Upcoming Events

Close Up hosts and takes part in a variety of civic engagement events, both in person and online, to help students and teachers discuss policy issues and connect with members of our nationwide community. These discussions, deliberations, and presentations allow participants to hear different perspectives from experts and each other, and consider new approaches to engaging with current issues.  

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Practice, Collaboration, and Civic Engagement

October 17, 2024  |  12:00-1:00pm EST

How can we develop an advanced leadership skills training program for students, through real-life exercise and practice? The workshop will focus on formal leadership training, skills development in rhetoric, advocacy, and critical thinking, and learning to collaborate with elected officials in a professional setting. It will also cover how to apply this leadership training to existing student-led programs at your school, like co-curricular clubs and service learning groups.

Registration >

National Deliberations for the 2024-25 School Year

Close Up and Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab (DDL) will host online issue deliberations for students nationwide.  The deliberations will take place virtually using Stanford’s online deliberation platform. Each event will be two hours total and include a synchronous deliberation followed by an expert panel.

• Register for the High School Deliberation on October 25 (1-3pm EST)
• Register for the University Deliberation on October 26 (1-3pm EST)
• Register for the Middle School Deliberation on December 6 (1-3pm EST)

Requirements for participation: Every student will need to read briefing materials ahead of the event, log on from their own device with headphones, and complete pre- and post- deliberation surveys. Dates and times subject to change. Deliberation topics will be announced in the fall.

AMLE24 51st Annual Conference for Middle Level Education

November 6-9, 2024  |  Nashville, TN

Come and see Close Up at booth #502 at AMLE24, an opportunity to explore new strategies and best practices in middle level education, meet peers who share your passion for the middle grades, and gain inspiration and motivation you can bring back to your school community.

Association for Migrant Educators of Texas 2024 Conference

November 20-22, 2024  |  Corpus Christi, TX

Close Up is thrilled to be attending the AMET 2024 Conference, “Anchored in Excellence, Rising Together.” Come talk to us to find out how our civic education opportunities for migrant students align with AMET’s mission to support migrant students and educators of migrant students across Texas.

104th National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference

November 22-24, 2024  |  Boston, MA

Don’t miss Close Up at booth #611 at NCSS, an incredible opportunity to meet and network with thousands of social studies educators from across the country and leave with new strategies and best practices for engaging instruction.

2025 NNSP Annual Conference

February 5-7, 2025 | Washington, DC | Open to NNSP members and non-members

$650/members | $750/non-members  

Join us in February for the NNSP Annual Conference on Community & Civic Engagement as we bring together educators from across the country to collaborate around the development of community and civic engagement programs in schools. The conference will provide educators with tangible examples of how schools can integrate opportunities for students to learn about issues in their communities, connect their learning to those issues, and create a student body with empathy, knowledge, and leadership skills to make meaningful change.

Submit a Proposal >