Learning by Hearings

10/06/2026

📚 From Teapot Dome to Watergate to Mark Zuckerberg testifying before Congress, the relationship between the media and government oversight spans over a century. But the question stays the same: how important is the media in informing the public about what government is actually doing? This free one-day civics lesson uses case studies from several decades as stations where students explore that question across different moments in history. What do your students think? 👇

10/05/2026

Educators gathered at the Detroit Public Library’s main branch Sept. 15 for Educators Night, exploring workshops and resources to support their students.

The South End’s Juliette Islas speaks with Wayne State professors, a classroom teacher and a special education advocate about inclusive teaching, connecting lessons to students’ backgrounds and helping families access support as Michigan schools face teacher shortages.

🔗 Full video on YouTube and in bio.

🎥 Reported and edited by Juliette Islas.

09/29/2026

📚 Did you know? Before the FDA existed, companies could put borax, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals in your food-legally. It took a government scientist running human experiments, a muckraking novelist, and a congressional investigation to change that. Upton Sinclair's The Jungle didn't just shock readers, it moved Congress to act. Which makes us wonder: to what extent does the media shape public policy? What would your students say? 👇

09/22/2026

📅 We have not one, not two, but THREE free professional development events coming up this fall, and you won't want to miss them!

🏫 Full-Day PD with History Day & Be Washington
Join us, the Historical Society of Michigan, and George Washington's Mount Vernon for a full day of inquiry-driven strategies and classroom-ready resources.
📍 Wayne RESA: Oct 22
📍 Macomb ISD: Nov 12

🏛️ Detroit Place-Based PD in collaboration with Oakland Schools
A one-day immersive experience in Detroit's history, including a visit to the Dr. Ossian H. Sweet Foundation and the Detroit Historical Museum's Detroit 67 exhibit. Lunch, materials, and SCECHs all included.
📍 Detroit: Nov 19

All three events are free. Register here: https://levin-center.org/students-educators/learning-by-hearings/

09/17/2026

Happy Constitution Day! Today, we got to spend time with some wonderful students from Detroit Public Schools Community District, hearing from Congressman Dan Kildee, Rep. Barbara Comstock and Dan Baxter from the Ossian Sweet House. Students also heard from and were able to interview Judge Youngblood from the 36th District Court.

09/16/2026

🎬 A piece of tape on a door. A botched break-in. A cover-up that brought down a presidency. Our Watergate Portrait in Oversight video, made in partnership with Detroit PBS and Michigan Learning Channel, brings one of the most dramatic congressional investigations in American history into your classroom. Free to use.

09/15/2026

🎬 Have you seen our January 6 video yet? Made in partnership with Detroit PBS and Michigan Learning Channel, this classroom-ready Portrait in Oversight video takes students inside the congressional investigations that followed the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, examining intelligence failures, witness testimony, and the ongoing questions about democratic accountability and public trust. Free to use in your classroom.

09/15/2026

Don't forget to join us TONIGHT at Educators Night!

The Cultural Center is a classroom without walls.

At Educators Night 2026, teachers can meet the people behind the programs — museum educators, librarians, university partners, nonprofits, and cultural organizations — and discover resources designed to support students throughout the year.

Join us at Detroit Historical Museum on Sept. 15.

Register here: bit.ly/EducatorsNight2026

09/14/2026

Did you know that asking someone about their plan to vote increases voter turnout? Celebrate National Voter Registration Day tomorrow by checking your voting status and asking a friend or neighbor about their voting plans!

Michigan Voters - www.michigan.gov/vote

is tomorrow! TOMORROW! TO👏 MOR👏 ROW👏! Less than 24-hours until our thousands-strong team of Partners kicks off the biggest, bestest celebration of democracy this country has seen in 250 years 🇺🇸 Are you ready to get ? 😎

09/11/2026