Inspiring Civic Action

Never has there been a more consequential time for young people to confront the challenges facing our democracy, to engage with diverse perspectives, and to consider solutions to the complex issues of our time. This winter, Close Up is offering Inspiring Civic Action, a series of six online civic engagement workshops to bring together high school students from communities across the country.

Our curriculum specialists will also provide teachers with a virtual professional development training session and ready-to-use classroom resources to support continued student discussion at home.

Through a series of online discussions designed and facilitated by Close Up instructors, students will engage with peers nationwide for bi-weekly, one-hour sessions. In those sessions, students will build community, learn about and share their political values, deliberate about critical policy issues brought forward by young activists, and consider methods of activating members of their communities to take action.

By engaging students from different backgrounds in meaningful dialogue, we aim to help students develop empathy for the perspectives of others and build the skills and confidence to empower a generation of change-makers. Students will deliberate about pressing issues such as:

Health Care and COVID-19: COVID-19 has shown the ways in which social and economic factors affect health outcomes. How should we address inequalities of access and care in the United States?
Law Enforcement Reform: In the wake of nationwide protests, how should we address racial injustice in this country and reform police practices?

2021 PROGRAM OVERVIEW >

This program is intended for grades 9-12 and can be integrated into a current government or civics course, an advisory program, a club, or a leadership development opportunity like student council. During this time of social distancing, the series can also replace an experiential learning trip or a community service opportunity.

Dates:

National Program | Every Monday and Wednesday March 15 – March 31, 2021, from 7:00-8:00pm (EST) / 4:00-5:00pm (PST)

Pricing:

Individual Student (for 1-14 students): $175 per student
Classroom or Student Group (15-25 students): $3,500 per classroom/student group

For questions about scholarship opportunities, or if your school/group is interested in customizing dates for an entire grade, a course, or a specific group such as student government or a club, please email programsupport@closeup.org.

Participation in a Close Up program requires parent or guardian approval for any participants under 18 years of age.

Impact

Community Engagement Experience

Impact is a unique and engaging virtual program designed to help middle and high school students develop the skills necessary to pursue a passion, tackle a community need, and form a network with young leaders from across the U.S.

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Student Voices

Debate and Discuss the 2020 Election

Student Voices is a virtual program where students will interact with their peers nationwide and learn about the leading issues framing the 2020 election.

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Empowering Girls' Voices

100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

Empowering Girls’ Voices is a program that brings together students from schools nationwide to help them develop empathy for other perspectives, gain skills, and build confidence.

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Confront Challenges Facing Our Democracy

Inspiring Civic Action is a virtual program where students can share their political values, deliberate critical policy issues, and build a virtual community.

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Native Issues Online Summit

The Native Issues Online Summit is an online program for students to examine issues in their communities, nations, and the United States as a whole, and develop action plans to address those issues.

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