TMA & The Civic Circle ¿¿Amplify Youth Voices¿ Project

The Civic Circle¿s after-school enrichment workshops use music and the arts to empower students to understand and participate in democracy. Students learn seven civic skills we call ¿steps to democracy,¿ including civility and conflict resolution (Listen!), news literacy (Learn!), and voting (Choose!)

Through Social Studies activities, peer mentoring and teaching artist residencies, students acquire the skills to exercise clout in their communities, nation and world. As the program expands from Grades 3-5 to reach students in Grades 6-12, The Civic Circle is leveraging new opportunities for collaboration, marketing and fundraising. The Civic Circle has also reached a crucial phase in its growth and evolution, making the transition from a volunteer-run to a staff-run organization.

A leading aspect of The Civic Circle¿s mission is to close the equity gap in civic learning and engagement. Civic learning correlates to fewer discipline incidents, better grades, and college and career readiness. Advancing civic learning through the arts lifts youth voices, and improves equity, student achievement, and our success as a democratic society.