WE CREATE

CIVIC INNOVATORS

TRAILBLAZERS

DREAM CHASERS

We equip our Fellows with the training, funding, and  community they need to become civic innovators.

Civic Innovator

Noun
Community focused leaders who build novel solutions to well defined societal problems.

How we do it:

Civics Unplugged has built an ecosystem dedicated to training, funding, and connecting young people who are using new approaches to solving issues in democracy, climate, our lives online, and so much more.

PROGRAMS

Civics Unplugged programs connect high schoolers from around the world, and teach  the fundamentals of systems thinking, history, civics, tech, and leadership.

View Current Programs

COMMUNITY

Program graduates enter a community where they can access funding, mentorship, and a network to support their personal development or launch initiatives.

Explore the Community

LAB

Alongside our Graduates, we incubate new programs, content, and fund technology that pushes the boundaries of civic education and action.

Check out the Lab

Our Fellows

Civics Unplugged looks for community minded, forward thinking, and entrepreneurial young people.

~300

Fellows per Cohort

3000+

Alumni

11%

Acceptance Rate

Our Alumni

We look for exceptional young people from across the globe. Fellows go on to attend top universities, secure competitive internships, and obtain funding from CU to launch projects that impact hundreds of thousands globally.

74%

Young Women

74%

People of Color

40%

First Gen
College Students

Audrey Shin, 20

Massachussets

"I remember having such meaningful discussions every Saturday Morning with my group, and what I took away from CU most of all, was the power of having so many different perspectives around me.

I ended up founding Project You a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 3 other Civics Unplugged fellows who were in my group at the time. We all go to school in the Boston area and they still remain three of my strongest friends to this day."

ALUMNI STORIES

TED Talk

Shreya Joshi
Shreya was invited to deliver a TED Talk in Vancouver about her work helping young people become engaged in the political process.
Learn More

First Lady's Award

Elena Ashburn
Elena won an award for her CU Funded organization, "Bloom: Empowering the Military Teen". They were highlighted by First Lady Jill Biden for their work supporting active military families and young people who constantly move from base to base.
Learn More

Appointed to California Board of Education

Naomi Porter
Naomi was appointed to the California State Board of Education by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Learn More

Rest Vest

Sam Young
Sam Young (CT | 15 | CU ‘22) is helping solve the mental health crisis with RestVest, his invention that uses a stylish vest to apply deep pressure therapy to help those who suffer from stress and anxiety.
Learn More

New York Times Essay Award

Joyce Orishaba
Joyce Orishaba (CA |17 | CU ‘22) won the New York Times Personal Narrative Competition with a moving submission about the loss of her family and Batwa tribe in Uganda. She ends her essay with: “I will be the river for my people. I am the future.” Joyce hopes to continue advocacy through her organization, Discover The Lost Tribe.
Learn More

RECENT ALUMNI
 STORIES

TED Talk

Shreya Joshi
,
19
Illinois

Shreya was invited to deliver a TED Talk in Vancouver about her work helping young people become engaged in the political process.

First Lady's Award

Elena Ashburn
,
18
Florida

Elena won an award for her CU Funded organization, "Bloom: Empowering the Military Teen". They were highlighted by First Lady Jill Biden for their work supporting active military families and young people who constantly move from base to base.

Appointed to California Board of Education

Naomi Porter
,
18
California

Naomi was appointed to the California State Board of Education by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Rest Vest

Sam Young
,
17
Connecticut

Sam Young (CT | 15 | CU ‘22) is helping solve the mental health crisis with RestVest, his invention that uses a stylish vest to apply deep pressure therapy to help those who suffer from stress and anxiety.

New York Times Essay Award

Joyce Orishaba
,
17
San Diego

Joyce Orishaba (CA |17 | CU ‘22) won the New York Times Personal Narrative Competition with a moving submission about the loss of her family and Batwa tribe in Uganda. She ends her essay with: “I will be the river for my people. I am the future.” Joyce hopes to continue advocacy through her organization, Discover The Lost Tribe.

Eco Brothers, Inc

Chase Hartman
,
17
Florida

has recycled and donated over 200,000 books through his organization, Eco Brothers, Inc. Chase and his younger brother, Zach, have raised over $100,000 to improve literacy for over 45,000 students in Florida.

Students Stand Up

Lillian Hertel
,
17
Minneapolis, Minnesota

SSU aims to provide youth from around the world with the tools and resources necessary to begin and succeed in work surrounding activism and political advocacy.

The Greater Good Initiative

Tarina Ahuja
,
20
Cambridge, MA

The Greater Good Initiative is a youth-led policy think-tank with the mission of promoting youth engagement and mobilization in the policymaking process.

GOVLEARN

Luke Gianella
,
17
Marina del Ray, California

GOVLEARN Education, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to providing easily accessible & nonpartisan government & politics education to elementary and middle school students.

A2M2

Rushank Goyal
,
17
Bhopal, India

A2M2, (Attack Avoidable Maternal Mortality/Morbidity) is an international teen-led nonprofit that aims to tackle the unfathomable loss of lives and burden of disease caused by mortality and morbidity during pregnancy and childbirth.

DICCE

Zoë Jenkins
,
18
Lexington, KY

DICCE, which stands for diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and equity, is an initiative founded out of something missing in our education system: diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accurate history curriculum.

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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

TED Talk

Shreya Joshi
19
,
Illinois

Shreya was invited to deliver a TED Talk in Vancouver about her work helping young people become engaged in the political process.

First Lady's Award

Elena Ashburn
18
,
Florida

Elena won an award for her CU Funded organization, "Bloom: Empowering the Military Teen". They were highlighted by First Lady Jill Biden for their work supporting active military families and young people who constantly move from base to base.

Appointed to California Board of Education

Naomi Porter
18
,
California

Naomi was appointed to the California State Board of Education by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Rest Vest

Sam Young
17
,
Connecticut

Sam Young (CT | 15 | CU ‘22) is helping solve the mental health crisis with RestVest, his invention that uses a stylish vest to apply deep pressure therapy to help those who suffer from stress and anxiety.

New York Times Essay Award

Joyce Orishaba
17
,
San Diego

Joyce Orishaba (CA |17 | CU ‘22) won the New York Times Personal Narrative Competition with a moving submission about the loss of her family and Batwa tribe in Uganda. She ends her essay with: “I will be the river for my people. I am the future.” Joyce hopes to continue advocacy through her organization, Discover The Lost Tribe.

Eco Brothers, Inc

Chase Hartman
17
,
Florida

has recycled and donated over 200,000 books through his organization, Eco Brothers, Inc. Chase and his younger brother, Zach, have raised over $100,000 to improve literacy for over 45,000 students in Florida.

Students Stand Up

Civics and Democracy

Lillian Hertel
17
,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

SSU aims to provide youth from around the world with the tools and resources necessary to begin and succeed in work surrounding activism and political advocacy.

The Greater Good Initiative

Civics and Democracy

Tarina Ahuja
20
,
Cambridge, MA

The Greater Good Initiative is a youth-led policy think-tank with the mission of promoting youth engagement and mobilization in the policymaking process.

GOVLEARN

Civics and Democracy

Luke Gianella
17
,
Marina del Ray, California

GOVLEARN Education, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to providing easily accessible & nonpartisan government & politics education to elementary and middle school students.

A2M2

Maternal Health

Rushank Goyal
17
,
Bhopal, India

A2M2, (Attack Avoidable Maternal Mortality/Morbidity) is an international teen-led nonprofit that aims to tackle the unfathomable loss of lives and burden of disease caused by mortality and morbidity during pregnancy and childbirth.

DICCE

DEI

Zoë Jenkins
18
,
Lexington, KY

DICCE, which stands for diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and equity, is an initiative founded out of something missing in our education system: diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accurate history curriculum.