For Educators: Empowering the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
Inspire your students to make history—literally.
Civil Rights History America is a national, student-led initiative that invites high school sophomores to research, document, and share stories of civil rights sites in their own communities. Through this hands-on civic learning experience, students explore local history, practice research and communication skills, and contribute to a national archive of stories on our Civil Rights History America app.
What the Program Offers
Each participating student leads a Civil Rights History America chapter at their high school, guiding peers in discovering the civil rights legacy of their state or city. Students selected as Chapter Presidents will:
- Research one or more local civil rights sites or events
- Conduct interviews and gather primary sources
- Create an original audio story for our national app
- Teach a class or presentation at their school based on their research
- Participate in monthly virtual meetings with other student leaders nationwide
This is a structured, 5–8 hour per month commitment from October through May of the school year. All materials and templates are provided to make participation easy for both students and schools.
Why It Matters
Civil Rights History America helps educators connect classroom learning with real-world application. Students practice:
- Historical inquiry and critical thinking
- Public speaking and multimedia storytelling
- Collaboration and civic engagement
- Leadership and project management
Educators can integrate the program into history, government, social studies, or English classes, or support it as an independent study, service project, or extracurricular club.
Led by Students, Supported by Schools
The national program is led by Logan Dorton, a high school junior from Bethesda, Maryland, who serves as the National Student Director. Logan and his peers receive mentorship and guidance from educators and historians, but the spirit of the project remains student-driven.
“We want students to see themselves as historians — not just learners of history, but keepers of it.”
— Logan Dorton, National Student Director
How to Get Involved
There are several ways educators can participate:
- Share the opportunity with interested sophomores at your school
- Sponsor a chapter as a faculty advisor or mentor
- Invite a student presenter from Civil Rights History America to speak in your class
You can download our Educator Information Packet or contact Logan directly at logan@civilrightshistoryamerica.ai for questions or partnership ideas.
Together, We’re Preserving Local History for a National Future
Every community has stories of courage and resilience. With your support, your students can help uncover them — and ensure they are remembered for generations to come.
