2015 Annual Report Contents

A POSITIVE VOICE FOR POLITICS 2015 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS 5 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6 MISSION & VISION 7 THE PROBLEM 12 CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF POLITICAL ACTION 14 ACTION CIVICS IN & BEYOND THE CLASSROOM 20 EDUCATING FOR DEMOCRACY: A CONVENING WITH THE FORD FOUNDATION 22 ANNUAL CIVIC TECH CHALLENGE 23 OUR IMPACT 24 FROM THE PRESS 25 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 27 OUR SUPPORTERS 3 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEAR FRIENDS, Four months ago, I knew my friends This year, Generation Citizen celebrated its fifth Therefore, the definition of politics is actually, according were struggling, but I had no idea anniversary. It’s amazing to think about how far we’ve to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, “the total complex come in such a short time - from an idea, to a pilot in of relations between people living in society.” Politics their struggle had a name. I know three classrooms in Providence, RI, to working with is, literally, about people working together to get now that they’re caught in the almost 8,000 students in four sites this past school stuff done. This real definition of politics is exciting. school-to-prison pipeline. Because of year. Just as a democracy only works with full citizen It’s necessary. It is the best part of living in America participation, GC has only gone this far because of the today - not the fantastic hoopla we see on TV and talk Generation Citizen, I learned not only dedicated people who believe deeply in our mission shows. Citizens working together as citizens to the name of this issue, but also the - from our committed staff to our devoted Board of “get stuff done” - that’s essentially what Generation complex causes and major effects Directors, from our tireless volunteer Democracy Citizen is. Coaches to our underappreciated classroom teachers. that are impacting my generation. As we hit five years, the part of GC that makes me Every day at GC, students are disagreeing and I never understood that my friends’ proudest is the countless people we have worked with agreeing, working through the Advocacy Hourglass to promote action civics nationwide. in our curriculum, figuring out their passions, and and my problems mattered to taking concrete action. They are meeting with Council the rest of society - I assumed This year was our best yet. Our program continued to Members on public transit, advocating for student that nobody cared. GC helped me improve, and students took effective action on issues voice in district decisions, testifying at legislative recognize that I not only could, but ranging from police-community relations to affordable hearings. They are getting political. housing to teen unemployment. These are big issues, should, be an active and engaged and issues that will only be solved with effective youth And so, when you think of politics as this election citizen. When I met with Senator Pat input. We continued to build up our organizational season descends upon you, don’t get sucked into the Jehlen (D-MA), she made me realize infrastructure, raising more money than ever before negativity. Focus on the positive potential that and adding more capacity in our sites. We began to we see every day at GC. For us, there is nothing that I have power in my voice. I could make build a movement nationwide for action civics, as powerful as the concept of a democracy. And express my ideas about the struggles hosting a national convening at the Ford Foundation, we work towards that every day at GC. If you’re I’ve witnessed and experienced. I and preparing to release papers to make the case for onboard with our mission and want to help bring action why educating young people to be active citizens is civics to scale in the United States, let’s work together learned that my opinion matters to necessary to address so many of the issues plaguing to “get stuff done.” You can reach me at people in power. our country - especially increasing social inequality. [email protected]. At the same time, we would be remiss in talking about To the year ahead, De’Anthony Robinson the work we are doing to get young people active in Brighton High School, the political process without addressing the overall GC Greater Boston disdain with which our collective society currently views Scott Warren politics. In the face of this upcoming presidential Co-Founder and Executive Director election, no one wants to talk “politics.” When we hear politics, we think gridlock. We think dysfunction. We think partisan warfare. But at GC, we focus on the positivity of politics. The root of the word “politics” is from the Greek word “politikos,” which means, of, for, or relating to citizens. 4 5 OUR MISSION THE PROBLEM: YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS Generation Citizen works to ensure Young people want to make a difference. But they volunteering and charities - not through do not see institutional politics, and interacting with political action. that every student in the United government, as the way to create change. Despite States receives an effective action the influx of issues currently facing our country, young But politics still matters - it’s the best way to solve people are increasingly divorcing themselves from the the pressing issues of our time, from the economy civics education, which provides political process. This is occurring despite concrete to immigration. And we are not teaching young them with the knowledge and evidence of youth idealism and energy in other social, people the knowledge and skills necessary to be non-political arenas, and an anecdotal intensive active citizens. A recent National Assessment of skills necessary to participate in growth in social movement activity amongst young Educational Progress test demonstrated that only our democracy as active citizens. people. In fact, the majority of young people in America 23% of 8th graders were proficient in civics. The recent care deeply about political issues like the economy, focus on STEM education and focus on standardized immigration, and gun violence. Yet, while over half of testing of core subjects, while necessary in some Millennials regularly volunteer, even more think that respects, has largely pushed the discipline of civics out the best way to make positive change is through of the classroom. And the impact of this shows. OUR VISION Of 179 recognized democracies around the world, the US ranks 139th in voter participation. We envision a country of young people working as active citizens to collectively rebuild our American democracy. Only 1/3 of eligible voters actually participated in the 2012 presidential election, which means that more people didn’t vote, than voted for President Barack Obama. 6 7 ...AND IT LEADS TO A VICIOUS CYCLE THE SOLUTION: BRINGING CIVICS BACK: ACTION CIVICS Trust in the federal government Generation Citizen believes every student has the right to learn how to effectively has dropped dramatically. In 1973, participate as citizens. We inspire civic a majority of young people believed participation through a proven Common that government would do the right Core-aligned action civics class that gives students the opportunity to experience thing, and today, only 20% do. real-world democracy. Through student- driven projects, youth learn how to effect policy change by engaging with IN 1973, PEW FOUND THAT local government and leaders to solve community problems. MOST YOUNG PEOPLEIN 19 73, PEW FOUND THAT IN 1973, PEW FOUND THAT TRUSTED THE FEDERALMOST YOUNG PEOPLEGC students receive an effective, MOST YOUNG PEOPLE action-oriented civics education that GOVERNMENT TO TDORUSTED THE THE FEDERAL TRUSTED THE FEDERAL promotes long-term civic engagement RIGHT THING. GOVERNMENT TO DOand THE builds collaboration, communication, GOVERNMENT TO DO THE RIGHT THING. and critical thinking skills that students RIGHT THING.NOW ONLY 20% OF will need throughout their lives. The MILLENIALS TRUST THE result is passionate and responsible NOW ONLY 20% OF civic participation that will help NOW ONLY 20% OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENTMILLENIALS TRUST THE create the more active citizenry MILLENIALS TRUST THE and more responsive government TO DO WHAT IS RIGHTFEDERAL GOVERNMENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT of our future. MOST OF THE TIME.TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT MOST OF THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME. So it’s no surprise that political behavior has declined, too. In the 2014 miderm elections, only 20% of 18-29 year olds voted - the lowest youth turnout on record. 8 9 WHAT IS ACTION CIVICS? LEARN ABOUT THE common core & state WHAT IS ACTIONstanda CIVICS?rds-aligned OUR REACH POLITICAL PROCESS student-centered BY ENGAGING IN THE WHAT IS ACTION CIVICS? LEARN ABOUT THE POLITICAL PROCESSsemester-long, BY ENGAGINGschool- IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AN EDUCATOR’S PERSPECTIVE... POLITICAL PROCESS based course 01 LEARN ABOUT THE Commoncommon Corecore & statestate Gaining the skills to meaningfully participate in then collaborate with their peers to solve it and to Students debate and build standards-alignedstandards-aligned our democracy is especially critical for low-income communicate effectively and persuasively. These consensus around POLITIan issue CAL PROCESS students, both because our current weak campaign skills are ones they will also need to be successful in Student-centeredstudent-centered that personally affects them finance laws allow those with money to speak louder in college and in their future careers. [Action civics] gave e.g. gang violence, publicB transit,Y ENG AGING IN THE teen jobs, etc. Semester-long,semester-long, school-school- our democracy and because too many students from students control over their learning. Each class got to POLITICAL PROCESS basedbased coursecourse low-income families have parents who cannot vote choose the issue they worked on and could see how 01 due to their immigration status or criminal records.

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