;

Empowering Girls’ Voices: The President’s First 100 Days

A partnership between Close Up and the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools.
Shadow

Stay engaged after election day!

The 2024 presidential election has created unprecedented interest, personal investment, and civic engagement among young people. What issues in the presidential agenda have inspired youth to get involved? And how can we keep our girls active and engaged after Election Day?

From February 16-19, 2025, Close Up and the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) will partner for parallel nationwide summits for high school students and educators in Washington, D.C., harnessing the energy of the new president’s first months in office. Empowering Girls’ Voices: The President’s First 100 Days will help girls of all backgrounds share their own policy priorities, develop empathy for the perspectives of others, and build the skills and confidence to be strong civic leaders.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW >

Student Summit Highlights

Shadow

The student summit is open to high school girls in grades 9-12 who have an interest in civic engagement and action, with a cohort of 6-10 students per school recommended. Major components include:

  • Building an Inclusive Community and Staying Engaged after the Election: Students will examine the new federal agenda and consider how people can stay active after an election.
  • Identifying a National Issue that Matters to You: Students will form action committees and deliberate the issues and challenges within priority issue areas.
  • Developing Policy Proposals: After exploring a range of ideas and values through deliberation, students will craft statements that identify new policies to advance their agendas.
  • Hearing from Experts: Students will hear from female experts in their selected policy areas to help shape and strengthen their committee goals.
  • Advocating for Your Policy: After hearing from experts, students will focus on effective advocacy strategies and continue to refine their proposals.
  • Summit Convention: Students will present their proposals, debate, and vote on which proposals will be included in the Empowering Girls’ Voices National Agenda for Change.

The student summit will culminate in the Empowering Girls’ Voices Civic Action Symposium, with girls sharing selected policy proposals with a panel of female leaders and policymakers.

SAMPLE STUDENT SCHEDULE>

Educator Summit Highlights

Shadow

Educators are invited to join us for a concurrent, four-day professional development summit, built on Close Up’s 50+ years of experience and focused on giving girls the skills to engage with different perspectives and lead from a place of consensus. Major components include:

  • Strand 1—Current Issues in the Classroom: Educators will learn to connect current issues to longstanding political and social controversies through nonpartisan facilitation.
  • Strand 2—Facilitating Deliberation: Educators will practice techniques to sustain unbiased classroom deliberation and consider the challenges and possibilities of infusing deliberation into curriculum.
  • Strand 3—Effective Community Engagement: Using the Degrees of Impact framework developed by the National Network of Schools in Partnership, educators will learn to connect what students are learning in class to their desire to have a positive impact on their community.
  • Strand 4—Panel Presentation: Educators will hear from influential women leaders in Washington about the challenges and opportunities that arise when leaning into challenging conversations and civil discourse in a school community.

Details, Dates & Tuition

Dates: Both summits will run from Sunday, February 16, to Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Location: The summits will take place at a hotel in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Student Eligibility: The student summit is open to all high school girls in grades 9-12 who have an interest in civic engagement and action. We anticipate most schools will bring a cohort of 6-10 girls; however, individual registrations are permitted. If you would like to offer this opportunity to a larger class or club, please reach out to us about capacity.

Student Tuition: The all-inclusive tuition is $1,550 per student. This covers all summit sessions, evening activities, meals, hotel accommodations, and daytime and nighttime supervision and security. *Optional early arrival: $325 per participant. 

Educator Tuition: The tuition is $1,750 per educator. This covers all professional development sessions, some meals, and hotel accommodations. *Optional early arrival: $325 per participant. 

Important Payment Dates:

  • November 15: Nonrefundable $500 deposit (per student) due
  • January 10: Nonrefundable final payment due 

Register Your School>

FAQs

Who is eligible to participate in Empowering Girls’ Voices: The President’s First 100 Days?
Are individual students or educators able to participate if they are not part of a school cohort?
Is there a limit to the number of students I can register?
How much does Empowering Girls’ Voices: The President’s First 100 Days cost?
What are the registration and payment deadlines?
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Should participants buy travel insurance?
What does the early arrival package include?
Where do students stay during the summit?
Do I have to check my students in at night and monitor them overnight?
Can I check in on my students during the program?
What does a typical day look like for students?
Will my student group be together during the summit?
What about transportation for students or teachers to and from the summit?
Who do I contact with additional questions?
About Close Up
About ICGS

EXPLORE ALL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

 

Washington, DC

Six-Day Program

Learn about American democracy first-hand during this in-depth exploration of the nation’s capital. Learn More >

Premier Election Series & Inauguration

Experience the excitement of the next presidential election and inauguration up close in Washington, DC! Learn More >

Empowering Girls’ Voices: The President’s First 100 Days

Work together with girls nationwide to examine the new president's priorities and create a National Agenda for Change. Learn More >

Customize a Program for Your School

Partner with Close Up to design a customized experience for your school! Learn More >

Washington, DC

Four-Day Program

Explore the capital city in a fast-paced, four-day adventure! Learn More >

Washington, DC & New York City

Examine the relationship between business and government while visiting two of America’s most important cities. Learn More >

Democracy in the Digital Age Summer Institute

Join us at Stanford University this summer to study policy at the intersection of technology and society! Learn More >

New Americans Program

Discover our nation’s diverse heritage in a DC program geared toward immigrant and migrant students. Learn More >

American Indian Focus Programs

Consider the issues facing Indian Country in one of three exclusive programs in the nation’s capital. Learn More >