Civic LLC

Just released: the Fall '24 Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) featured cover story digs into the 20-year Graduation Nation effort to tackle America’s high school dropout crisis that led to historic improvements in graduation rates across the country. Progress "is possible, even in times of great political polarization."
Read the full article here: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/lessons-raising-graduation-rates #
by Bob Balfanz & John Bridgeland

Graduation Nation (SSIR) A 20-year campaign to address America’s high school dropout crisis produced unprecedented gains in graduation rates nationwide. Can lessons from this campaign help the nation cross this elusive threshold and inspire action on other social issues?

Save America’s sacred places for civic purposes Public action combined with private energy is urgently needed to save iconic religious properties and all the good works their leaders, members and volunteers do for needy people of all faiths (and…

Can Higher Education Help Renew American Democracy?
https://tinyurl.com/y58may9y

Our college students are seeking mentorship & guidance as they seek to participate in their democracy & advance the public good. " Civic education and engagement in our universities—educating toward self-government and engaged citizenship—could use a major reset."

In the latest issue of Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, John M. Bridgeland, Cecilia Muñoz & Danielle Allen remind us “that higher education has a vital role to play in our democratic renewal through engaging students’ civic learning and supporting their development as civic actors".

The full article can be found at the link above.
(Change: Volume 56, 2024 - Issue 2: Rethinking How Higher Education Can Serve the Public Good)

Can Higher Education Help Renew American Democracy? Published in Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning (Vol. 56, No. 2, 2024)

Let’s make ‘citizen’ a verb. Citizenship, rather than the presidency, the Senate, or governorship, is the highest political office in the United States, according to author Mortimer Adler. Imagine what a culture of citizenship could accomplish... Read the opinion piece on making 'citizen' a verb below

Let’s make ‘citizen’ a verb Recent studies show that more and more Americans are tuning out of politics.  Who can blame them? Today, we see a politics of personal promotion, rather than a politics that inspires…

CIVIC is proud to partner with Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and Coalition for Career Development Center to publish the new Policy Roadmap "Educating Future-Ready Students" . This report outlines what it means for students to be future-ready and provides a state policy roadmap for a PreK-12 education that prepares students to succeed in a rapidly changing world. View the report: https://bit.ly/3LbSQDD

A Developmental Framework for the Integration of Social and Emotional Learning and Career and Workforce Development - CASEL The purpose of this brief is to introduce a developmental framework for states working to systemically integrate evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) with career and workforce development efforts.

The second event of the semester (a series hosted by Karsh Institute of Democracy and the Miller Center of Public Affairs) centered on a discussion about the stability and relevance of global democracy in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine this last Wednesday on Zoom.

“We’re pushing hard for the United States to step up, support the people of Ukraine in addition to the financial, economic, some level of military aid and the other levers we’re pulling,” John Bridgeland said.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2022/03/democracy-dialogues-panelists-urge-support-for-ukraine-amidst-decreasing-global-democracy

Democracy Dialogues panelists urge support for Ukraine amidst decreasing global democracy The first portion of the discussion questioned the role of international intervention in the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a “defense of democracy,” particularly in the context of the declining stability of global democracy.

A new resource with Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and the Coalition for Career Development Center introduces a developmental framework for states working to systemically integrate evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) with career and workforce development efforts.

Why is SEL Career and Workforce Development needed?
1. The future of work is changing & even more uncertain than just 2 years ago
2. Top companies emphasize the importance of for success
3. There is an urgent need to advance equitable environments in education

Read here: https://casel.org/sel-workforce-brief-03-2022/

A Developmental Framework for the Integration of Social and Emotional Learning and Career and Workforce Development - CASEL The purpose of this brief is to introduce a developmental framework for states working to systemically integrate evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) with career and workforce development efforts.

After the evacuation of Afghans from Kabul, Americans from all backgrounds, sectors and politics moved toward the challenge of helping them relocate.

And thanks to the Welcome.Us initiative, you can too. Read more about the initiative below, and visit https://welcome.us/ to act. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2022/02/04/afghan-refugees-warm-welcome-us/9253071002/?fbclid=IwAR0Lxkr02I7qTvePUk-a0PVt6Q9seUIobomKcZJsTs1l6uD8uJ7cbd6ItHE

Afghan refugees needed help. Americans stepped up to say, 'Welcome to your new home.' After the evacuation of Afghans from Kabul, Americans from all backgrounds, sectors and politics moved toward the challenge of helping them relocate.

A recent report from COVID Collaborative shed light on the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on our nation’s children. More than 167,000 children have lost a parent, custodial grandparent, or other in-home caregiver, and more than 13,000 children have lost their only in-home caregiver.

In an op-ed for The Hill, John Bridgeland and Dan Treglia call upon the American people to come together as a united country to care for these children in need:

https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/586254-a-call-to-action-to-help-americas-children-who-lost-caregivers?rl=1

A call to action to help America's children who lost caregivers COVID’s hidden loss is the moral equivalent of children calling to us from the wreckage of a collapsed building.

Civic is grateful for this community and our partners who were focused on increasing high school graduation rates, postsecondary attainment, & social and emotional learning in 2021.

Wishing you a happy and safe holiday season. We look forward to working with you in 2022!

John Bridgeland shares why COVID-bereaved children need our support, following COVID Collaborative's Hidden Pain report on the more than 167,000 children who lost a caregiver due to the pandemic—"COVID orphans."

“COVID-bereaved children can remind us of the good we can do as Americans when we come together to reflect what President Lincoln called the 'better angels of our nature.'"

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/2021/12/13/opinion-covid-bereaved-children-need-our-support/6460362001/

Opinion: COVID-bereaved children need our support More than 70,000 children have lost a parent and 13,000 lost their only caregiver to COVID-19.

Today, COVID Collaborative released a report with new data about the 167k+ children that lost parents and caregivers to . The loss disproportionately landed on younger children and those who have faced adversity. https://www.covidcollaborative.us/initiatives/hidden-pain

On Tuesday, December 14th from 11:00am – 12:00pm EST, please join the Miller Center of Public Affairs for the webinar, “The COVID crisis: Past, present, and future,” featuring John Bridgeland, COVID Collaborative Co-Founder and CEO, former Governor Deval Patrick, COVID Collaborative Co-Chair, and Dr. Carlos del Rio.

As the world continues to reckon with new waves of infection and issues associated with vaccine rollout, guest speakers will be discussing key lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic thus far and next steps for the future of addressing this virus.

Register here: https://millercenter.org/news-events/events/covid-crisis-past-present-and-future

The COVID crisis: Past, present, and future | Miller Center Since the late winter of 2019, the world has been consumed and transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the rise and waning of variants and successive waves of infection, together with the rollout of vaccines around the world and some associated hesitancy related to them, now is a good time to ta...

The Welcome Fund is supporting organizations that provide short-term and long-term housing for Afghan families.
https://www.philanthropy.com/article/high-powered-effort-to-help-resettle-afghan-refugees-awards-8-3-million-in-grants

High-Powered Effort to Help Resettle Afghan Refugees Awards $8.3 Million in Grants Officials from the Bush and Obama administrations started Welcome.US, which aims to make it easier for people and businesses to plug into efforts to welcome refugees.

Read John Bridgeland's op-ed honoring Colin Powell: "he left a legacy of hope for millions of children." https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/2021/11/10/opinion-colin-powell-left-legacy-hope-millions-children/6337658001/

Opinion: Colin Powell left a legacy of hope for millions of children Colin Powell was never more passionate and engaged than when he was interacting with our talking about vulnerable kids.

“I feel like educators need to really talk to and get to know their students. And research the things that your students are telling you or experiencing. There are learning disabilities and other experiences that I don’t even know about – educators need to really know about those things and know how they impact students so they can actually relate to their students.” - Cassidy McClellan, Educational advocate & sophomore education major at Alabama A&M University

Research from the convening partners of the campaign - Civic LLC, Alliance for Excellent Education, Everyone Graduates Center, and America's Promise - found that graduation rates were at an all-time high just before the pandemic. While educators and state leaders may be wondering how to address new college and career readiness challenges, students already have answers.

Cassidy and other youth panelists shared their thoughts at the virtual release event for the 2021 Building A Grad Nation Report - find a link to the report and to watch the event recording in the comments!

[ID: A young woman wearing a black shirt and blue jacket poses with her hands next to her face and smiles.]

Disruptions to schooling fall hardest on vulnerable students Complications wrought by the pandemic persist in schools and often fall hardest on those least able to weather them

What did high school graduation rates look like pre-pandemic?

Download the 2021 Building A report with Everyone Graduates Center, Alliance for Excellent Education, and America's Promise Alliance to find out: https://www.americaspromise.org/report/2021-building-grad-nation-report

"Today, the CORPS Act — a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by, among others, Sens. Chris C***s (D-Del.), who served in AmeriCorps, and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) — would increase the living stipend so more Americans of all backgrounds can serve in these programs. But it still awaits movement in Congress," write Mary Ellen Sprenkel, CEO of The Corps Network, and John Bridgeland in The Hill. https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/575949-we-cannot-miss-this-big-moment-for-national-service

We cannot miss this big moment for national service The proposed Civilian Climate Corps could foster a generation of diverse leaders who work together to get things done.

Just 4% of school districts accounted for half of non-graduates in 2019. What steps can states take to address the challenges these districts face? Read more in the 2021 Building A Grad Nation report: https://www.americaspromise.org/report/2021-building-grad-nation-report Everyone Graduates Center Alliance for Excellent Education America's Promise Alliance

While historically marginalized student groups have lower graduation rates, they were also making the largest gains before COVID-19 https://www.americaspromise.org/report/2021-building-grad-nation-report Everyone Graduates Center Alliance for Excellent Education America's Promise Alliance

Today's Building A report was released with 50 state 'Meeting the Moment' data profiles. How does your state compare to national graduation rates? Which student groups were making progress pre-pandemic?

Download your state profile here: https://gradnation.americaspromise.org/state-activation #/ (Click on your state, select download)
Everyone Graduates Center Alliance for Excellent Education America's Promise Alliance

Read the report: https://www.americaspromise.org/report/2021-building-grad-nation-report

NEW! Graduation rates among low-income students reached an all-time high in 2019. How can states continue this progress in the face of COVID-19? Everyone Graduates Center Alliance for Excellent Education America's Promise Alliance https://www.americaspromise.org/report/2021-building-grad-nation-report

WEDNESDAY, join us, America's Promise Alliance, Everyone Graduates Center, & Alliance for Excellent Education as we explore the challenges high schoolers faced across the country in the final year of data before the COVID-19 pandemic: https://americaspromise.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__8Rh1Wo5Qb-mVXd3RLRs6Q

Right now, the United States is facing some of the most significant challenges in its history. The new : Citizenship in Crisis examines these challenges and an array of civic health indicators.

Key points of the report include:
→ Protests for racial equity in the summer of 2020 engaged an estimated 15 to 26 million people; the largest in the country’s history.
→ The 2020 election had the highest voter turnout of the 21st century: 66.8%
→ For the first time, nontraditional voting (i.e. by mail or before the election) was more common than casting a ballot in person.
→ Americans were less likely to follow COVID-19 rules closely than other countries in 2020, leading to concern for others & disappointment.
→ Membership of large-scale civic institutions, including unions, churches and other religious organizations, and daily newspapers, continued to decline.

Read the full report by Civic LLC, with Miller Center of Public Affairs, UVA Democracy Initiative, National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), and the Partnership for American Democracy: https://millercenter.org/democracy-biennial/civic-health-index-2021

The 2021 Building a release will feature 50 state profiles examining each state’s remaining challenges in graduating students ready for college & career. Join America's Promise Alliance, Everyone Graduates Center, & Alliance for Excellent Education on 10/6 to discuss: https://americaspromise.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__8Rh1Wo5Qb-mVXd3RLRs6Q

Today marks the official launch of Welcome.Us, a movement to support the thousands of Afghan refugees entering America through food, shelter, and clothing.

Looking for ways to get involved? The Welcome Fund will provide grants to nonprofits supporting this work. You can also donate time & resources, host a family through Airbnb, and sponsor an arriving family.

The movement is co-chaired by Cecilia Muñoz and John Bridgeland, former Directors of the White House Domestic Policy Council under Presidents Obama and Bush, respectively.

Learn how you can help the resettlement efforts at http://welcome.us.

Welcome.US Join the national coalition working together to welcome Afghan refugees.

"But what if, in addition to scrutinizing our government’s work, Americans mobilized to help support Afghan refugees today and learned about the challenges they and other refugees and asylum seekers face?"

John Bridgeland and Cecilia Muñoz, senior adviser to New America and former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Obama, encourage Americans to mobilize support for Afghan refugees. Read the full op-ed in The Hill here: https://thehill.com/opinion/international/568994-resettling-afghan-refugees-is-america-at-its-finest?rl=1

Resettling Afghan refugees is America at its finest We have never regretted the times when we have resettled people in crisis to become our fellow Americans.

As communities across the country prepare for the upcoming school year, we ask: What kinds of learning are most needed to address this moment and support young people long term?

In a recent report, both parents and teachers overwhelmingly demand a holistic view of education that prepares students for life, via both social and emotional learning ( ) and service-learning. On Aug. 27, 11am ET, join us for a conversation with Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and National Association of State Boards of Education focused on building a connection between these key areas.

Register: https://bit.ly/2TDyIoZ

Civic’s recent report on service-learning: https://bit.ly/2VN5RPU

Dr. Mark McClellan (Duke-Robert J. Margolis, MD, Center for Health Policy), Andy Slavitt (former White House senior advisor), and John Bridgeland (Civic and the COVID Collaborative) call upon the help of American businesses to create through measures that minimize the risks of COVID-19. These steps include maximizing vaccinations, requiring proof of vaccination, regular testing, incentivizing vaccinations, and mask use in accordance with CDC guidelines. [via USA TODAY] https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/08/05/private-sector-covid-safe-zones-help-end-pandemic/5487027001/

Health leaders: We're asking American businesses to create #COVIDSafeZones. Here's how. Our vulnerability to delta-driven COVID outbreaks is a competitive disadvantage given that other industrialized nations have higher vaccination rates.