World Building as a Balm for Civic Education: Graduate Student Research Perspectives

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This symposium presents a dynamic exploration of youth civic engagement through the lens of Mirra and Garcia’s (2023) Framework for World-Building Civic Education. By challenging traditional models of civic learning, this session emphasizes the potential of imaginative and activist approaches to cultivate civic literacy. The panelists, representing diverse research perspectives from the U.S. and Canada, address how innovative methods—such as media production, journalistic storytelling, and intergenerational collaboration—can transform civic education. Topics include critical analysis of historical texts, the impact of digital storytelling on student engagement, and the role of freedom dreaming in bridging generational divides. Through presentations and discussions, this symposium aims to redefine civic education by integrating inquiry, imagination, and advocacy into meaningful classroom practices and teacher preparation.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Critical Educators for Social Justice

Papers

• Grappling with the Glossary: Inspiring Historical Inquiry through Vocabulary Definitions - Gretchen Hohmeyer, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• “Bigger than us…bigger than a school project”: Media Production Creating Opportunities for Youth Civic Engagement - Anthony Voulgarides, Hunter College - CUNY

• 'Somewhere in Advance of Nowhere’ Together: Inter/Intra-Generational Freedom Dreaming in the Classroom - Anisa Yudawanti, Stanford University

Discussant

• Nicole Mirra, University of California - Los Angeles