Our Mission
Created by Gen Z-ers and cultural institutions more than six years ago, Civic Season™ has grown into a beloved annual tradition to learn history, build civic skills and connect with each other in the time between Juneteenth (June 19) and Independence Day (July 4). Every summer hundreds of historic sites, museums, libraries, parks, community groups, governments, leaders and public spaces unleash credible resources and activities to help you kick off the year ahead as an engaged citizen. Civic Season is designed by and for young adults – the inheritors of our nation – but everyone’s invited to participate!
Why civic season?
July 4th, our Independence Day, commemorates the moment a new nation was born in 1776. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States and reminds us of those founding ideals that each generation of Americans has worked to bring to life: freedom, equality, justice, opportunity and self-governance. We all have a role to play in forming "a more perfect union" for current and future generations. Civic Season™ unites our oldest federal holiday with our newest, in an annual ritual to better understand our past and shape our future.
What We've Done
Since 2021, Civic Season has reached 85 million Americans with more than 2,000 activities available each summer from 750+ organizations and a robust online campaign. Activities have included Juneteenth celebrations, July 4th baseball games, trivia nights, wellness events, bird-watching, kayaking, historic printmaking, book clubs, cooking demonstrations, film screenings, changemaker boot camp, chocolate samplings, and even a 1970’s disco prom and an Amazing Race through Historic Philadelphia.
No matter where you are, Civic Season connects you with opportunities to learn, grow your skills and connect with people and institutions locally, strengthening our civic life. Many jurisdictions - including Washington, D.C.; Madison, Wisconsin; and the state of Wyoming – have passed official Civic Season proclamations. Every year brings new, featured opportunities to participate – like Slice of History Pizza Parties, National Youth Takeover Day