The Civic Circle ended winter programming on a high note, with a series of outstanding workshops with storyteller Janice Curtis Greene, an “American Griot” who embodies the civic power of storytelling.
Greene shared stories in the African American tradition with students, then led them through the process of creating and telling their own stories. The theme was “Listen,” the first “step to democracy” in the Civic Circle’s program: civility, peaceful conflict resolution, and treating others as you would like to be treated. Students used puppets to explore themes like bullying, friendship and listening to others, and put on a lively storytelling performance.
All told, The Civic Circle’s after-school workshops and democracy concerts reached more than 200 students this year, and we are expanding our team of teaching artists, teachers, interns and volunteers. Highlights of 2021 include visits to our workshops from teen and college-age mentors who shared their civic experiences involving volunteering and voter registration, and concerts for Horizons Greater Washington and the D.C. Public Library.
Our students continue to sing and write civic songs, and are now branching out into storytelling and poetry. This spring we will pilot Civic Clubs in two new Montgomery County elementary schools, expanding our reach and exploring new ways to empower young students to understand and participate in democracy.
