Civic leadership is imperative to democracy. That’s why Civic Nebraska starts early, empowering Nebraska youth to lead the positive change they seek in their world and normalizing civic engagement at an early age. Our Civic Circles outside-of-school clubs emphasize personal growth, service learning, civil discourse, critical thinking, and meaningful reflection.
Role Modeling
Civic Nebraska believes that young women need to see themselves represented in their community. We believe that youth need a safe space to share their stories and plan for their futures. Connections to local leaders gives students opportunities and agency.
Our girl’s club facilitates a mentorship program between local leaders (coaches) and young adults. Students are exposed to new people, new places and new ideas.
The girl’s club started to show young women the wide variety of careers available to them. Over the past few years, it has retained that focus while adjusting to the students’ suggestions and interests. Now the club includes activities that focus on leadership development, civic-mindedness, women’s health, and self-expression.
Service Learning
Building young civic leaders means taking action. Our service-learning opportunities offer exposure to community betterment projects that support learning standards as well as critical learning, civil discourse and civic leadership skills. These projects also compel students to reflect upon their impacts.
Currently based at Omaha’s McMillan, Marrs, and Morton middle schools, our students engage communities with student-driven service learning and experiential learning. This includes STEM, social-emotional learning, the arts, and health and wellness. Through it all, youth learn to master the personal skills needed for strong citizenship.
Critical Thinking
In today’s fast-paced information world, the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and ascertain the veracity of information is vital. Our civic journalism club helps develop these essential skills in a controlled, safe way. Students learn the technological skills to create and publish podcasts, weblogs, and news stories along different kinds of media platforms. Along the way, they gain valuable exposure to new concepts and ideas, to different opinions and perspectives, to a range of information styles and approaches.
Currently based at Omaha’s Monroe Middle School, our clubs help build the foundation for the next generation of critical thinkers and truth-seekers.
