Correction: The earlier version of this newsletter stated the #VoteThatJawn event on Oct. 9 would be held at City Hall. The correct location is the Philadelphia Free Library. Our apologies for the error.

The lineup for the PA Civics Forum next month

We're about six weeks out from the 2025 PA Civics Educator Forum, hosted at Marywood University in Scranton, PA. This week we are excited to release the list of presenters for the day. Each of these organizations have crafted sessions designed to expand on the forum's theme: "Teaching America’s 250th Anniversary: Understanding Our Past, Shaping What’s Next."

Space at the PA Civics Educator Forum is filling up quickly. Register today!

A call to raise the bar for PA's next

generation of civic leaders

"The future of America is closely tied to how well we prepare our children here to be the knowledgeable and engaged leaders we will need them to be." That's what PA Civics co-chairs Jim Gerlach and Joe Hoeffel assert in an op-ed published this week in the Reading Eagle.

In the piece, the former congressmen outline PA Civics' upcoming objectives to help the Commonwealth meet these goals, including:

• Provide educators with the best-in-nation teacher training and resources;
• Work with state legislators from both parties and the State Board of Education to modernize our state civics and history academic standards, which haven't been updated since 2002;
• Improve Act 35, which currently falls short measuring what or how well our students are learning civics;
• Promote greater public awareness of high-achieving civics students and schools.

Join #VoteThatJawn at Philly Free Library, Oct. 9

#VoteThatJawn, Committee of 70's youth-led partner, invites you to Trend That Jawn, a teen poetry event on Thursday, Oct 9 from 4–5:30 PM at the Field Teen Center of the Free Library of Philadelphia. #VoteThatJawn amplifies youth voice and encourages first-time voters through creativity and community action.

• Hear poetry from Rashawn Dorsey, Philly’s new Youth Poet Laureate
• Jump into "Storm", our Walt Whitman-inspired youth poetry challenge
• Write & share your own poems
• Get voter-ready: register on site—or, if you’re 17, learn how you can earn $280+ as a poll worker this Election Day
• And yes, free food!

RSVP on our website. 

Bring your voice, your friends, and your ideas for change.

Video competition from the Third Circuit

The Judicial Council of the Third Circuit (part of the federal judicial branch) announced last week that it is hosting an Annual Third Circuit American Democracy Video Contest for high school students in grades nine through twelve on the importance of American democracy. 

High school students can submit original-content videos depicting why our democratic institutions and the fundamental rights and principles associated with them are critical to the future of the country. 

Video Contest submissions are due on Monday, November 3, 2025, and the award will be presented in early to mid-December, in celebration of Bill of Rights Day. Learn more here.