The Civic Life Project aims to improve civic education and engagement among students. It has students produce documentary films about civic issues facing their community to explore these issues in a hands-on way. This helps make civic education more engaging for students. It also benefits society by developing more civically aware and active citizens. The program has had success in increasing students' understanding of civics based on feedback. However, it requires additional funding to expand its resources and personnel so it can continue to grow and develop online offerings.

1. Monday, September 2, 13

2. “Knowledge of our system of
government is not handed down
through the gene pool. The habits of
citizenship must be learned. But we
have neglected civic education for
the past several decades, and the
results are predictably dismal.”
– Sandra Day O’Connor
Monday, September 2, 13

3. The Importance of Civics
3
Civic knowledge and engagement is vital to a
thriving democracy.
• Promotes informed political participation
• Gives people more control over their lives
as citizens
• Nuances opinions and encourages
dialogue and bipartisanship
• Creates future leaders for our democracy
Source: Educational Testing Service
Monday, September 2, 13

4. Society in Crisis
4
Only 1/3 Americans can name the
three branches of government and
1/3 can’t name any at all.
24% Only 24% of high school students
graduate proficient in civics.
Source: Educational Testing Service, Center for Public Justice, Los Angeles Times
139
172
The United States ranks 139th in
voter turnout out of the world’s 172
democracies.
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5. A Creative Solution
5
Civic Life Project transforms students into
responsible citizens by empowering them to
explore and engage the critical civic issues facing
their community and our nation through
documentary filmmaking.
Monday, September 2, 13

6. To The Benefit of All
6
• Students become more responsible citizens
through a deeper understanding and
appreciation of civics and civic issues while
learning valuable creative skills
• Schools can augment their civics curricula,
saving resources while enhancing outcomes
and developing 21st Century skills
• Society benefits from more responsible citizens
and communities that get to explore the issues
through student documentaries
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7. Classroom to Screening Room
7
By leveraging multimedia technology that is
already exciting and familiar to young people,
Civic Life Project captures the imagination of
students by turning the dry study of civics into
the exploration of real people with real issues.
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8. Classroom to Screening Room
8
CLP’s program demonstrates the importance of civics by:
• Hosting in-classroom discussions with students relating
the Constitution and the role of government to real
people and real issues
• Creating teams of students to investigate, analyze, and
develop a viewpoint on a civic issue
• Providing instruction on how to script and produce a
documentary film, including work sessions with real
directors, cinematographers, and journalists
• Producing of short videos for public presentation to
peers, teachers, community members and public
officials
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9. Measurable Impact
9
CLP uses a variety of metrics to gauge success:
• Number of attendees at public screenings
• Online video views
• Qualitative feedback from students, teachers, and
community members
• Duration of relationships with schools
In the future, CLP will:
• Track program alumni to obtain qualitative and
quantitative data on their civic involvement, comparing it
to local and national averages
Monday, September 2, 13

10. Moving Forward
10
For Civic Life Project to succeed and grow, funds will be
needed to meet our needs in terms of personnel and
materials.
Personnel responsibilities include:
• Designing and implementing in-class programs
• Supporting students in filmmaking process
• Building relationships with students, schools and other
partners
• Developing and translating its curriculum for online
platforms.
Materials needed to run our programs include:
• Film equipment
• Editing hardware and software
Monday, September 2, 13

11. July 2013 – June 2014
11
CLP will:
• Translate its curriculum to online/mobile platforms
• Develop teachers’ and Instructors’ training workshops
• Develop on line subscription based high schools and
universities courses
• Develop online tutoring
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12. Tax Deductible Contributions
12
Civic Life Project is a 501 c 3 Not for Profit
incorporated in Connecticut
All contributions are tax-deductible
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13. Watch
a
short
presenta7on
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14. Watch
a
short
presenta7on
13
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15. Watch
a
short
presenta7on
13
Monday, September 2, 13

16. Monday, September 2, 13

17. Thank You.
www.civiclifeproject.org
Monday, September 2, 13