John Dewey once said that “Democracy must be reborn every
generation, and education is its midwife.” At Close Up, we have the privilege of witnessing the rebirth of our
democracy with each program we run.
Every year, thousands of students and teachers attend our
intense hands-on learning programs in
Washington,
D.C. We use the city as their living classroom, giving
them unique access and insights into how they can play key roles in our democracy. Students meet with their elected officials;
debate issues with peers, policy experts, and media; and complete a series of
modules that help them see that every voice matters. They return to their communities inspired to
engage as productive citizens who make the world a better place to live.
Our students come from every state, every territory and several
foreign countries. They hail from a
variety of ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds, too. We endeavor to serve them regardless of
ability to pay, grade point average or leadership experience. This diversity greatly enhances learning,
as does the fact that students are physically present among the people,
processes and places that make up our nation’s capital.
I am one of 650,000 Close Up alums, having participated as a
high school student on the first program in 1971. The experience changed my life. It set me on a course that took me from a
presidential campaign, to the White House, to law school, to work in
legislative affairs first as a practicing attorney and then as an executive for
a Fortune 500 company. Now, I’ve come
full circle, back to Close Up, to ensure that new generations of young people
have the same opportunity I did.
We’re committed to ensuring that every young person has the
knowledge, skills, and motivation to participate in our democracy and to shape
the future of our nation. Teachers,
parents, students and donors, with your help we can make this vision a reality.
Warm regards,
Timothy S. Davis
Close Up Alum ‘71