The Community equips our proven alumni  with everything they need to focus 100% on launching and scaling social impact companies. The world needs more civic innovators –and we need them now. Our community supports youth to take a risk, and launch world-changing initiatives.

Apply to the Fellowship

Our Philosophy

Most young people are told that changing the world isn’t a sustainable career. Too often, our brightest youth choose career paths that are misaligned with their passions and the health of their communities.

Our goal is to provide Civics Unplugged Alumni with the funding, mentorship, and community they need to start building social impact companies right now.

Once a Fellow graduates, they join the CU Alumni Community where they are provided funding, mentorship, and a home to experiment, fail, and create.

VIEW CURRENT PROGRAMS

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

DIRECT
INVESTMENT

CIvics Unplugged Alumni can apply for funding to support their personal development or civic innovation projects.

CONTINUING
EDUCATION

Civics Unplugged Alumni can attend deep dive lessons and programs in Climate Technology, Digital Rights, and Emerging Technology.

CAREER
DEVELOPMENT

Graduates of the Fellowship can choose to be placed in jobs and internships within the Civics Unplugged network.

LIFELONG
NETWORK

Our unique Alumni platform keeps graduates connected to each other (and our network) well after they graduate from the program.

Direct InvestmentMentorship MatchingInternship PlacementSpecialized Training ProgramsOne Off WorkshopsJob Opportunities

Direct Investment

CIvics Unplugged Alumni can apply for funding to support their local civic innovation projects.

Internship Placement

Graduates of the Fellowship can apply to be matched with paid summer internships through CU's partner network.

Specialized Programs

Each week, Civics Unplugged staff and partners host niche workshops and specialized training (i.e. in Climate Tech or web3) programs for alumni.

One Off Workshops

CU's program directors host workshops three days a week, covering Supreme Court cases, new legislation, the principles of government, technology, and more!

Job Opportunities

Once you graduate from University, we work hard to connect you with our network of CivTech founders and investors, so you can join the Civic Innovation workforce.
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OUR ALUMNI

Civics Unplugged provides funding to support Alumni's personal development or civic initiatives.

$250,000

Invested directly into Alumni Civic projects

530,000

People impacted beyond the immediate CU Community

What our Alumni
are saying:

"Civics Unplugged has broadened my perspective on events, people, and life in general. I live in a rather small bubble, and so connecting with fellows across the world reminded me to take into account multiple situations and views before acting."

Joleen Wong

15

,

Los Angeles, California

Fall '22

"CU has prompted me to look deep into my desires and skills to future cast and identify what careers I can pursue, what lifestyle I want to achieve, and what my definition of success looks like. With this, CU empowered me and made me feel unstoppable."

Aaron Piando

18

,

McAllen, Texas

Spring '21

"At Civics Unplugged, I met amazing people, many of whom I'm lucky enough to call very close friends. I've developed such close relationships with my peers that I honestly cannot imagine my life without their support."

Arpita Singh

16

,

Phoenix, Arizona

Fall '22

"Civics Unplugged is a second home for me. I often find myself most comfortable in the CU Community, where I've met lifelong friends and mentors. The Fellowship also gave me long lasting opportunities that I would not have been able to receive at my public high school with limited resources."

Dariel Cruz-Rodriquez

18

,

Orlando, Florida

Fall '20

"The Fellowship enabled me to launch a career in social-change. While our education system teaches the youth to wait their turn, Civics Unplugged accelerates the projects, potential, and power of our generation to build a brighter future."

Zoë Jenkins

18

,

Lexington, KY

Fall '20

HEAR FROM 
OUR FELLOWS...

Joleen Wong
Fall '22
"Civics Unplugged has broadened my perspective on events, people, and life in general. I live in a rather small bubble, and so connecting with fellows across the world reminded me to take into account multiple situations and views before acting."
Aaron Piando
Spring '21
"CU has prompted me to look deep into my desires and skills to future cast and identify what careers I can pursue, what lifestyle I want to achieve, and what my definition of success looks like. With this, CU empowered me and made me feel unstoppable."
Arpita Singh
Fall '22
"At Civics Unplugged, I met amazing people, many of whom I'm lucky enough to call very close friends. I've developed such close relationships with my peers that I honestly cannot imagine my life without their support."
Dariel Cruz-Rodriguez
Fall '20
"Civics Unplugged is a second home for me. I often find myself most comfortable in the CU Community, where I've met lifelong friends and mentors. The Fellowship also gave me long lasting opportunities that I would not have been able to receive at my public high school with limited resources."
Zoë Jenkins
Fall '20
"The Fellowship enabled me to launch a career in social-change. While our education system teaches the youth to wait their turn, Civics Unplugged accelerates the projects, potential, and power of our generation to build a brighter future."

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

Appointed to California Board of Education

Naomi Porter
,
18
California

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

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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

Eco Brothers, Inc

Chase Hartman
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.
Learn More

Students Stand Up

Lillian Hertel
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.
Learn More

The Greater Good Initiative

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

GOVLEARN

Luke Gianella
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.
Learn More

A2M2

Rushank Goyal
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.
Learn More

OUR PARTNERS

Civics Unplugged’s mission is supported by a global network of partners dedicated to empowering youth and building a brighter future.

2023 AppLICATIONS OPEN

LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

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