Every American child has heard the same thing: “you are the next generation of leaders,” or “all these problems are going to fall to you.” While this message is positive, it’s rare for teenagers to be told how they can make a difference now, instead of waiting to be able to vote. In fact, studies show that most high schoolers do care about political issues, but struggle to find a doorway to involvement. 

To combat this problem, I started First Step Civics this past semester as my CEL Capstone project. First Step Civics is an innovative political networking service which allows high school-age students to connect directly with government offices to easily find volunteer opportunities. Instead of stopping in the classroom, FSC motivates students to bring their political interests into the real world. Now, student civic engagement is more accessible than ever before!

Currently, First Step Civics only offers volunteer opportunities, but through continued work and connection building, these can provide valuable internships and a great boost for college applications. 

FSC looks to continue expanding its political partner network in the future, allowing all students to get involved in their own communities. More information, as well as a live website link, will be released in the near future.