Upcoming Events

Close Up Civil Discourse Credential: Pilot Cohort Session 

May 20, 2026 | 7:00pm ET 

Join Close Up instructional coaches and curriculum designers for this final online meeting of educators who took part in the Civil Discourse Credential Educator Certification Pilot Program Training Institute. Use this 60-minute session to wrap up and offer final feedback on how credential implementation went in your classroom and share your experience with your fellow educators nationwide. 

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Introducing the Civic Profile: What Kind of Citizens Are We?

June 18, 2026 | 1:00-2:00pm ET | Online

Do you know your civic identity? Do your students and your colleagues know theirs? Register for this webinar hosted by Close Up’s partners at the Hoover Institution’s Center for Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI) to introduce the Civic Profile—a groundbreaking educational and research tool that’s redefining how Americans understand their role in democracy. Akin to a “civics Meyers-Briggs,” the Civic Profile is an interactive quiz that holistically measures users’ civic identities across three dimensions: values, knowledge, and engagement. It doesn’t assign grades or pass judgment; rather, the Civic Profile is designed to help Americans understand that democracy requires diverse voices, choices, and actions. Webinar attendees will hear from early adopters and get an exclusive look at the Civic Profile and how it works, learn what the research reveals about civic identity in America today, join the conversation about what democracy needs from all of us, and ask questions and offer suggestions for making the Civic Profile even more useful.

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Civil Discourse Lab for Educators

July 8-10, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

As we prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, and fulfill our roles as citizens by examining and discussing the issues driving the midterm elections, it is a vital time for schools to engage—or reengage—in the practice of civil discourse. How do we create school communities that are open to diverse perspectives, with faculty who can navigate difficult conversations fairly and effectively, and that provide students with meaningful opportunities to communicate, deliberate, and actively listen to each other? For this year’s Civil Discourse Lab, Close Up is inviting school teams of educators—both teachers and administrators—to join us for a multi-day institute in July. As teachers gain the training and skills to implement our Civil Discourse Credential in their classrooms, administrators will focus on supporting teachers and fostering a schoolwide culture of civil discourse. Together, both tracks of educators will witness a powerful model of deliberation in practice—by observing students at the concurrent NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026.   

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NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026

July 8-11, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

Close Up, in partnership with the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab, Generation Lab, and the Hoover Institution’s Center for Revitalizing American Institutions, is thrilled to announce NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026, a large-scale youth deliberation in our nation’s capital this July. We’re convening a nationally representative sample of 400 first-time voters to deliberate key election issues in a reasoned and mutually respectful way and to share their insights in surveys about the issues most important to young people. This is an amazing opportunity—to participate as a first-time voter (at no cost!), to partner with Close Up, or to sponsor students from your community.

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