WHEN THE NATION’S FOUNDERS rejected tyranny to form a new kind of government ruled by the people, they saw public education as essential to democracy’s survival. Thomas Jefferson specifically warned of the “tyranny” that could follow if “the people at large” were not educated at the common expense. As we celebrate Civic Learning Week through March 14, the original purpose of public education in America—to prepare citizens for self-governance—could not be more relevant.
The Civic Circle kicked off Civic Learning Week early on March 3, with a Youth Democracy Fest to lift youth voices, and celebrate the seven “steps to democracy” at the heart of our program. Students from Middle and High Schools in our community shared their original songs and poems about democracy, kindness, helping others, protecting the earth, and being true to yourself, created with the help of artists from Story Tapestries.
We also heard a PSA about voting by Action Youth Media students, and youth from Carpe Diem Arts sang and played ukes on a series of uplifting civic songs. Artists Regie Cabico, Emma G, Lilo Gonzalez, Uasuf Gueye, Munit Mesfin and Downwire treated us to their own original democracy songs and poems, and poet and emcee Malachi Byrd brought us all together with a collective, audience-written poem titled “How I Will Defend Democracy.” It read, in part:
Build community wherever I go
And help my neighbor
No matter their race or creed
Speak up speak loud be strong be proud
No one should say your voice is not allowed
We thank the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center for the venue and technical support, and we also thank the generous sponsors for made our first Youth Democracy Fest possible: Montgomery County, the Maryland State Arts Council, and the Newburger-Schwartz Family Foundation.
SERVICE-LEARNING IS FRONT and Center in Civic Circle workshops this spring, and students at Arcola Elementary School and the Pembridge Square Apartments are doing a series of activities centered on food and hunger relief. Students started by creating and illustrating cookbooks that celebrated their family traditions, with the help of Teaching Artist Kelsey Joyce. They then bagged groceries for food distributions with Youth Council members from the SSCR Food Pantry. We thank Montgomery Housing Partnership for hosting and helping sponsor these workshops, and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County for supporting these and other programs in Wheaton.
At a time when democratic and civil institutions are under threat on multiple fronts, The Civic Circle’s mission to grow “compassionate, informed, engaged citizens” is more urgent than ever. To do something today to support democracy and advance civic learning, please click HERE.