GenerationNation

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GenerationNation

GenerationNation develops a new generation of civic leaders. www.generationnation.org

03/17/2026

✨ BIG NEWS! ✨ We are beyond thrilled to announce that 8 Charlotte-Mecklenburg high school student councils and SGAs have been awarded GenerationNation mini grants! 🏆🙌🏽

These student leaders are spending their spring bringing innovative project ideas to life to make a real impact in 4 key areas:

📢 STUDENT VOICE – Connecting students to school policy and decision-making.
🌸 BEAUTIFICATION – Improving and leveling up school campuses for everyone to enjoy.
🤝 COMMUNITY – Building leadership and bonds with local neighborhoods.
🛠️ PROBLEM-SOLVING– Tackling local issues like food insecurity and more.

Huge shoutout to our winning schools:
⭐ Cato Middle College
⭐ Central Piedmont Early College
⭐ East Mecklenburg
⭐ Garinger
⭐ Harding
⭐ Hawthorne
⭐ Independence
⭐ Olympic

We are so inspired by these changemakers and can’t wait to see their projects unfold over the next few weeks! Stay tuned for updates! 📸🚀

03/12/2026

One way we celebrated Civic Learning Week was by putting civics and leadership into action! 🙌🏽

Students in our Youth Lead Charlotte program explored education policy, created their own policy proposals, met with the CMS Student Advisor, and even watched her in action at a school board meeting. It was an incredible opportunity to see how young leaders can shape real decisions now, and for the future.

A huge thank you to Charles Jeter and Inchara Gopinath for taking the time to work with and inspire our students. 👏🏼

Great job, Youth Lead-ers at this session: Adhvik, Amiya, Brianna, Carlee, Jizelle, Jordan, Kahmaijah, Laila B, Laila J, Landyn, Loralyn, Lyric, Malone, Olivia, Ridhi, Sarvia, Serai, Tomar, Tsega, Tyler, and Veda! The future of leadership is bright because of YOU. ✨

03/10/2026

📣 It’s National Civic Learning Week!

Here in North Carolina, we’re proud to share a proclamation from Governor Stein officially recognizing the importance of civic literacy and encouraging residents, businesses, schools, organizations, leaders, and officials across our state to engage young people in civic learning and leadership.

Civic learning impacts everyone, everywhere. The skills, knowledge, and experiences gained through civic education empower a new generation of leaders, learners, changemakers, educators, business professionals, problem-solvers, and more.

This week—and all year long—join the 21 NC Civics Coalition members, including government agencies, K–12 and higher education institutions, and nonprofits, as we support and expand meaningful civic learning opportunities for students and communities across North Carolina.

Together, we can help build a more informed, engaged, and empowered future.

03/03/2026

🌟 Calling youth in North Carolina! 🌟

What’s YOUR wish for the future of the Tar Heel State? What changes do you want to see? What kind of leadership inspires you? What legacy do you want to help build?

Join us for a youth-led conversation about leadership and your vision for the future. This is your space to speak up, share ideas, and connect with other young leaders who care about making a difference!

🗓 March 11
⏰ 6–7 PM
💻 Zoom
👉🏼 Sign up using QR code or link in bio

Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. The future starts with YOU.

02/24/2026

Many thanks to alum Maayan Eaves for speaking with our Youth Lead Charlotte students about city government, networking, career exploration, and civic leadership! 🙌🏽✨

What made it even more powerful? Just about 10 years ago, Maayan was sitting in their seats — building leadership skills, civic awareness, and social capital through Youth Lead and as co-leader of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Youth Council.

Today, she’s putting that civic leadership into action in her professional role with — and investing in the next leaders who will shape our city’s future (and honestly… they already are 💫).

We’re so grateful for leaders — like you, Maayan — who come back to pour into the programs and students that helped shape them. The impact truly comes full circle.

And thank you to the City and the Office of Youth Opportunities for partnering with GenerationNation to help develop a new generation of civic leaders!

02/23/2026

👋🏽 Excited to welcome .mushinge back to the GenerationNation team! First a co-leader of CMYC and a student advisor on the GenerationNation board, and then a GN alum, now Zahara will work on staff to support GenerationNation youth programs and special projects!

02/19/2026

Excited to welcome UNC School of Civic Life and Leadership to NC Civics Coalition (NC3)!

Now with 21 members and growing, NC3 is a nonpartisan group of civic champions - including government agencies, higher education institutions, nonprofits, educators, youth, and public officials - working together to elevate and advance K-12 civic education and youth leadership across North Carolina.

NC3 is part of CivxNow, the nation’s largest cross-partisan coalition working to prioritize civic education in the US.

North Carolina Civics Coalition is a GenerationNation program.

02/17/2026

Charlotte area youth: Now’s the perfect time to get involved and take the lead in YOUR school district and YOUR city 🏙️🎤

Want to make your voice heard in CMS and city decision-making? 💬 Join Charlotte-Mecklenburg Youth Council (CMYC) — the CMS Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and the official youth council for the City of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County governments! 🙌🏽

🤝 Work with CMS, government, and community leaders
💡 Share your ideas on the BIG issues in schools and your city
🚀 Build skills, grow your networks, and gain real experience
✅ Meet new friends from different schools and neighborhoods!
🌱 Help plan YOUR city and school district today and shape Charlotte looks like for the future

CMYC is a partnership between youth and charlotte_youth

👉🏼 Sign up now: tinyurl.com/joincmyc

02/12/2026

North Carolina K-12 educators are invited to “Re-Engage 2026,” a free, experiential two-day deep-dive into North Carolina local government, that centers its relevance to our everyday lives!

This event is funded by the NC City & County Managers Association, with support from , , , and

In a time when our nation is increasingly plagued by political polarization and confidence in our civic institutions and governing bodies wanes, it is imperative to re-engage in preparing our youth (and ourselves) with the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and motivation to be responsible, informed and active citizens and community members. And while federal government and presidential elections are often the focus of our attention, it is our local government that tangibly impacts our daily lives – from water quality to trash collection to sports/recreation.

Learn more and sign up for the free teacher PD: https://humanities.unc.edu/event/lgs26/

02/11/2026

Charlotte youth leaders: have an idea to transform your school for the better?

This semester, GenerationNation is awarding MINI-GRANTS to high school Student Councils/SGAs/school leadership clubs for project ideas that create real impact across Charlotte 💡

Projects can focus on:
🎤 Student voice
🏫 Campus improvements
🤝 Neighborhood outreach
🧩 School & community problem-solving

Last year’s grantees included Merancas, who hosted community-building lunches; CPCC Early’s student speaking competition; Harding fostered student-alumni connections; Levine’s Clean Up Crew made the campus shine; and West Charlotte engaged students from neighborhood schools.

YOU can a difference! Apply by February 13. Link in bio!

02/05/2026

✨ Have an idea to transform your school for the better? ✨

This semester, GenerationNation is awarding MINI-GRANTS to high school Student Councils/SGAs for project ideas that create real impact across Charlotte 💡

Projects can focus on:
🎤 Student voice
🏫 Campus improvements
🤝 Neighborhood outreach
🧩 School & community problem-solving

Last year’s grantees included Merancas, who hosted community-building lunches; CPCC Early’s student speaking competition; Harding fostered student-alumni connections; Levine’s Clean Up Crew made the campus shine; and West Charlotte engaged students from neighborhood schools.

YOU can a difference! Apply by February 13. Link in bio!

Address

Charlotte, NC

Telephone

+17043436999

Website

http://www.generationnation.org/

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GenerationNation develops a new generation of civic leaders. Programs include Charlotte-Mecklenburg Youth Council, Youth Lead Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the student election (still known to many as “Kids Voting”), K-12 civic literacy curriculum, teacher development, and other initiatives that build civic literacy and leadership from an early age. Learn more at www.generationnation.org