The Civic Circle's program builds seven civic skills we call “steps to democracy,” but we like to ask students: If you were to add an eighth “step,” what would it be?
At this time of year, one that readily springs to mind is: Gratitude. On the surface, gratitude may seem more closely aligned with spiritual than with civic life. But appreciating what’s good in our lives, and in the world, fuels us with the energy and hope we need to dream the future.
Gratitude can be hard to come by when bad news about the economy, public health and threats to democracy and civic life bombards us nonstop. But there’s nothing like keeping up with youth to restore optimism. If the news out of the U.N.’s COP26 climate conference seemed grim, the testimonials by youth activists who stole the show were cause for hope. In our own classrooms, students are learning new civic skills every day, and thriving on the return to in-person learning.
The Civic Circle has much to be thankful for as 2021 winds down. Our support base has expanded, our team is growing, and we’re gearing up to launch two new Civic Clubs in Montgomery County schools early next year. We’re extremely grateful to the grant-makers, corporate sponsors, individual donors, team members and volunteers who are making this work possible.
