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Kidizenship: Youth. Rising.

Kidizenship reaches beyond the classroom, merging civic engagement with creative self-expression and community action.

$105,951
pledged of$95,000 goal
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Project Description

OUR MISSION

To help kids learn to value their communities, participate in democracy, and build the unity our polarized society needs. Engaged kids become citizens who VOTE.

Kidizenship is a non-profit organization hosting contests that invite kids ages 8-18 to design their own flags, make presidential speeches, sing anthems, create monuments and champion their causes. Going forward, Kidizenship will publish exciting and timely civics content by and for young people. Ultimately, we’ll help raise participation among voters ages 18-24 to the highest rates ever in the 2024 elections -- and in every election thereafter.

THE PROBLEM

At the source of the polarization in our country is a failure of civics education. We need robust, non-partisan education that teaches the rights and responsibilities of citizens and how democracy works so that it can become stronger and more just over time. America invests $54 per child for critical STEM curricula in public schools each year, but only five cents per student on civics. Civics education should also be considered essential, but most schools simply can’t support another program, another extracurricular activity, one more thing for overburdened teachers to fit into their classrooms. That’s where Kidizenship comes in. 

OUR SOLUTION

We've launched with six contests that celebrate what kids have to say about their country. The contests are judged in two age groups by civic all-star judges from across the political spectrum. Winners receive cash prizes that have been funded by Vanderbilt University; recipients can keep the reward or donate it to an organization in their community.  These contests invite kids to tell the story of THEIR America and share ideas for an inclusive, just, and sustainable democracy. Please see Kidizenship.com for the winning entries we've received from a pool of hundreds of submissions from kids nationwide.

THE JUDGES

Our amazing judges aren’t paid -- they agree to invest their time in these contests because they know kids are redefining our democracy. In addition to helping select the winners, our judges become invaluable Kidizenship ambassadors, amplifying the contests and helping us reach new audiences. We are intentional about selecting judges from a wide variety of viewpoints, backgrounds, and spheres.  

WE NEED YOUR HELP

WITH YOUR FUNDING WE WILL:

Fund new contests and expand our content, establish a youth internship program, and bring on a Development Director to secure foundation support.

Going forward, we will:  

Build a robust digital platform on Kidizenship.com to publish the voices of youth leaders. 

• Publish content from public figures who can help guide kids through current events, media literacy, and civic action opportunities.

THE GOALS OF OUR CONTENT ON KIDIZENSHIP.COM:

ROOTLearn historical context for current events.

VERIFYFact-check and investigate accuracy in social media and the news.

LISTENDiscuss and learn how to engage in civil discourse, debate and consensus-building.

ACTTrack and tell real world stories of kids creating social and political change.

• Celebrate citizen heroes, model civil discourse, and encourage political participation regardless of party affiliation. Interactive features including games, puzzles, and quizzes that test and reward civic knowledge. 

• Build on our current partnerships with NGOs that support students and families outside the classroom, including Family Equality and YMCA Youth and Government Programs. We will add new partners to amplify our content and share our contests nationwide. 

• Build Kidizenship camps and workshops (virtual and in-person) that will connect kids with community leaders and public figures and give them a pathway to being a part of their local democratic process and get them invested EARLY.

 

Kidizenship is a non-profit organization; our 501c3 status is in process, and your donations will be tax-deductible for the 2021 tax year.

 

OUR FOUNDER

 

Amanda Little is a professor of journalism and science writing at Vanderbilt University, a Bloomberg op-ed contributor, and the award-winning author of The Fate of Food: What We’ll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World. She has spent two decades writing about the environment, climate change, and innovation, and a decade teaching undergraduates. Amanda has written for publications from The New York Times to Rolling Stone and appeared on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, Morning Joe, and CNN with Fareed Zakaria. Her recent TED Talk has 1.3M+ views. Amanda went to Brown University and dreamed up Kidizenship with the help of her kids, Aria and Nico, ages 12 and 9.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Campaign FAQs

Please contact our COO with any questions:

Kate Davis, 917-572-7103

[email protected]

 

 

Isabel Tipton-Krispin
03/15/2024
Supporter
$25
Katherine A Dobson
01/06/2024
Monetary Contribution
$300
12/13/2023
Supporter
$25
Borden Lacy
12/12/2023
Monetary Contribution
$1,000
ethan herschenfeld
12/09/2023
Monetary Contribution
$36
Anonymous
11/29/2023
Monetary Contribution
$200
Jean Wolf
10/25/2023
Monetary Contribution
$100
Evan J Segal
08/11/2023
Founding Father/Mother
$5,000
Wendy Benchley
01/04/2023
Monetary Contribution
$200
Alex Jahangir
12/31/2022
Public Servant
$500
25.00 USD
Supporter

Kidizenship sticker.

31 Supporters
Select this reward
75.00 USD
Citizen

Kidizenship water bottle.

24 Supporters
Select this reward
125.00 USD
Voter

Kidizenship baseball cap.

28 Supporters
Select this reward
350.00 USD
Early Voter

Book in a Bag - signed book from Jon Meacham and a Kidizenship tote bag.

32 Left
18 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Public Servant

Custom Kidizenship cookie box from famed NYC cookie company THE ROUNDS, plus Kidizenship merch (hat, water bottle and sticker).

11 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Representative

Make your own American flag artwork home craft kit for adults and kids.

(photo above by Milka, 17, contest winner)

14 Supporters
Select this reward
2,000.00 USD
Patron of the Arts

A private ZOOM event for your friends, community, company or school with Amanda Little: How to Supercharge Your Civic Engagement.

5 Left
10 Supporters
Select this reward
5,000.00 USD
Founding Father/Mother

The whole shebang! Kidizenship sticker, water bottle, tote bag, signed Jon Meacham book, custom THE ROUNDS cookie box, American flag craft kit and private Zoom with Amanda Little. 

4 Supporters
Select this reward
10,000.00 USD
Mount Rushmore

The whole shebang (all the merch) PLUS private ZOOM event with Amanda Little PLUS full sponsorship of youth prizes in an upcoming Kidizenship contest.

1 Supporter
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Nashville, TN
Created 1 Campaign
Social Good

Rewards

25.00 USD
Supporter

Kidizenship sticker.

31 Supporters
Select this reward
75.00 USD
Citizen

Kidizenship water bottle.

24 Supporters
Select this reward
125.00 USD
Voter

Kidizenship baseball cap.

28 Supporters
Select this reward
350.00 USD
Early Voter

Book in a Bag - signed book from Jon Meacham and a Kidizenship tote bag.

32 Left
18 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Public Servant

Custom Kidizenship cookie box from famed NYC cookie company THE ROUNDS, plus Kidizenship merch (hat, water bottle and sticker).

11 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Representative

Make your own American flag artwork home craft kit for adults and kids.

(photo above by Milka, 17, contest winner)

14 Supporters
Select this reward
2,000.00 USD
Patron of the Arts

A private ZOOM event for your friends, community, company or school with Amanda Little: How to Supercharge Your Civic Engagement.

5 Left
10 Supporters
Select this reward
5,000.00 USD
Founding Father/Mother

The whole shebang! Kidizenship sticker, water bottle, tote bag, signed Jon Meacham book, custom THE ROUNDS cookie box, American flag craft kit and private Zoom with Amanda Little. 

4 Supporters
Select this reward
10,000.00 USD
Mount Rushmore

The whole shebang (all the merch) PLUS private ZOOM event with Amanda Little PLUS full sponsorship of youth prizes in an upcoming Kidizenship contest.

1 Supporter
Select this reward