Civics 2.0

Six Cleveland Metropolitan School District students and one recent graduate have been shot and killed since June. Students with the district’s Civics 2.0 program gathered Monday for a student summit to learn more about gun violence’s impact, and develop action plans in response to it.

As Ideastream’s education reporter, one of the ways I stay in the loop with students’ experiences is by volunteering my time to work with students on the Unsilenced Voices of CMSD, a student blog.

Last week, the normally quiet East Professional Center in Cleveland was buzzing with activity as 200 students thronged the halls, eagerly discussing what presentation they wanted to go to next. Was it hearing from The Marshall Project’s Mark Puente about his life journey from truck driver to investigative journalist? Or from Ideastream’s own Rachel Rood and Drew Masiaz about how to produce a live radio show?

‘Tis the season to reflect back on what we’ve done this year, and where we’re going. Right now I’m thinking back on a busy last few months of education coverage since I joined Ideastream Public Media in August.

CMSD students came to East Professional Center Tuesday for a forum on gun violence, where they learned more about the issue and worked together to come up with potential solutions to the problem.

Students at Cleveland Metropolitan School District dove head first into a world of information about civics, democracy and elections last week during a launch event for CMSD’s Civics 2.0 program.