Close Up - Washington D.C. Educational Programs

06/01/2026

Give students the opportunity to step into democracy, and they’ll rise to meet the moment.

Close Up was proud to partner with Johnson & Johnson to bring high school students from New Jersey and Massachusetts to the nation’s capital to explore leadership, public policy, and the issues impacting their communities through the J&J Civic Scholars Program.

We’re grateful to the Johnson & Johnson Federal Affairs Enterprise Initiatives team for helping create a space where students can engage across perspectives, expand their vision, and discover the role they can play in shaping the future.

05/28/2026

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, it is important that we recognize that strengthening democratic participation starts with self-awareness.

The Hoover Institution has launched the Civic Profile: a quick self-assessment that helps people reflect on their civic knowledge, values, and engagement. There’s no grade or judgement, and is meant to help Americans recognize that democracy requires many different perspectives and choices.

The Civic Profile is intended as a living instrument, evolving to measure new forms of participation and emerging civic challenges as democratic life changes. Learn more and participate:

Civic values are the beliefs that people hold about what makes for a good society, a good government, and how individuals and groups should interact.

05/19/2026

Close Up gathered over 200 students and teachers in downtown Manhattan to tackle real-world issues through dialogue and deliberation.

The NextGen Roundtable: New York City Youth Summit brought participants to Civic Hall for a day focused on national as well as local policy issues ranging from improving the jobs market to housing costs within the five boroughs.

Students were introduced to policy and community leaders during an expert panel on economic opportunity and public leadership before concluding the program with a reflection on actionable steps students can take on issues facing school communities across New York City.

Special thanks to the Bernard Goldstein Center’s Civic Hall, Collegiate School New York, Poly Prep Country Day School, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City Public Schools, and the following panelists for bringing this experience to life:

- Dr. Prabal K. De, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, The City University of New York
- Dr. Alex Schwartz, The New School for Social Research
- Sola Amusan, NYC Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity NYC Opportunity
- Elizabeth Saylor, The Legal Aid Society
- Carlos Ortiz, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection

05/18/2026

Close Up’s Rally to the Tally brought more than 230 Broward County middle and high school students—and over 30 educators—to Tallahassee for an unforgettable week of civic engagement, leadership development, and college exploration. In partnership with Broward County Public Schools’ Bilingual/ESOL Department, students had the opportunity to:

Learn about the three branches of government
Participate in a simulation on the floor of the Florida State Senate and explore the Florida Supreme Court
Meet with policy experts and public officials
Present to Florida legislators and decision-makers their own policy proposals and solutions regarding issues impacting young people and their communities

Students also visited the University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, and the University of Florida for admissions sessions and campus tours that highlighted pathways to higher education and future success.

A special thank you to Broward County Public Schools for 11 years of partnership and collaboration, as well as to the incredible panelists, partners, and guests who helped make this experience possible:

Dr. Raydel Hernandez Garcia, Bureau Chief, Florida Department of Education
Mark Schlakman, Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights
Jim Croteau, Retired Educator
Jennifer Johnson, Florida Department of Behavioral Health
Jason Koerner, Leon County Schools
Demetrius Rice, Florida School Boards Association
Teri Cariota, Office of Florida Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez
Matt Singer, Florida League of Cities
Shila Salem, Florida Department of Children and Families
Rep. Felicia Robinson, Florida House of Representatives
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. House of Representatives

Thank you to everyone who helped inspire the next generation of civic leaders!

05/12/2026

It's a privilege to host Native Youth Summit presentations on the Hill.

We not only bring indigenous students face-to-face with their elected representatives, we give them a chance to advocate for the issues that affect their communities to decision-makers in Washington, D.C.

05/11/2026

Artificial intelligence is raising new questions about who pays the price to power it.

Our latest Current Issues blog post (written by Civic Fellow Alex Fisher) explores the growing energy demands of AI data centers, rising electricity costs in some communities, and whether tech companies or utility customers should cover the expense, featuring arguments from policymakers, utility regulators, and major technology companies on both sides of the issue.

Explore this topic in our latest Current Issues blog post: https://www.closeup.org/who-should-pay-for-the-electricity-that-powers-ai/

05/07/2026

The Aldine Austin Academy brought students from multiple Houston-area schools to Austin, Texas for a civic engagement experience focused on public policy and Texas government. Students worked in committees on Crime and Safety and Inequality while developing policy proposals.

Participants visited the Bullock Texas State History Museum and toured the Texas State Capitol to learn more about Texas history and government. Students also participated in a Texas State Issues Panel and Youth Agenda Convention.

On the final day, students presented their Youth Agenda to policy officials at the Legislative Conference Center at the Capitol Complex. The program concluded with a visit to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and lunch at the University of Texas at Austin.

Special thanks to Aldine ISD, the Texas State Capitol, Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library, and the following panelists and public officials for helping make this experience possible:

Randy Randolph, SAFE Austin
Cindy Nguyen, GirlForward
Gabriel Estrada, Austin Voices for Education and Youth
Ryan Guajardo, Austin Child Guidance Center
Cara Santucci, Office of Rep. Armando Walle
Gloria Moreno, Office of U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia
Giovanna DiNapoli, Office of Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado
Mireya Garcia, Office of Texas State Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson
Jeff Wolverton, Office of Texas State Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson

05/05/2026

WPLG Local 10 recently reported on Close Up bringing hundreds of Broward County students to Tallahassee for the annual “Rally to the Tally” program, where they engage directly with state government, present policy ideas, and gain hands-on civic and college exposure through a multi-day educational experience in partnership with Broward County Public Schools.

Full coverage link in today’s story.

05/05/2026

WPLG Local 10 recently reported on Close Up bringing hundreds of Broward County students to Tallahassee for the annual “Rally to the Tally” program, where they engage directly with state government, present policy ideas, and gain hands-on civic and college exposure through a multi-day educational experience in partnership with Broward County Public Schools.

Full story: https://www.closeup.org/over-11-years-of-partnership-and-thousands-of-bcps-students-and-educators-served/

05/04/2026

Teachers across the country are doing the day-to-day work that keeps our education system moving - and that deserves more than one kind of recognition.

Close Up is thrilled to present the Linda Myers Chozen Award for Teaching Excellence: an award honoring educators who lead with purpose, bring creativity to the classroom, and deeply commit to civic education. Five outstanding educators will each receive $2,500 to support their ongoing classroom efforts.

If you're a teacher actively shaping the next generation of citizens, nominate yourself for this year’s award at https://www.closeup.org/linda-myers-chozen-award-for-teaching-excellence/ today! Deadline is May 15, 2026.