What is Civic Literacy?
  • Civic Literacy is the knowledge of how to actively participate and initiate change in your community and the greater society. It is the foundation by which a democratic society functions: Citizen Power as a check and as a means to create avenues for peaceful change.
Why an Agenda?
  • Civic participation not only encompasses voting in elections but also a consciousness about the issues that are most important to an individual and his or her community. Creating an agenda is an avenue to gather support and raise awareness for both community members and elected officials about what’s happening in the community.
  • Because the Urban Agenda Project emphasizes the need to generate a common Youth Urban Agenda, students develop cooperative skills of discussion and consensus as they learn to more effectively articulate their needs.
Benefits
  • Increased awareness in civic and community affairs.
  • Communication and solidarity among students across racial, economic, regional and religious boundaries.
  • Encouraged curiosity and involvement in multicultural exchanges and world affairs.
Additional Curricular Benefits
  • Provides an environment for democratic participation in a multicultural environment.
  • Provides a fun and interesting way of getting students involved in social studies lessons. 
  • Develops a discussion of democratic Norms & Values even in a scientific/technological society.
  • Develops conflict-resolution and peer mediation skills of students.
Elements of Civic Literacy
  Citizen Structure
Thought opinions knowledge
Action deliberation participation
 
Civic Literacy Skills
  Awareness Analysis Prioities Advocacy
Communication discussion evaluation agenda-setting argumentation
Mobilization reaching out debating tactics call to action
Caolition-Building dialogue strategy bargaining persuasive communications 
Organizing goal-setting activity planning assigning tasks implementation
Institutionalizing stakeholder meetings capacity assessment long-range plan getting sponsors