Civic Fellowship
Our Next Gen Civic Fellowships engage teens across the country in cross-partisan deliberation and exploration of today’s political issues. Participants come together virtually each month to hear from expert guest speakers, practice civil discourse and dialogue, and perform collaborative research projects.
Cross-Partisan Civil Dialogue
In today’s increasingly diverse and interconnected world, civil dialogue skills are essential for working together across political divides to find common ground and create collective solutions. At YVote, we equip a rising generation of civic leaders with the ability to communicate respectfully and constructively, even when discussing contentious issues.
In the Civic Fellowship, civil dialogue goes beyond mere conversation. Fellows learn to navigate differences of opinion with empathy and open-mindedness, laying the foundation for productive discourse and powerful partnerships. By instilling these skills early on, we empower youth to rethink and rebuild civil society, bridging divides and fostering a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.
Program Highlight
Civic Fellows participate in monthly Forums exploring issues like Freedom of Expression, Criminal Justice, Democracy Renovation, Immigration, and Structural Racism through group discussion and guest speaker presentations. Throughout the fall semester, Fellows build civic knowledge and leadership skills, foster relationships with peers and intergenerational allies, and create inclusive, forward-thinking civic solutions.
In the spring, Fellows develop Civic Action Projects (CAPs), diving deeper into the issues discussed in the Civic Forums. Fellows complete these projects in collaboration with their peers and an organizational partner to conduct research around their selected topic, contribute to the larger field, and recommend potential solutions or future work. Recent CAPs resulted in a media literacy guide for teens, a freedom of speech curriculum for high school teachers, and a platform for youth impacted by the criminal justice system to share their stories.
Want to Support Change?
The YVote Changemakers Institute provides stipends to all participants and youth facilitators, ensuring our civic programs remain accessible and investing in the future of civic leadership. Will you cover the cost of a Changemaker stipend or donate to our (very important) pizza fund?