Civics Learning Project (CLP)

Mission

Civics Learning Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders working to equip students with the knowledge, essential skills, and motivation to participate in our democracy.

Bottom Line for Portland

Democracy can and does flourish when our youth are engaged. In these turbulent times, we’ve seen the power of that engagement firsthand. Students in CLP’s programs—from high schoolers winning the national We the People competition, to middle schoolers addressing local ecological concerns and developing policy proposals—are proving that when given the opportunity, young people can lead. Through CLP, youth are engaged, stepping up, and meeting the challenges of our democracy head-on. They will shape a better tomorrow.

CLP offers Mock Trials, We the People team programs (including simulated hearings), Community Actions Projects (where students identify local issues and develop and advocate responding policy), Court Tours, classroom curriculum, and more to actively engage students and teachers in democracy.

Students who participate these sorts of experiential, community-based programs are 40% likelier to vote and 2.5 times likelier to take community leadership roles as adults. They are also likelier to attend college. With 76% of US students scoring below national civics proficiency standards, there is a major need for data-backed programs like CLP's. CLP prepares the next generation to lead and participate in informed, active ways. In the 2022-23 school year, we engaged 1,500 teachers and 173,000 students across Oregon.

Quote

As a kid, I always viewed justice as something I would never reach. We had nothing. No money. No strength. No power. No justice. I hated feeling powerless. Mock Trial changed my life. I know that may sound like something everyone says, but believe me when I say that it gave me the one thing I needed to secure my success and future. It gave the power to seek justice. It gave me that hope back.

-Nadia Pahodzina, CLP Alumnus

Partner(s)

KOIN is committed of education and a proud partner of Civics Learning Project.