Generation Citizen

Envisioning Tomorrow wasn’t just an event name — it was a call to action. On July 29, Generation Citizen, in partnership with DoSomething and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, hosted a dynamic gathering that brought New York City youth together to envision what our democracy could look like in the years ahead. As America approaches its 250th birthday, we asked a different kind of question: what if we didn't just look back, but also looked ahead? Generation Citizen had the pleasure of facilitating a workshop entitled Harvesting the Power of Imagination to Visualize Our Civic Future, which invited students to use creative tools like Legos, skits, writing, and drawing to design and reimagine what their communities could look like in the year 2050 and beyond. From the idea of free college access for all to strategies for eradicating gun violence, these students didn’t hold back. They brought bold ideas to the forefront and not only showed us that they had a voice, but that they have no problem using their voices to promote action and move us toward the bright future they are envisioning. We're proud to have held space for these urgent, youth-led conversations. As we continue building toward America250, one thing is clear: the next generation isn’t waiting to lead — they’re already doing it! #generationcitizen #envisioningtomorrow #youthvoice #civiceducation #america250 #futurefocused #democracy #civics #civiceducation #youthempowerment

Summer of Civics: Skill of the Day — Confidence Confidence is the belief in one’s own abilities and potential. It’s also a skill that empowers young people to take initiative and drive change. After participating in Civics Day, one student speaker shared how civic engagement helped them discover a newfound sense of self-assurance. Through their project, they realized that “every person has the ability to change things in their lives, to make their community and the world better.” Today’s student reminds us that confidence isn’t just about speaking up — it’s about believing you can make a difference, and acting on it. Look out for the next installment of the Summer of Civics! #civics #civicseducation #summer #generationcitizen #studentadvocate #youthempowerment #community #youngpeople

NYC Public Schools have achieved a major milestone in civic learning! For the graduating class of 2024–25, 7,855 students earned the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness — a 72% increase from the previous year and a remarkable 1,121% increase since the Seal’s launch in the 2021–22 school year. Congratulations to NYC Public Schools, the educators, and the students who made this achievement possible. This growth reflects a deep commitment to preparing young people not just for graduation, but for a lifetime of civic leadership. At Generation Citizen, we’re honored to partner with schools and teachers who are helping students build the skills and confidence to lead in their communities. Leaders like Sarah Scrogin, Principal of GC partner school East Bronx Academy for the Future, are showing what it looks like to prioritize civic learning as essential to student success. "Seeing our students and teachers collaborate together so that students earn the Seal of Civic Readiness has been incredibly rewarding.” - Principal Sarah Scrogin Read the official announcement here: https://lnkd.in/edfMRxCF Explore GC's revised New York State Seal of Civic Readiness Toolkit, supporting schools in building Seal of Civic Readiness programming: https://lnkd.in/eCgdjpd8) #generationcitizen #civicreadiness #civics #civiceducation #education #studentvoice #nyc #publicschools

What if the skills we call “soft” are actually civic? Leading across departments. Facilitating group decision making. Shaping policies, budgets, or values in your workplace. These are not just professional wins. They are civic wins too. At Generation Citizen, we believe civic learning builds more than informed voters. It shapes inclusive, collaborative leaders who can navigate power, complexity, and change. And that shows up everywhere from classrooms to boardrooms. If your work involves listening, organizing, building trust, or creating systems that serve people, you are practicing civic leadership. It is time we start naming it. This is the first in our series exploring how civic skills show up at work. Stay tuned and join the conversation. What civic skills have helped you lead at work? Drop them in the comments. #civicskills #leadershipdevelopment #generationcitizen #communitybasedcivics #professionalgrowth #rethinkleadership

MYTH: “Local elections don’t affect me.” TRUTH: Local elections shape daily life. These decisions are made by people in your community: school boards, town or city councils, county officials, and more. That means your voice carries more weight than you think. When students learn how local power works, they begin to see their communities, and their role in them, differently. That’s the impact of community-based civics! Contact a Generation Citizen Program Manager today to explore how you can bring this work into your classroom and help students turn knowledge into action. #civicsmythbusting #generationcitizen #communitybasedcivics #youthvoice #civiclearning

“What unfolded this year was nothing short of astounding. I stand in awe of my students—prophets of their own liberation.” In our latest blog post, Boston educator Mansur Buffins reflects on what it meant to teach Black Studies while supporting students through a Generation Citizen community-based civics project. The result? A powerful campaign to reimagine public safety funding in their community—led by students, grounded in research, and uplifted by hope. From testifying at City Hall to being featured in The Bay State Banner, these students are redefining what civic courage looks like. And their teacher is right there beside them, showing what’s possible when we equip young people to speak truth to power. Read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/etUzVtHQ #generationcitizen #civiceducation #youthvoice #blackstudies #civicaction #studentpower

Summer of Civics: Skill of the Day — Perseverance When one student leader realized their school’s bathrooms lacked access to quality period products, they took action. From knocking on doors and handing out flyers to fundraising and rallying community support, they led a grassroots effort that stocked the school’s bathrooms with free menstrual products. Perseverance is the ability to persist through challenges and setbacks to achieve a goal. Today's student speaker emphasizes the importance of persistence even when it is not always rewarding. With their project being successful at their school, this student hopes to expand to other schools in their area and their larger community. Look out for the next installment of the Summer of Civics! #civics #civicseducation #summer #generationcitizen #studentadvocate #youthempowerment #community #youngpeople

Summer of Civics: Skill of the Day — Problem Solving At New York Civics Day, student leader Autumn tackled the growing gap between minimum wage and the cost of living. Their project explored how increasing wages in line with rising expenses, like housing, food, and healthcare, could help ensure financial security for all. Problem-solving means more than just identifying an issue. It’s about digging into root causes, thinking critically, and proposing actionable solutions. That’s exactly what Autumn and their classmates did, and it's why youth voice matters. Stay tuned for the next skill in our Summer of Civics series! Hope you have a great weekend #summerofcivics #civiclearning #studentvoice #civicengagement #problemsolving #generationcitizen #youthleadership #civics #youthempowerment

What does civic engagement look like in rural communities, and how can we ensure that young people in those areas have meaningful opportunities to lead? In our latest blog post, we feature a conversation between Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, a national expert on youth civic engagement and one of the originators of the concept of Civic Deserts, and Generation Citizen’s Senior Program Director for the South, Megan Brandon. Together, they reflect on the unique dynamics of rural communities—including the challenges of access, representation, and infrastructure—and the possibilities that emerge when young people are empowered to lead. Drawing from personal experience and field-based work, Kei and Megan discuss what it means to build trust, foster belonging, and create sustainable civic pathways in regions that are too often left out of national narratives. This interview is part of Generation Citizen’s new initiative, supported by Carnegie Corporation of New York, which focuses on strengthening civic health in rural communities and ensuring that all young people, regardless of their location, are equipped to participate in our democracy. Read the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/diN2BZew #civiceducation #ruralcommunities #youthvoice #civicengagement #generationcitizen #civics

This summer, we are excited to showcase the extraordinary efforts of student leaders through our Summer of Civic Skills campaign! By voicing concerns about the issues that impact their lives and taking direct action, students throughout the country are changing their schools and local communities. Each installment of this series will highlight the ways students are exercising their problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership skills and getting career-ready through civic engagement. Stay tuned for a series of impactful student speeches, presentations, and interviews! #civics #civicseducation #summer #generationcitizen #studentadvocate #youthempowerment #community #youngpeople