05/29/2026
🌷Civics Days in Full Bloom:
Students Leading Change Across the Country
This spring, as we celebrate 15 years of student-led change, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing young people across the country step up as civic leaders during Civics Days.
From rural California to Kentucky to Connecticut, students are proving what’s possible when they are given the tools, support, and opportunities to lead change in their communities.
Delano, California Civics Day
In California’s Central Valley, at Wonderful College Prep Academy, more than 50 students presented projects focused on issues impacting their communities, including equitable SAT access, air quality, street safety, and healthy eating initiatives. Student speakers reflected on how the experience strengthened their confidence and belief in their ability to create change.
San Ramon, California Civics Day
Middle and high school students presented their projects to local community leaders, including San Ramon’s mayor, who served as a first-time Community Advisor. The Mayor was highly impressed by the presentations and pledged to bring multiple student issues to the next city council meeting to address the needs the students targeted, such as managing the impact of invasive species in their local environment and expanding local bus lines to promote higher public transportation rates and increase access. Additionally, our student changemaker awardees spoke about the importance of adults and policymakers listening to the voices of young people, which deeply resonated with the audience and underscored the real-world importance of our work.
Hazard, Kentucky’s 1st Civic Showcase
At Hazard High School’s inaugural Civic Showcase, students presented directly to local leaders, including the Mayor and county officials. After hearing a student presentation about unsafe road conditions, the Mayor immediately dispatched a crew to begin improvements — a powerful example of student advocacy leading to real-world action. Students expressed how transformative this experience was, noting it was their first time addressing real issues in their community. Presenting to community members was not just a milestone for them, but also a powerful affirmation of their voices and efforts.
Connecticut’s 1st Civics Day
This month also marked Generation Citizen’s first Civics Day in Connecticut, at the State Capitol in Hartford. Students shared their work alongside educators, policymakers, and community leaders, including the Connecticut Secretary of the State and civics teacher/State Legislator Kevin Brown. Their presence underscored the growing momentum behind civic education in Connecticut and the future rollout of the state’s Civics Seal.
These moments are reminders that civic learning grows far beyond the classroom. When students are trusted to lead, communities listen.
As part of our 15th anniversary celebration, we’ll be sharing stories and reflections from our upcoming anniversary report releasing later this summer. One of those reflections comes from Paula Vaughan, a volunteer and donor who has supported Generation Citizen since our early days in Texas:
“Civics training, especially learning through doing something, is so valuable. It teaches root cause analysis, critical thinking, understanding of community and power structures, teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills. These are critical life skills, especially in a democracy.”
For 15 years, supporters like Paula have helped Generation Citizen grow from a single-classroom initiative into a national movement for student-led civic action.
As we look toward the next 15 years, your support helps ensure more young people can build the skills, confidence, and leadership needed to strengthen our democracy. Please consider making a gift to our spring campaign, 🌱Rooted in Action: 15 Years of Student-Led Change.
