My guest today is DeNora Getachew from Generation Citizen. She and her nonprofit are working tirelessly to bring civics education to the next generation. Generation Citizen encourages young people to actively engage in democracy. This educational nonprofit goes into public school classrooms to get kids excited about democracy by following a curriculum that uses action-based learning. Listen in to this episode to find out more about the revolutionary work that DeNora and Generation Civics are doing to educate the next generation.
How to bring civics back into the classroom
It may seem like civics education has been de-emphasized in our country. Kids today graduate and truly don’t understand or care how to participate in our democracy. Generation Citizen is teaching kids how government affects our daily lives by giving them knowledge and providing them with long-term projects for them to engage in. Kids are becoming active participants in democracy. And Generation Citizen is using education to improve democracy. DeNora is so pumped about democracy that she will make you pumped up about it too, so listen in if you are ready to get excited about democracy.
Action-based learning can be the cure for civics education
Civics is often taught in a boring manner. Kids are given facts and figures and not shown how civics can affect their daily lives. Generation Citizen connects and invigorates civics for kids of the 21st-century democracy. In this day and age of instant gratification and social media, it can be hard for children or even adults to understand the slow speed of policy change. Did you know that it took 72 years to achieve suffrage? This slowness can be difficult for a generation of kids raised with instant gratification to understand, but Generation Citizen is helping them understand and even participate in real project-based learning that makes a difference in their own community.
Revitalizing democracy one community at a time
One way that Generation Citizen is trying to make change is by reaching out in rural areas as well as in urban ones. In places with low populations, there are often what is referred to as ‘civic deserts.’ Civic deserts are places where there is little to no change taking place because there is no one to enact changes. By teaching civics in an active and engaging way in these populations kids can make a huge change in their communities. Listen to this discussion to hear more about how Generation Citizen is changing the world one community at a time.
Politics is not a dirty word
The United States has become so politically divided. How do we engage in meaningful discourse about politics and democracy? There are a few ways to make a change in the political divide. We need to begin discussing politics in meaningful ways. Get off social media and the anonymity of the internet and put a face to the other side of the coin. Form sound arguments, speak out at community meetings, host political meetings, write op-ed pieces to your local paper. These are all ways to participate in politics and really understand where the other side is coming from. By doing that you can understand the other side and start making real changes in our communities. Listen to this fascinating discussion to hear what you can be doing to break down the political divide.
Episode Highlights
- 9:56 – What is the source of the political apathy
- 12:07 – How is democracy different in the 21st century
- 16:16 – How did she get into this work
- 20:12 – Her toughest moment
- 23:12 – Why it’s important to remember our past
- 26:28 – How do we turn complaints into policy change
- 29:37 – How to inspire engagement when leaders don’t look like the population
- 36:02 – How do we engage in meaningful discourse about politics and democracy
Resources Mentioned
1. Favorite book for women?
- We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – “If we are not all feminists, we are not interested in equality.”
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Planning vacations, whether I take them or not.
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- “Write your personal mission statement,” given by Stephanie Berger a friend and mentor.
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
- There are so many, but here are a few. Professor Christina Greer at Fordham University is talking about race and politics and history. Kimberly Peeler-Allen and Glynda Carr at Higher Heights are focused on getting black women elected at different levels around the country.
5. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- Be patient, be confident, know that the work you’re doing will bear fruit.
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