Highlights

Why it matters: Youth report widespread climate distress; higher severe‑weather exposure aligns with stronger distress and desire for action. Use this to normalize feelings, add supports, and create constructive action pathways.

Use in programs: Pair discussions about emotions with coping tools and a short local action step; invite cross‑viewpoint dialogue to reduce polarization.

Liberating Structures is a repertoire of 33 simple methods that help any group include everyone, surface insights, and move to action. This profile curates practical activities by time needed, plus key links, video, and a wayfinder for educators and organizers.

Living Learning Libraries curates high-quality “living books” and lends them to families and educators. The project began in 2016 and operates multiple pickup locations in Palm Beach County, with an emphasis on practical borrowing, volunteer power, and sharing know-how for starting similar libraries.

Why It Matters
Access to quality education is directly tied to civic participation, economic mobility, and systemic equity. By focusing on the physical and financial infrastructure of schools, Civic Builders helps communities transform vacant buildings, underutilized lots, and scarce resources into thriving centers of learning. This work addresses structural inequities, particularly for low-income, Black, and Hispanic families disproportionately affected by lack of access to quality facilities.

In an age of misinformation, polarization, and rapid information overload, equipping people with tools for clear reasoning and respectful dialogue is essential. These toolkits help build the foundations for better civic understanding, inclusive dialogue, and more informed decision-making.

The world faces a rising tide of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and polarizing narratives. The School of Thought equips individuals and communities with skills like probabilistic reasoning, metacognition, and fallacy awareness—essential tools to strengthen democratic capacities and collective resilience.

As democratic norms and institutions face growing challenges, there is a clear need to strengthen civic literacy, especially among young people. The Bill of Rights Institute addresses this by fostering informed, thoughtful civic participation rooted in historical understanding and constitutional awareness.

Schoolhouse Rock! is a beloved series of animated musical shorts that first aired on ABC in the 1970s. Designed to teach children important lessons in subjects like grammar, math, history, science, and civics, the series became a cultural touchstone for generations. Known for its catchy tunes and clever animation, Schoolhouse Rock! helped millions of viewers understand everything from how bills become laws to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

In the realm of civic education, the series played a powerful role in making the foundations of American government more accessible and engaging — especially for young learners. Songs like “I’m Just a Bill,” “Three Ring Government,” and “Preamble” introduced key concepts such as legislation, separation of powers, and the U.S. Constitution in ways that stuck.

Still widely used in classrooms today, Schoolhouse Rock! remains a fun and informative entry point for building civic literacy, understanding how democracy works, and encouraging active participation in civic life.