Build 2 Lead program Civic Champions is a course where high school aged youth learn about the power of advocacy within the various levels of government, the “School-to-Prison Pipeline,” the systems of education, healthcare, and criminal justice, and form Youth Executive Committees that assist in helping to launch and or facilitate restorative practices in participating partner schools.
Currently, there are two cohorts of Civic Champions at Thomas Jefferson High School and TAF@Saghalie.
Civic Champions students at TAF@Saghalie learned:
HEALTHCARE
At TAF@Saghalie, students concluded the section on Healthcare by discussing data sets related to health coverage in King and Pierce counties and their potential impacts on these communities.
MEDIA LITERACY
Both schools focused on navigating digital information and enhancing media literacy, using educational videos and accompanying worksheets to track understanding. Despite the content-heavy nature of the week, students' energy peaked during Kahoot games, which also helped them learn 20 college-level vocabulary words.
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
The week also saw the beginning of unit 2, with TAF@Saghalie students exploring the legislative and executive branches of government. The sessions sparked lively discussions, including a humorous moment about the complexities of the federal government.
Civic Champions students at TJHS learned:
MEDIA LITERACY
TJHS launched its after school program, outlining plans for the next ten weeks, which include a comprehensive review and revamp of units 1 and 2. During the first week, TJHS students engaged in discussions about the importance of "Research vs Information Gathering" and the critical roles of discernment and communication in civic engagement and daily life.
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
At TJHS, Natorius led a session on the executive branch, where students were particularly engaged and surprised by the extent and limits of presidential powers.
CONNECTION
Overall, the implementation of opening circles, led primarily by Natorius, has noticeably increased student participation and reduced shyness at TJHS, contributing to a more interactive and engaging learning environment.