Civics Learning Project

STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDES THE WE THE PEOPLE PROGRAM IN WHICH STUDENTS TEST THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES IN A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TYPE SESSION, AS WELL AS MOCK TRIAL WHICH CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO ASSUME ROLES OF ATTORNEYS AND WITNESSES IN A FICTIONAL TRIAL. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE COMPETITIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT REGIONAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS WHICH BRING TOGETHER MORE THAN 1,800 STUDENTS FROM ACROSS OREGON, AS WELL AS VERSIONS THAT TEACHERS CAN DIRECTLY INTEGRATE INTO THEIR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM. OTHER EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS, A CURRICULUM FOR GRADES 5-12 IN WHICH STUDENTS IDENTIFY A PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE AND DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS IT; COURTHOUSE EXPERIENCE TOURS WHERE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR LEARN ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WATCH THE LAW COME ALIVE THROUGH REAL CASES DURING A GUIDED TOUR OF COUNTY COURTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; AND THE LAW DAY CONFERENCE WHICH PROVIDES WORKSHOPS ON A VARIETY OF LEGAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL ISSUES CONCERNING YOUTH AND TAUGHT BY SCHOLARS, ACTIVISTS AND OTHER EXPERTS. IN ADDITION, FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THE ORGANIZATIONS STAFF MEMBERS HAVE PROVIDED INSTRUCTION FOR LAW STUDENTS FROM LEWIS & CLARK LAW SCHOOL, ENABLING THEM TO TEACH STREET LAW TO STUDENTS IN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE VERY REAL WAYS IN WHICH THE LAW APPLIES TO THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. THESE STUDENT PROGRAMS BENEFIT FROM THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FROM CLOSE TO 600 ATTORNEYS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES AND CIVIC LEADERS FROM AROUND THE STATE.

OUTREACH & COMMUNICATIONS CRITICAL TO SUSTAINING AND EXPANDING THE ORGANIZATIONS IMPACT ARE PROACTIVE OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND ENGAGEMENT WITH ITS PROGRAMS AMONG TEACHERS ACROSS OREGON, AS WELL AS COLLABORATION WITH OTHER CIVICS AND SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION ENTITIES TO CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOP AND EVOLVE THOSE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE RELEVANCY. COMMUNICATIONS ELEMENTS INCLUDE A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND CONSISTENT SCHEDULE OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS TO CONVEY INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS AND UPCOMING EVENTS, AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE OF A DATABASE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND EMAIL CONTACTS. THREE REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGERS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO-DATE, IN EUGENE, MEDFORD, AND BEND, AS PART OF THE OREGON CIVICS REACH INITIATIVE. THEIR FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, DELIVERING THE FULL RANGE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS AND REACHING SCHOOLS IN AN APPROXIMATELY TWO-HOUR RADIUS, INCLUDING LOCAL COURTHOUSE EXPERIENCE TOURS, EXPANDING THE HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL AND WE THE PEOPLE COMPETITIONS STATEWIDE, INCREASING PARTICIPATION BY ALL GRADES IN CLASSROOM VERSIONS OF OUR EXPERIENTIAL CIVICS PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDING TEACHERS WITH SUPPORT INCLUDING RECRUITMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. THEY HAVE ALSO ESTABLISHED EDUCATOR ADVISORY COUNCILS IN EACH REGION TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH LOCAL NEEDS. THE STAFF REACHES ADDITIONAL AUDIENCES BY PRESENTING REGULARLY AT CONFERENCES, PARTICIPATING IN WORKGROUPS, AND CO-DEVELOPING NEW CONTENT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE OREGON AND NATIONAL COUNCILS FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES, AND THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL WITH ICIVICS, THE CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION, THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION, AND STREET LAW, INC.