CivicWeek 2008 programs have concluded. Information remains posted below for your reference. Check back in November of 2008 for updated CivicWeek Spring 2009 program information or contact us to receive materials by mail.

CivicWeek

Service-Learning Field Studies for Outstanding High School Students

2008 Spring Programs

CivicWeek: New York
Education & Youth Development
March 16 – March 22, 2008

The Big Apple is famous for its landmarks – the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park.  Yet not far from these tourist attractions are neighborhoods with some of the nation’s highest rates of child poverty.  CivicWeek: New York participants learn firsthand about issues facing urban youth by partnering with education and youth service organizations.  By volunteering in New York City public school classrooms, students learn about urban education and approaches to school reform.  Students also examine youth issues from the perspective of government and media, and discover ways young people have become a powerful force in shaping their communities.

CivicWeek: Chicago
Public Health *New*
March 24 – March 30, 2008

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 visit local clinics and urban health agencies to learn more about the challenges facing families and communities, contemporary policy debates, and the impact of health issues on our neighborhoods and our nation.

CivicWeek: San Francisco
Hunger & Homelessness
March 24 - March 30, 2008

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: Washington, DC

Politics & Urban Poverty
March 30 – April 5, 2008

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 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.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed CivicWeek on the NASSP National Advisory List of Student Contests and Activities for 2007-2008.

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