The Newsroom
We believe in transparency, accountability, and rigorous feedback. As such, we publish what we do well, how we are improving, and ways in which we have learned. Below you will find press about our work, relevant articles penned by our team, and evaluations of our programs.
Talks + Writing by Civic Spirit
How Do Organizations Inspire and Equip Individuals and Communities to Listen and Understand Those With Whom They Differ or Disagree? Report by Civic Spirit Intern, Ben Messafi. August, 2022.
I’m a rabbi who witnessed the attack on Salman Rushdie in Chautauqua. Here is how we can combat this type of hate. The Forward. August 2022.
New Civic Spirit Executive Director Announcement. April 11, 2022.
The Luminous Crossroads of Faith and Civic Learning.
Journal of Interreligious Studies. Summer 2022.
My Civics students taught me how to honor an imperfect country on the Fourth of July. Chalkbeat. July 2021.
Coming of Age in America: Do We Need a Civic Bar Mitzvah?
Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools Blog. January 2021.
When Polling Fails, Read a Book.
Inside Higher Ed, December 2020.
“Civics Education is integral to Jewish Education.”
Jewish Education and the Ballot Box Live Conference. Jewish Education Project, October 2020.
I Teach Civics.
Chalkbeat: First Person. October 21, 2020.
Holy Bridges: Building Community in 2020 and Beyond.
Panel at UpSwell virtual conference, in partnership with the Aspen Institute’s Inclusive American Project. October 15th, 2020.
The Splendor of Waiting.
Aspen Institute. June 2, 2020.
Grateful Citizen.
Sh’Ma Now of The Forward
March 4, 2019.
Teaching Civics in the Age of Polarization
Hayidion: The Prizmah Journal
February 12, 2019.
Episode 17: I’m Curious Why You Feel that Way, with Tamara Tweel, Part 1.
Radical Moderation. Rabbi Ari Segal
November 2018.
Episode 18: I’m Curious Why You Feel That Way, with Dr. Tamara Tweel, Part 2.
Radical Moderation. Rabbi Ari Segal
November 2018.
Conceived in Liberty (Transcript)
Jewish Futures Conference:
“For Which It Stands: How Can Jewish Civics Education Elevate American Democracy?
December 13, 2017
Democratizing the Great Books
Inside Higher Ed
April 3, 2017
An Intimate Education
Inside Higher Ed
January 9, 2015
National Press
NYC rabbi witnesses stabbing attack on Salman Rushdie.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (jta.org). August 2022.
Thinking about Chautauqua.
The Jewish Standard (timesofisrael.com). August 2022.
Repairing America’s Broken Democracy: Interview with Bridge Alliance Member, Lindsay Bressman of Civic Spirit.
CityBiz. January 2022.
Ma’ayanot Launches Faculty-Student Civic Dialogue Initiative.
Jewish Link. November 2021.
Advancing Civic Learning: From the Classroom to the Cafeteria.
CityBiz, June 2021.
How Civic Spirit Used Sched to Create Community.
Sched Blog, May 2021.
Get Personal: Lessons from a U.S. Government Teacher.
Prizmah Blog, April 2021.
Interview–Story of Civic Spirit.
Compassionate America Network, February 2021.
We the Educators.
Jack Miller Center, March 2021.
How to talk to kids about the election and fraught politics.
CNN Health, October 2020.
Civic Responsibility 2020.
Jewish Education Project, October 2020.
MTA Student Leaders Participate in Civic Spirit Day.
JewishLink. May 14, 2020.
Media Literacy Challenge Announcement
The Fulcrum. April 3, 2020.
Catholic School Fights Anti-Semitism with Class on Jewish History.
NET: New York’s Catholic Station. January 14, 2020.
Teens at a mostly African-American school in Brooklyn have questions about Jews. A Holocaust class provides some answers.
JTA. January 9, 2020.
Around the Boroughs Update.
NY-1. January 8, 2020.
Students Sue Rhode Island for Lack of Civic Education.
NTD News Today. December 18, 2019. (Minutes 12:50-14:50)
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Report, “From a Civic Education to a Civic Learning Ecosystem: A Landscape Analysis and the Case for Collaboration”. December 4, 2019.
New York’s Civic Education Renewal.
City-Journal. October 25, 2019.
“High-Impact Civic Education Projects: A Guide for Donors”.
Philanthropy Roundtable. Summer 2019.
Engaging Religious Teens to be Active Citizens: Civic Spirit Day 2019
Jewish Link New Jersey. May 16, 2019.
Be a Mensch as You Walk Through the World
The Covenant Foundation Sight Line. November 28, 2018
Teaching Civic Spirit in the Trump Era.
The Jewish Week. August 22, 2018
New Education Focus On Old-School Civics
The Jewish Week. January 16, 2018.
Evaluation Reports
We the Educators Evaluation.
July 2022.
Summer Institute Evaluation.
August 2021.
Delegates Program Evaluation.
June 2021.
We the Educators Evaluation.
May 2021.
Student Delegates Program Evaluation.
July 2020
Civic Spirit Day @HOME Evaluation.
May 2020
2020 Two Year Evaluation
February 2020
2019 Civic Spirit Day Full Evaluation
June 2019
Summer Institute 2018 Full Evaluation
November 2018
Summer Institute 2018 Executive Summary
September 2018