In the Civics Unplugged Lab, our Fellows and team are constantly exploring new methods and technologies to make civics education more interactive, relevant, and engaging for students inside our programs and across the nation.

THE LAB

In the Civics Unplugged Lab, our Fellows and team are constantly exploring new methods and technologies to make civics education more interactive, relevant, and engaging for students inside our programs and across the nation.

WHY
THE LAB?

From virtual reality simulations, niche programming, and new educational sandboxes, we are always looking for ways to keep young people ahead of the curve – so they are prepared to face new challenges well before graduating university.

We also work with communities, schools, and partners to develop practical, real-world initiatives that promote civic engagement and encourage active participation in the democratic process.

WHAT WE'VE
BEEN BUILDING

THE DREAM DAO

The Dream DAO is the world’s first youth led, non-profit web3 organization. It serves as a vehicle to train and support young people using new technologies for social impact, as well as a sandbox for digital democracy.

Along with the explorers program, which funds individual CU Alumni to explore the world of emerging tech and social impact, the DREAM DAO is building technology that rethinks the way decision-making in organizations (and potentially democracy) works. Every decision in the Dream DAO – including the budget – is voted on by the entire community.

The Fellows worked to create a transparent meritocratic voting platform. The platform increases user’s voting power slightly when they contribute things that the rest of the community deems meaningful. This year, we were supported by Coinbase, Near, Celo, and The Ethereum Foundation, and more.

$300,000

Raised to support Dream DAO Fellows

30

Winners at Hackathons in 2022

200

Fellows Funded

5

Protocol Partnerships

$300,000

Raised to support Dream DAO Fellows

30

Hackathon Winners in 2022

200

Young People Funded

5

Partnerships

The CLIMATE  FELLOWSHIP

The Climate Innovators Fellowship is the ONLY climate-technology focused program for high-school students. The program explores ways young people can get involved in all aspects of climate work, and places graduates in internships with sustainability leaders.

The Climate Innovators Fellowship is an advanced program that focuses on climate technology, policy, and economics, co-created alongside our Fellows and experts from Columbia University. High Schoolers learned everything from economics of climate to how heat pumps work to offset the effects of climate change.

In 2022, we ran a small NYC-focused pilot program. Of the 35 accepted Fellows, 34 graduated and spent an average of 7 hours per week working on the Fellowship from April-June. In 2023, we plan to expand this program nationwide, with the goal of helping high schoolers explore potential careers in climate innovation before starting college.

25

Fellows Placed in Climate Internships

30

Lessons Delivered by Experts

150

Cohort Size 2023

8

Hours Fellows Spent Per Week

25

Fellows Placed in Climate Internships

15

Lessons Delivered by Experts

150

Cohort Size in 2023