November 2016 Newsletter

A new location for the National Finals and National Invitational, James Madison Legacy Project, Justice Sotomayor visits We the People students, and more in this month's newsletter.

We the People National Finals and National Invitational Have a New Location!

The Center for Civic Education is pleased to announce the 30th Anniversary We the People National Finals, April 21-24, 2017. The Fifth Annual We the People National Invitational competition will take place April 28-May 2. Both competitions will be held in a new location in the National Conference Center in the Washington, D.C., area.

James Madison Legacy Project: A Program of National Significance

The James Madison Legacy Project is a three-year nationwide initiative of the Center for Civic Education funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The project aims to increase the number of highly effective teachers of high-need students through the professional development of 2,025 teachers. Now entering its second year, the James Madison Legacy Project is being successfully implemented throughout the United States by a dedicated cadre of site coordinators who are experienced leaders in their educational communities.

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Justice Sotomayor Visits Colorado Students
By Ryan Adams

On Friday, September 2, fifteen students from Aurora West College Preparatory Academy had a rare opportunity to interact with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as a part of the John Paul Stevens lecture series at the University of Colorado Law School. Before Justice Sotomayor gave a public speech, she interacted with about two hundred high school students for over an hour. "I knew this was a big deal, but I didn't understand the importance of this event until I got here and realized how significant she [Justice Sotomayor] was in our government," said Senior Alejandra Frarye. "And then to realize that she was just like me. That was so powerful."

Jessica Martinez Joins Center Staff

The Center is pleased to welcome Jessica Martinez to our staff as a new program coordinator working on the James Madison Legacy Project and the We the People program! Learn more about Jessica and other Center staff.

Georgetown's Pulse of the Populace Lets Students Vote on Election Issues

Pulse of the Populace from Georgetown University is an online polling platform for students to weigh in on current issues ranging from Obamacare to Syrian refugees and see their representatives' stances on these issues.

Registration Open for 3rd International Conference on Education for Democratic Citizenship

The Moroccan Center for Civic Education will be hosting its third International Conference on Education for Democratic Citizenship on December 7-11, 2016. Registration is now open.

Soup to Nuts Video Series Now Available on YouTube

Interested in injecting a little humor into the current political season? Watch Soup to Nuts, a filmstrip the Center released in 1977 to promote student inquiry and discussion of the need for authority, limited government, elections, and the role and responsibilities of the people and the people they elect to serve in their behalf. Although dated, we think it is pretty relevant.

Milwaukee Project Citizen Class Tackles Tough Issues at Hmong American Peace Academy

In only his second year of teaching Project Citizen, Michael Hanley at the Hmong American Peace Academy in Milwaukee showed that he is an excellent teacher. In an eloquent video and article from the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Hanley explains that he believes "each child, no matter where they are from or what ethnicity they are, should have access to a high quality education."

Shop Amazon This Holiday Season to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping for gifts this holiday season? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

This newsletter is a brief bulletin designed to keep you informed about some of the Center for Civic Education's news and events. Information presented includes news from around the country, news from other countries in the Center's Civitas International network, grant and award opportunities, and program updates and clarifications. If you have pertinent material that you would like to include in future newsletters, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..