PDC Story
Practicing Democracy in Communities
A $3.5 MILLION GRANT IS SUPPORTING A LOYOLA INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN CHICAGOLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The School of Education at Loyola University Chicago is celebrating the acquisition of a substantial grant worth $3.5 million to propel the new initiative, "Practicing Democracy in Communities" (PDC). This grant, awarded in collaboration with community public schools and organizations, as well as the Chicago Public Schools Office of Curriculum, signifies immense growth in the enhancement of civics education and the promotion of improved civic outcomes among students in the Chicagoland public school system.
PDC emphasizes the importance of student civic engagement and participation in the classroom and beyond.
PDC will leave a lasting impact on the educational landscape by partnering with 6-7 neighborhood-based public schools and working closely with 15-20 community organizations in the vibrant communities of Rogers Park, Edgewater, and Uptown. These three culturally diverse neighborhoods in Chicago will serve as the backdrop for a comprehensive effort to strengthen civic education. The program's mission is to engage 7-8 school principals, 20-25 middle and high school teachers, and a total of 800 students in a transformative learning experience.
“Civic education has been ignored by many school systems over the past 30 - 40 years to our country’s detriment. Civic education helps to establish the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that all young people need to participate actively and boldly in our democracy,” said Dr. Jon Schmidt, assistant professor, and partnership coordinator of the School of Education, who is leading this project.
At the heart of PDC is the drive to create an environment where students can learn and practice the core skills of democratic citizenship. The program's approach is rooted in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), an ideology that places emphasis on strengths-based methods, partnership development, and local self-determination. PDC endeavors to instill in students the concept of critical civic engagement by anchoring their experiences in real life, nurturing critical thinking, and supporting informed civic action.
Many organizations throughout Loyola, including PDC, prioritize civic engagement both for students and the community at large.
Empowering Partnerships for Civic Education
One of the core missions of PDC is to establish robust partnerships among Loyola University Chicago, neighborhood public schools, community organizations, and museums. This collaborative effort is set to result in the development of a place-based, community-wide civic education system that encourages learning and engagement among students and community members alike.
In this pursuit, PDC aims to create and support professional learning communities for principals and communities of practice for teachers. Simultaneously, they intend to build and sustain a PDC Advisory Council that will guide the program's evolution. The initiative will convene and support community organizations and partners in identifying and engaging with local issues and strategies to solve them.
The expected outcome of these efforts is a significant increase in the effectiveness of collaboration for civic learning among community stakeholders, leading to the development of a comprehensive approach to civic learning within the local communities.
Empowering Educators and Fostering Civic Engagement
PDC also places a strong emphasis on empowering educators. The program aims to provide teachers in local schools with the necessary support to offer high-quality, innovative civic education and instruction in US History.
To achieve this, PDC will provide multiple professional learning opportunities for both pre-service and in-service teachers and offer thematic instructional frameworks for US history teachers. The envisioned outcome is that teachers will demonstrate greater confidence and skill in teaching civics and US history, and an enhanced ability to facilitate critical civic engagement among their students.
Nurturing Future Civic Leaders
A fundamental pillar of the PDC initiative is nurturing the future leaders of democracy. This objective focuses on providing students with numerous civic learning opportunities that enable them to practice democracy in their communities, fostering the development of civic skills, knowledge, dispositions, habits, and identities that will support lifelong democratic engagement.
To accomplish this goal, PDC will work towards generating and sustaining high-quality, innovative civic education classroom pedagogy, in addition to providing multiple civic learning opportunities beyond the classroom. The expected outcome is that students will acquire and demonstrate core democratic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and habits, and develop a keen sense of civic identity.
With the incredible grant now secured, Loyola University Chicago and its dedicated partners are poised to transform civic education and civic engagement within Chicagoland communities. Practicing Democracy in Communities is a promising initiative offering students, teachers, and community members the tools and knowledge they need to become active and informed citizens, fostering a brighter future for all involved.
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Practicing Democracy in Communities
Exploring How Communities Strengthen Civic Engagement
Loyola University Chicago’s School of Education is working to support civic learning in our neighborhood public schools on Chicago’s northeast side in order to support the development of informed, engaged, passionate citizens who are developing their civic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and habits. Practicing Democracy in Communities (PDC) partners with schools and community organizations in Edgewater, Lake View, Rogers Park, and Uptown
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Practicing Democracy in Communities
A $3.5 Million Grant Helps to Support Loyola's Efforts to Strengthen Democratic Participation
Loyola University Chicago has been awarded a five-year, approximately $3.5 million grant from the Department of Education supporting efforts to strengthen democratic participation among students in collaboration with schools, community organizations, museums and cultural institutions, elected officials, and university faculty and students.
Learn MorePDC will leave a lasting impact on the educational landscape by partnering with 6-7 neighborhood-based public schools and working closely with 15-20 community organizations in the vibrant communities of Rogers Park, Edgewater, and Uptown. These three culturally diverse neighborhoods in Chicago will serve as the backdrop for a comprehensive effort to strengthen civic education. The program's mission is to engage 7-8 school principals, 20-25 middle and high school teachers, and a total of 800 students in a transformative learning experience.
“Civic education has been ignored by many school systems over the past 30 - 40 years to our country’s detriment. Civic education helps to establish the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that all young people need to participate actively and boldly in our democracy,” said Dr. Jon Schmidt, assistant professor, and partnership coordinator of the School of Education, who is leading this project.
At the heart of PDC is the drive to create an environment where students can learn and practice the core skills of democratic citizenship. The program's approach is rooted in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), an ideology that places emphasis on strengths-based methods, partnership development, and local self-determination. PDC endeavors to instill in students the concept of critical civic engagement by anchoring their experiences in real life, nurturing critical thinking, and supporting informed civic action.
Empowering Partnerships for Civic Education
One of the core missions of PDC is to establish robust partnerships among Loyola University Chicago, neighborhood public schools, community organizations, and museums. This collaborative effort is set to result in the development of a place-based, community-wide civic education system that encourages learning and engagement among students and community members alike.
In this pursuit, PDC aims to create and support professional learning communities for principals and communities of practice for teachers. Simultaneously, they intend to build and sustain a PDC Advisory Council that will guide the program's evolution. The initiative will convene and support community organizations and partners in identifying and engaging with local issues and strategies to solve them.
The expected outcome of these efforts is a significant increase in the effectiveness of collaboration for civic learning among community stakeholders, leading to the development of a comprehensive approach to civic learning within the local communities.
Empowering Educators and Fostering Civic Engagement
PDC also places a strong emphasis on empowering educators. The program aims to provide teachers in local schools with the necessary support to offer high-quality, innovative civic education and instruction in US History.
To achieve this, PDC will provide multiple professional learning opportunities for both pre-service and in-service teachers and offer thematic instructional frameworks for US history teachers. The envisioned outcome is that teachers will demonstrate greater confidence and skill in teaching civics and US history, and an enhanced ability to facilitate critical civic engagement among their students.
Nurturing Future Civic Leaders
A fundamental pillar of the PDC initiative is nurturing the future leaders of democracy. This objective focuses on providing students with numerous civic learning opportunities that enable them to practice democracy in their communities, fostering the development of civic skills, knowledge, dispositions, habits, and identities that will support lifelong democratic engagement.
To accomplish this goal, PDC will work towards generating and sustaining high-quality, innovative civic education classroom pedagogy, in addition to providing multiple civic learning opportunities beyond the classroom. The expected outcome is that students will acquire and demonstrate core democratic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and habits, and develop a keen sense of civic identity.
With the incredible grant now secured, Loyola University Chicago and its dedicated partners are poised to transform civic education and civic engagement within Chicagoland communities. Practicing Democracy in Communities is a promising initiative offering students, teachers, and community members the tools and knowledge they need to become active and informed citizens, fostering a brighter future for all involved.