At the end of July, high school students throughout the District came together for the first annual HISD Civic Ambassador Training. The brainchild of HISD’s Community Partnerships Department, the training offered students an opportunity to become their schools’ “Civic Ambassadors.”
The rapid thumps of hearts beating with thrill, the rejuvenating scent of exhilaration in the air, the movement of gliding past people swiftly. This is not a group of kids whizzing through a ski run—this is a group of 26 PHS students receiving an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON—The Close Up Foundation partnered with A Starting Point (ASP) to bring students from Maryland and Virginia to the White House on January 30 for a wide-ranging discussion with administration officials about youth civic engagement and policy priorities relating to energy, the environment, and the economy.
Approximately 60 students and teachers took part in the event, which included remarks by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and a Q&A with Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. ASP’s co-founders, actor and director Chris Evans and actor and director Mark Kassen, moderated the discussion.
“It means a lot to us to be here,” said Kassen. “There’s a lot of people who will be coming of the age where it’s their first chance to participate in democracy officially, and our goal of making sure we can help … demystify government, making people feel it’s a little more accessible, is really important to us.”
Close Up is the official education partner of ASP, a website, app, and media distribution platform that seeks to be an unbiased resource for information and civic engagement. Together, the two organizations created ASP Homeroom to educate students on pressing current issues, bring lawmakers into the classroom, and create interactive learning opportunities.
“We have been working with students for more than 50 years and creating opportunities for them to become informed and engaged citizens,” said Close Up President Mia Charity. “So, a platform like A Starting Point is a great resource for young people to get their first bites of what’s going on in politics and the issues that are impacting their lives and communities.”
Participating in the White House event were 11th- and 12th-graders in two Washington-area school districts: Virginia’s Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) and Maryland’s Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS).
As the second-largest school division in Virginia, PWCS is partnering with Close Up to implement student voice committees in all 14 of its high schools, giving students a place at the table where decisions are made. As part of that effort, Close Up has worked with PWCS students to build community, conduct facilitation training, and lead deliberations about important issues impacting their communities.
Close Up is also a longtime partner of PGCPS, one of the nation’s 20 largest school districts. In 2023-2024, Close Up is facilitating a congressional simulation series for PGCPS high school students, giving them the chance to engage with peers across the county on critical policy issues. Close Up is also partnering with PGCPS to conduct week-long summer civic engagement programs that include meetings with elected officials, workshops on political values and current issues, and college readiness seminars.
Contact us today for more information about partnering with Close Up.
WEST BROWARD, FLA. (WSVN) – Approximately 300 foreign-born and newly arrived immigrants, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) high school students, are set to participate in Rally to the Tally for new Floridians starting Tuesday.
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with Arizona high school students from Xavier College Preparatory and Brophy College Preparatory visiting Washington D.C. as part of the Close Up program, sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Arlington, VA – The Close Up Foundation is pleased to announce that it has merged with the National Network of Schools in Partnership (NNSP), with NNSP becoming a division of Close Up effective July 1, 2023. The new division will be overseen by NNSP’s longtime executive director, Blake Kohn, and the entirety of Close Up will remain under the purview of Close Up CEO Eric Adydan.
Franchise teams with Close Up to send high school students on team plane…Johnson’s essay was what got him to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Wednesday morning, one of 260 students chosen — based on their essays — to take part in the second annual Civics Matter Arizona trip to Washington D.C. Pairing with the Close Up Foundation…
“I definitely recommend this trip. It is a fun learning experience, and the memories I have made there I will surely never forget…You also get to hear different types of opinions from your group mates on government issues.” – Josie Smith
12News travelled alongside a group of Arizona high school students who visited the nation’s capitol to learn necessary skills in government.
Arlington, VA—The Close Up Foundation is pleased to announce that it has named Mia Charity as its new president and Stephanie Stargell as chief financial and operating officer, effective March 23, 2023.
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