Join a Community of Changemakers

Our programs for high school students are built on the the principles of Civic Innovation.

Through these carefully designed experiences, we equip young leaders with the tools to generate not just enough solutions, but an overflow of possibilities that tackle our world's most pressing problems with curiosity, commitment, and collective action.
Education + Innovation + Community = Abundance.
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Programs

Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders to build an Abundance of Solutions

Where Curiosity Ignites Change

Your journey starts here. Our flagship program invites you to see beyond the conventional and imagine what's possible. This fully remote, 8-week intensive fellowship brings together 750 young leaders annually from across all 50 states and 71 countries to explore groundbreaking approaches to civic innovation.
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Where Collaboration Takes Center Stage

For Fellowship graduates ready to deepen their impact, our summer Academies offer week-long immersive experiences at prestigious university campuses across America. the U.S..
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Where Commitment Creates Reality

Launching in spring 2025, the Lab represents our most ambitious initiative yet. Selected fellows will move beyond theoretical solutions to build real-world civic innovations with full support from the CU team, Board, and network of supporters. This year-long building phase transforms promising ideas into tangible impact.
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Are you a CU alumni and feeling out of the loop? Join our alumni Slack and email list—reach out to community@civicsunplugged.org to get connected!

FAQs

Program Basics

How much does it cost to participate in CU programs?
What if I start a program and realize it's not for me?
Do I need to be a straight-A student or have previous leadership experience?
Do you have a brief summary of your programs?
I’m a CU alumni but I haven’t been receiving any updates

Program Structure

Do you update your curriculum often?
Can I participate if I'm not in the United States?
How much time should I expect to commit each week?
What kind of support will I receive throughout the programs?
I'm not sure if I'm "innovative enough" – should I still apply?

Program Philosophy

Will CU tell me what to think about political and social issues?
I notice you emphasize self-reliance. What does that mean in practice?
How diverse is the CU community?