Dates & Locations

CivicWeek programs take place each spring at sites across the country. 

Often, CivicWeek programs coincide with students' spring breaks. However, some school schedules may not coincide, or students may simply have an interest in a program or topic that is not offered during their school break. Because CivicWeek is an educational program approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, many schools will excuse students from class in order to participate. Of course, this is a decision that families should make in partnership with a student's teachers and school administrators. 

Students who are able to consider more than one program option should rank their placement preferences on the application. Accepted students are assigned to programs based on a variety of factors, including their placement preferences, the space available for each program, and the composition of each group.

Whenever and wherever you choose to participate in a CivicWeek program, you're sure to have an eye-opening, enriching experience and a lot of fun.

2010 Programs

CivicWeek: San Francisco - Spring 2010 Hunger & Homelessness Mar 14, 2010 — Mar 20, 2010 Rich in history and culture, San Francisco is home to such famous sights as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Chinatown. Still, the city is not immune to the challenges that face many urban areas, including one of the nation's largest and most visible homeless populations. CivicWeek: San Francisco participants explore hunger and homelessness through the eyes of the many diverse populations affected. Partner organizations range from shelters and soup kitchens to local agencies tackling housing, education and employment concerns. Students learn to approach complex problems by examining their root causes and involving the community in their solutions.

CivicWeek: New York - Spring 2010 Law & Social Justice Mar 21, 2010 — Mar 27, 2010 We are a society of laws, but are those laws always just? When there are significant racial and economic disparities in our arrest and conviction rates, and our death row prisoners are routinely found to be innocent, is our legal system consistently advancing social justice? CivicWeek: New York participants examine the criminal justice system in America, focusing specifically on how law and policy impact social issues. The group visits with community agencies, legal clinics, attorneys, and policy experts to explore some of the problems and proposed solutions, and learns about ways to use law and policy to build stronger communities and promote social justice.

CivicWeek: Chicago (1) - Spring 2010 Public Health Mar 28, 2010 — Apr 3, 2010 America faces an ongoing struggle to attend to our collective physical and mental health needs. As health care costs rise, the number of uninsured continues to grow. The economic challenges of this crisis, along with the physical threat of untreated heath problems, are major concerns for communities nationwide. CivicWeek: Chicago participants explore issues of public health from this world-class city's cutting-edge medical facilities to neighborhoods underserved by health care resources. Students learn about the challenges facing families and communities, contemporary policy debates and the impact of health issues on our neighborhoods and our nation.

CivicWeek: Washington, DC - Spring 2010 Politics & Urban Poverty Mar 28, 2010 — Apr 3, 2010 Our nation’s capitol is a symbol of power, freedom and democracy. Yet beyond the museums and monuments are local neighborhoods, many with staggering concentrations of individuals and families living below the poverty line. CivicWeek: Washington, DC participants learn about the many challenges facing the urban poor, including inadequate housing, limited access to quality education and employment opportunities and the struggle to maintain adequate health, safety and resources. Students meet with government and community leaders who are addressing these complex issues through public policy and learn how to use politics as a tool for social change.

CivicWeek: Chicago (2) - Spring 2010 Youth & Education Apr 5, 2010 — Apr 11, 2010 In 1987, the U.S. Secretary of Education described Chicago's public school system as "the worst in the nation." Since then, the city has become a national leader in efforts to reform education and tackle the formidable challenges that face today's young people. CivicWeek: Chicago participants learn firsthand about issues facing urban youth by partnering with education and youth service organizations. By volunteering with Chicago public school students, participants learn about urban education and approaches to school reform. The group also examines youth issues from the perspective of government and media, and discovers ways young people have become a powerful force in shaping their communities.

next:  What to Expect