Civic Engagement Events & More | Close Up Foundation

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. 

America in One Room: Data and Impact on First-Time Voters Ahead of the Election

Join Close Up President Mia Charity, Close Up Chief Innovation and Programs Officer Lindsay Greenberg, Associate Director of the Deliberative Democracy Lab (DDL) at Stanford University Alice Siu, and our partners to unpack the data and impact of America in One Room: The Youth Vote. The inaugural event took place in July 2024, gathering a nationally representative and scientific sample of over 400 first-time voters to deliberate key policy issues facing the nation. We’ll highlight key findings from the impact report, hear from participants about their experience, and share how Close Up and DDL are spreading a culture of deliberative dialogue this election year through upcoming virtual deliberations with youth nationwide.

Upcoming Webinars:

NNSP Webinar: Confidence and Competence with Challenging Conversations

September 19, 2024

When crises and polarizing political issues emerge in our world, educators are often expected to facilitate dialogue with their students about complex, controversial topics. Focusing on strategies and resources needed to lead a school community through this divisive and polarizing time in our nation’s history, the webinar is designed to give all educators tools to create an inclusive classroom and school community that fosters thoughtful, deliberative dialogue around the pressing cultural and political issues facing our world.

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.

High School Deliberation: October 25 (1-3pm EST)

University Deliberation: October 26 (1-3pm EST)

Middle School Deliberation: 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.

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.

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