Civic Learning

Whether in the classroom or in other forums, civic learning enables young people to find their voices, shape the priorities they see in their communities, and become civically engaged in their futures. 

While education and community building are critical to creating places where individuals and families can thrive, civic learning is key to the long-term success of a community and the people who inhabit it. Maher Charitable Foundation has begun funding projects that support enhanced civic learning in New Jersey.

Civically Engaged Districts is an afterschool program for high school students that engages them in youth civic action research. Young people identify issues within their schools and communities, learn tools of inquiry, and conduct research with the goal of affecting those problems. Through this practice, students can gain a sense of civic empowerment as they investigate, analyze and speak with authority on issues that directly affect them and their communities. Participating youth develop civic skills (inquiry, collaboration, communication), sense of belonging, and firsthand experience of active civic engagement.

Maher Charitable Foundation is investing in an expansion of this program. Youth, educators, and university faculty come together to create and provide a series of professional development and networking experiences. Together, they work to initiate and support youth action research within NJ public schools, developing an extended community through the initiative that will:

• Amplify the impact of individual projects

• Create a supportive community of civic practitioners

• Foster the development of NJ school districts as “civic ecosystems” that nurture the civic development of youth and adults