In 2026 the United States will celebrate 250 years since our Declaration of Independence in 1776. That generation hoped for a society which engaged and collaborated in civic dialogue for the betterment of our nation for generations to come. Today, data demonstrates that there has been a sharp rise in political polarization and division. According to Pew Research data examining political divisions since 1994, those with “very unfavorable” views of the opposite party have increased by approximately forty percent to 2022 (Pew Research, 2022).

After one successful year of the Civi Awards and supporting civic work within our region, a next possible step could be to create a “coalition” of educators in the region dedicated to the ideal that all students deserve a quality civic education grounded sound instruction and enhanced with the idea of bridging divides across toxic polarization. 

A brief description of what bridging is below from the Listen First Project (2024): 

“Bridging is the intentional bringing together of people or perspectives that are currently disconnected or divided. We build bridges for the purpose of cultivating understanding, curiosity, trust, empathy, respect, relationships, shared identity, and common ground. We advance the practices of listening, constructive conversation, community building, and collaborative problem solving, both at the grassroots and leadership levels. The ultimate goal of bridging is social cohesion and collaboration, which are critical to a thriving, resilient, strong, peaceful nation and a healthy culture amidst deep differences. Bridging creates hope and a way forward together amidst the personal pain and national fear caused by toxic polarization.”

Bridging is not about changing the minds of community members, students, or any involved in the work, but merely to help us improve our ability to “listen with understanding” and to find common ground.  Much of the work aligns with current school initiatives such as media literacy, Social Emotional Learning, and the NYS Seal of Civic Readiness.

Currently, there is a bill in both houses of congress titled “Building Civic Bridges Act” that would provide network support and grants to local community organizations, including educational institutions like schools and colleges who engage in civic bridging work. 

So if I join the Coalition, what does it offer?

Coalition membership provides free professional learning and access to a network of civic-minded educators from across New York State, all committed to advancing our four pillars. Virtual meetings are held from 2:00-3:00 PM EST and focus on the continuous improvement of these pillars in the classroom. Each meeting offers members valuable resources and practical insights to implement in their teaching. Additionally, there is dedicated time for engaging in meaningful professional conversations, designed to reinvigorate educators as they navigate challenging civic work and discussions throughout the school year. This work can be challenging, and we recognize the value of a network in supporting educators across the state.

Why the time?

The coalition wanted to be respectful of teacher contractual hours. In the first half hour, partner organizations provide the learning and resources, and in the last half hour, members will have time to network, engage in meaningful bridging conversations, and connect with other civic minded educators. We want to stress that we know educators today have precious little time. We do not want the barrier of missing meetings to prevent you from becoming a Coalition member. Signing up will still get you access to our monthly newsletter, listserv emails containing civic opportunities and resources, and we are exploring the possibility of recording meetings to provide members who cannot attend. If you are someone who is dedicated to the four pillars in your classroom-and hope to enhance civic learning-please do not let time be a barrier-sign up now and join! The only downside is that this a synchronous learning network, and therefore if you are not in attendance we cannot award CTLE credit at this time until we develop some sort of asynchronous mechanism.

Is this all about “bridging” or will there be meaningful learning around civics and the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness?

While “bridging” is an important part of our work, the Civi Coalition is deeply committed to meaningful civic learning tied to both the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness and our nation’s founding documents, supported by sound civic practices. In addition to bridging, the coalition ensures students gain a strong foundation in civics through workshops and resources that focus on civic education. Many of the organizations involved in our brief workshops are strictly civic education in nature, providing educators with practical tools to bring back to their classrooms. Our approach ensures students not only engage in informed action but also develop a thorough understanding of the principles that guide our democracy.

What organizations might provide resources and learning?

The following organizations, groups, and programs below will make appearances at the Civi Coalition meetings to provide resources, and speak to a variety of civic topics and what work their organization is engaged in.

Okay, I’m in where do I sign up?

Genesee Valley BOCES like many others utilizes Frontline for providing professional development. You can find the link to sign up here. If you already have an account please click enroll. If not, please create one to register. This way we can track and award CTLE credit to you. Many other organizations utilize Frontline for professional development as well, so having an account can come in handy.

Civi Coalition Flyer