics Teaching and Learning District Grants (CTLG) and shared best practices for crafting strong proposals. Participants then engaged in multiple breakout rooms in a ‘meet and greet’ style to learn from different MCLC member organizations about ways in which districts can partner to implement grants. This event was intended for administrators and educators interested in applying for a grant for their school district. To View a Video of the Event: Civics Grants. To View Slides from the Event: Civics Grants.
4:00pm-5:00pm: Inclusion in Civics and History - Easterseals #TeachDisabilityHistory Campaign
Presented By: Emerging America
Event Designed For: Students (6-12), Educators, Administrators, General Public
Learn about the Easterseals campaign to support the teaching of Disability History. Participate in an interactive game used in the campaign. Hear from young adult activists about how the campaign came about and how it works as a virtual project. Learn about strategies and resources to support inclusion of all students in civic learning, including K-12 Disability History curriculum. This was the first of three events in a series: Inclusion in Civic Learning. To View Slides from the Event: Inclusion in Civics and History. To View Easterseals Campaign Video: #TeachDisabilityHistory. To View #TeachDisabilityHistory Print Materials: Postcard.
4:15pm-5:00pm: Ask Me Anything: Massachusetts Elected Officials
Presented by: Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)
Event Designed For: Students (6-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations, General Public
This student-moderated panel discussion featured elected officials from Massachusetts, including State Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley of Mattapan, Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington, Holyoke City Councilor Rebecca Lisi, and Cambridge City Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler. Attend this panel to hear and ask questions about their current work as elected officials and what inspired them to run for office. To View a Video of the Event: Massachusetts Elected Officials.
5:00pm-6:30pm: Race, Equity and Policy Series: Criminal Justice through the Immigrant Lens
Presented By: Boston Debate League
Event Designed For: General public, Students
Part of a year-long series of dialogues and learning opportunities for students and the broader community exploring the multiple facets of criminal justice reform. This forum explores the unique experience of immigrant communities with/in the criminal justice system. To Register: Race, Equity & Policy
6:30pm-7:30pm: We are America: Stories for a World on the Move
Presented By: Re-Imagining Migration / We Are America
Event Designed For: General public, Students (9-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community organizations
Join student leaders from the We Are America National Project to reflect on identity and civic engagement in a time of migration and demographic change. Students will share excerpts of their personal stories and the development of their civic identities in order to spark a national conversation about American identity today. To View a Video of the Event: We are America.
7:00pm-8:00pm: Making Change: Turning your Passion into Action
Presented By: The Junior League of Boston / Elected Podcast
We will host a panel discussion podcast consisting of young leaders who have advocated for change in their communities. We will invite ~4 women and girls under the age of 25 to discuss how they turned their interests into action by becoming civically engaged and learning how policies come to be in Massachusetts. The panel will be broadcast via the Elected Podcast. The panel will be moderated by: Meg Wheeler, Owner of One for Women, Host of the Elected podcast, and recent candidate for State Senate, and Pamela Lynch, Advocacy Chair for the Junior League of Boston. To Register: Making Change
7:00pm-8:00pm: “Dear Georgina” Online Film Screening and Live Q&A
Presented By: Upstander Project
Event Designed For: General Public, Students (9-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Community Organizations
In DEAR GEORGINA a Passamaquoddy elder journeys into an unclear past to better understand herself and her cultural heritage. Join Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador Maulian Dana and filmmaker and Upstander Project director Adam Mazo for a Q&A after the film moderated by Portland Press Herald Arts Reporter Bob Keyes. Learn more about the film and watch the trailer at upstanderproject.org. To Register: Dear Georgina
Thursday, April 29, 2021
10:30am-11:00am: Zoom with a Judge!
Presented By: Discovering Justice
Event Designed For: The Elementary Classroom (K-5 students & teachers)
Have you ever wanted to talk to a real Judge and Justice? Learn what a Judge and Justice do, hear their first hand perspective on a system key to our democracy - the Justice System, and get your questions answered about their career, experience, and advice for young people! Justice Diana Maldonado and Judge Julie Bernard will be our inspirational guest speakers for this virtual elementary classroom event. K-5 teachers, login and stream during your class time to provide students with this engaging civic learning opportunity! To Register: Zoom with a Judge
10:30am-12:00pm: Mock Town Meeting Virtual Field Trip
Presented By: Lexington Town Meeting Members Association and Lexington Public Schools
Event Designed For: Educators, Students
Special offering for a teacher and their classroom. Experienced Mock Town Meeting workshop leaders will bring the Mock Town Meeting experience to your classroom via Zoom (or your preferred platform). Timing is negotiable between 10:30am-12:00 noon on Thursday April 29th (or other date we can coordinate) for one hour. Recommended for a teacher with students in 8th grade (or similar). We would provide handouts in advance for teacher to share with students. Please email jess@shininghours.com if you are interested in scheduling this workshop. As we can only offer one session, we will be glad to coordinate details on timing.
10:30am-11:15am: Thursday Story Time
Presented By: Boston Athenaeum
Event Designed For: Children ages 2-6 and their parents
Join us on Facebook Live for Story Time with Sam, our Children's Library Intern. These Story Times are for anyone needing some old-fashioned fun and something simple but engaging. The books and stories have civics themes and are chosen with kids ages 2-6 in mind, but they're really for everybody. To Tune In: https://www.facebook.com/BostonAthenaeum
3:00pm-3:30pm: Introduction to Setting National Priorities: A Federal Budget Simulation Program
Presented By: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Event Designed For: High School Educators and Administrators
Get your students curious about the federal budget! A popular Kennedy Library high school civics education simulation was introduced to educators with an online classroom adaptation accessible for immediate use. In this program, students are economic advisors to the president setting priorities for the federal government's discretionary budget. Students are encouraged to consider what they think the role of the government should be and where they think federal dollars should be spent. To View Slides from the Event: Federal Budget Simulation.
3:00pm-4:00pm: Reimagining Migration: Teaching about Immigration as a Current Event with a Historical Lens
Presented By: Reimagining Migration & Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators
This event was a collaborative effort featuring the historical and contextual migration resources from Reimagining Migration and the immigration policy simulation experiences from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The general structure of was as fllows:
15 minutes | Connecting | Opening opportunity to connect and share, considering personal stories of moving and migration, led by Reimagining Migration
15 minutes | Context | Historical context about migration, milestone immigration legislation and impact on American identity, and discussion about what’s underneath the surface of conversations about migration and immigration policy, led by Reimagining Migration
30 minutes | Today’s Vote | Current legislative debate about current day immigration policy, led by Kennedy Institute
10 minutes | Discussion/Takeaways | Connecting the historical context of migration in the United States to today: how would you connect these for students to teach about migration in today’s classroom? To View a Video of the Event: Teaching about Immigration.
3:00pm-4:00pm: Student-Led Civics Projects
Presented By: Wahconah Regional High School
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators
The purpose of this event was to create a forum for Massachusetts 8-12 educators who are planning to roll out the Student-led Civics Projects. During the course of the 2020-2021 school year, the presenter and his department have worked extensively with the Democratic Knowledge Project and have been engaging with high school seniors as they engage in civic action. Participants had an opportunity to hear from other teachers about possible ways to plan and implement student-led civic projects, examine student work samples, and engage in a Q and A session. To View a Video of the Event: Student-Led Civics Projects.
3:30pm-4:30pm: Civil Rights, Civic Action: A Virtual Museum Program
Presented By: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Event Designed For: General Public, Students (K-8), Educators, Parents, Administrators, Community Organizations
This virtual museum program helps students make connections between the organized nonviolent actions of the civil rights movement and civic action for justice today. Participants will hear an excerpt from an oral history, listen to a read aloud, and analyze a letter to President Kennedy to learn how youth in the civil rights movement used the tools of democracy to fight for justice and equality. The program encourages participants to identify a current issue of concern and consider what civic action to to take to address the concern. To Register: Virtual Museum
4:00pm-5:00pm: Civics, Student Voice and Inclusion
Presented By: iCivics & Building Audacity
Event Designed For: Students, Educators, Administrators, Community Organizations
To become thoughtful, informed civic participants, students need practice, just as they do with any other learning. They need not only to learn about, but also to experience democracy in school. For this webinar session, representatives from Building Audacity presented their work to increase youth power by supporting youth led change-making and providing resources to adults interested in creating inclusive, youth-focused learning spaces. Please join us for this interactive session to see how Building Audacity’s experience may inform your work to better address student voice and inclusion in your work as an administrator or teacher. To View a Video of the Event: Student Voice.
5:00pm-6:00pm: Students in Action: Newton North High School
Presented By: Newton North High School, Newton MA / Center for Civic Engagement and Service
Event Designed For: Students (9-12), Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community Organizations
Introducing the Center for Civic Engagement and Service at Newton North High School through the voices of our student leaders and the teaching team of the Center. Leaders will share foundational principles, recent projects, community partners, and on the ground practices. To View a Video of the Event: Students in Action.
5:00pm-6:00pm: Bringing Action Civics to Life: Stories from the Classroom
Presented By: Generation Citizen
Event Designed For: Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers
This event was structured as a panel in which exemplary Action Civics teachers discussed what Action Civics looks like in their classrooms: the joys, the challenges, the ways they cater the experience to meet students' needs, the ways they create an environment where student voice can thrive, etc. They also discussed best practices for communicating and working with administrators, and forging strong ties to parents, guardians, and the community beyond the school building. To View a Video of the Event: Action Civics to Life.
6:00-7:00pm: Composer Curriculum Design Webinar: Environmental Citizenship
Presented By: Composer Education
Event Designed For: Educators, Parents, Administrators, Community organizations
Composer Curriculum Design Webinar: Environmental Citizenship, is a webinar for educators featuring a panel of Composer’s leading education content providers: High Resolves, Voiceless, Global Oneness Project and World Savvy. Attendees will learn about Composer – the world's one stop marketplace for citizenship education – how to sequence and build curriculum on the platform, and hear insights from panelists on their content for empowering students as environmental changemakers. To Register: Composer Curriculum.
6:30-7:30pm: Let Your Voice be Heard: A Guide to Get Started in Advocacy
Presented By: The Junior League of Boston
Event Designed For: General public, Students (6-8), Students (9-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community organizations
The Junior League of Boston Advocacy Initiative develops our members as citizen-advocates for Boston-area communities of women. At this event, our Advocacy Committee will discuss a framework for others to let their voices be heard: 1) How you as a citizen or organization can advocate for change; 2) Why it’s important for citizens to engage civically to drive community change; 3) Immediate next steps for you. To Register: Let Your Voice be Heard
6:30pm-8:00pm: Civics Trivia for Changemakers
Presented By: Generation Citizen
Event Designed For: General public, Students, Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community Organizations
Spring into civic action with the first Civics Trivia hosted by Generation Citizen New England! Join us to flex your knowledge of civics! You can sign up as an individual and be assigned to a team during the event, or you can sign up together with teammates (add your team name when you complete the registration process). Generation Citizen (GC) is a non-profit organization that believes that every young student be provided with an action civics education to lead change in our democracy. To register for free, please use the code "civicssponsor" when you RSVP via the Eventbrite link. To Register: gcneapriltrivia.eventbrite.com
7:00pm-8:00pm: Discovering Your Inner Changemaker for Teachers
Presented By: Changemaker Communities
Event Designed For: Educators, Administrators
We are living in times of rapid, exponential change. To support your students to be changemakers, we need to discover and nourish the inner-changemaker within ourselves. In this experiential and interactive workshop by VIpin Thekk, founder of the Changemaker Communities project, you will explore tools and framework that you can use to support yourself and your students to thrive in a rapidly changing world and inspire Civic Engagement in your students. To Register: Discovering Inner Changemaker
Friday, April 30, 2021
10:30am- 11:00am: Engaging Deeply with Museums and Artworks as Civic Engagement
Presented By: Trustees of Reservations
Event Designed For: Students (6-8), Educators
How can exploring museums and artworks lead to civic engagement? Join Trustees Associate Director of Learning Julie Bernson in an object-based discussion around artist Sonya Clark's artwork and exhibition, "Monumental Cloth, The Flag We Should Know" on view at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln. We explored together how this singular textile work generates deep discussion about women's work, the Civil War, the past and future of monuments, racism, and anti-racism, and taking a stand for what you want to see in the world. The session will demonstrate the role of inquiry- and object-based learning in a museum setting to spark conversation and action around some of today’s most important topics and issues. To View a Video of the Event: Engaging Deeply. To View Slides from the Event: Engaging Deeply.
3:00pm-3:45pm: Youth Experts Designing Games To Dismantle Unjust Systems
Presented By: Transition HOPE / iThrive Games
Event Designed For: Students (9-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Policymakers, Community organizations
Boston-based youth experts in the justice system use game design to give voice to their lived experience within the system and identify changes they want to see, while also building their social-emotional skills. The panelists will present The Run Around, a game they designed that represents their lived experiences of the cradle-to-prison pipeline and invites players to develop compassion for youth of color at the intersection of its oppressive policies and practices. Panelists discuss how they use those games as part of workshops they design and deliver to adult system stakeholders to build empathy and compassion for youths’ lived experience, share and personalize their knowledge of the systems, make more urgent the need for disrupting oppressive systems, and collaborate on change. To Register: Designing Games
3:30pm-4:30pm: Leadership for the 60s: A Launching Pad for Civics Projects
Presented By: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Event Designed For: Middle Grades Educators
Join us for a brief virtual tour of the museum galleries and an introduction to the Leadership for the 60s program which explores the challenges John F. Kennedy faced as the nation’s leader, and the big ideas his administration put into action. Participants discussed several leadership skills such as asking pertinent questions, teamwork, and pitching an idea to stakeholders. We discussed the ways in which President Kennedy applied these skills to tackling his goals for the country. Participants will learn how this field trip (on site or temporarily virtual) can be incorporated into the civics project process as a launching pad for inspiration, a mid-point assessment, or a closing celebration. To View a Video of the Event: Leadership for the 60s.
3:30pm-4:30pm: Young Muslims and Civic Engagement
Presented By: Council on American Islamic Relations - Massachusetts
Event Designed For: General public, Students (K-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Administrators, Community Organizations
Among the fastest growing demographics in the United States, young Muslims will inevitably play an important role in driving change in our country. This session, facilitated by the Council of American-Islamic Relations' Massachusetts Chapter (CAIR-MA), will bring young Muslim change-makers together for a conversation about the importance of civic engagement in the Muslim community. Join us for strategies increasing the participation of young Muslims at the table, drawing attention to the socio-political issues young Muslims face, and building communities that are faith-inclusive. To Register: Young Muslims and Civic Engagement
4:00pm-5:30pm: Seeing “Everyday Civicness” in our Elementary Social Studies Instruction
Presented By: Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University & The University of Texas at Austin College of Education
Event Designed For: Elementary Educators
CIRCLE at Tufts University co-led the ambitious and perspective-diverse Educating for American Democracy (EAD) Roadmap, a recently published framework for inquiry-based instruction to help students from Kindergarten and up to explore key themes of American constitutional democracy and history, and tensions within them. The EAD proposes the idea of the EAD classroom, which supports an inclusive, relational and democratic classroom that builds a foundation for rigorous inquiries that integrates civic and history education. We know from our research in K-12 civic education and more recently in exploring the state of civic education in Massachusetts that elementary educators need more support in integrating civics in the classroom. This interactive workshop will introduce elementary educators to what an elementary-grade EAD classroom looks and sounds like and how to get there. The workshop will help elementary teachers explore three critical inquiries to help them create their own EAD classroom ; 1) what and how do you lay the foundations of a pluralistic democracy in the classroom that celebrates students’ identities and lived experiences; 2) what can everyday civicness look like in the elementary classroom and; 3) what pedagogical practices help foster such civic capabilities in young students. To Register: Everyday Civicness
4:30pm-5:30pm: Unleashing Student Leadership through Civic Action and Advocacy!
Presented By: StuVoice
Event Designed For: General public, Students (K-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community Organizations
This interactive, student-led workshop was designed to build community around pressing issues regarding education equity and students' experiences. We walked participants through the spectrum of meaningful student voice and strategies to build youth leadership through civic action and advocacy. This workshop was open to all—students and adults—who are passionate about the relationship between civics and youth voice and want to build authentic connection and interaction during these times. To View a Video of the Event: Unleashing Student Leadership.
5:00pm-6:00pm: Intersectional History and Our Student Voices
Presented By: National Youth Council for Real History Education
Event Designed For: General public, Students (K-5), Students (6-8), Students (9-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents
The purpose of this student-led event is to discuss the lack of intersectionality in history classes resulting in many historical events being disconnected to the present. To View a Video of the Event: Intersectional History.
6:00pm-7:00pm: Podcasting the Future: Empowering Young People through History
Presented By: UnTextbooked Podcast / Got History?
Event Designed For: General Public, Students (6-12), Students (college and beyond), Educators, Parents, Administrators, Policymakers, Community Organizations
In this session, four youth leaders from Massachusetts spoke about their work in empowering young people with the power of narratives that strengthen their identity and connect them with a purpose to build a better future. They shared their own journeys, talked about the Award-winning Podcast they created (www.untextbooked.com) and distilled best practices for adult ally-ship with young changemakers for increased civic engagement. The discussion was moderated by got history? founder Fernande Raine. To View a Video of the Event: Podcasting the Future