at this week’s Round Table, Inica, Madeline and Jack spoke with Raj Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. Raj has dedicated his career to educating, empowering, and supporting America’s youth, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. Did you know that the United States spends on average just 5 cents per student on civics vs an average of $50 per student in STEM?? Compound that over four years and you can better understand the civic catastrophe we’ve been living through. A few years back, fueled by concerns about the state of our country, Raj led a national study focused on rethinking civic education, supported by funders across the ideological spectrum. A core conclusion of the report is that developing citizens is much broader than anything that can be taught within the typical senior elective. Schools can’t do it all; this is a societal responsibility and to equip youth for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, we must tap into ALL the places citizenship in ALL the places it can be developed. This informs the Institute of Citizens and Scholars’ mission to ensure that a majority of young people become effective citizens who are well-informed about civic issues, productively engaged for the common good, and hopeful about the future of democracy. We couldn’t endorse this mission more and hope you feel the same. Thank you for listening!
