A group of Upper School students traveled to Washington, D.C. earlier this year to attend the NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit. Facilitated by The Hiatt Center, the trip was an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the topic of civic engagement by hearing from speakers, touring exhibits, and collaborating with students from across the country. Students brought what they learned back to Beaver to design and pitch an action plan on how Beaver can further encourage civic participation amongst students.
We saw the summit as a meaningful opportunity to connect students with real-world issues and help them take informed civic action. Additionally, we wanted our students to engage with a diverse group of peers and build the necessary skills to participate in civic discourse and critical problem-solving.
Barbie Garayúa and Geeta Jain, Associate Directors of the Hiatt Center
At the conference, students actively explored what it means to turn ideas into action. After choosing a topic relevant to them–education around civic engagement–the group spent three days examining the topic from every angle possible. Students heard from experts in the field of youth civic action, toured the National Museum of African American Culture and History, attended workshops, and collaborated to develop plans of action. During the final day of the summit, students sat down with the Hiatt Center and other educators to present their vision statements and next steps.
Students made the most of being in D.C. by finding time to explore the city outside of the conference schedule. The group toured the National Mall and visited sites such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. At each stop, students discussed their takeaways with chaperones and connected their learning to the ongoing work at the conference.
Allowing students to feel immersed in the history and iconography of D.C. was a crucial step in the work they’re doing. Being there just a few weeks after the Presidential Inauguration grounded our exploration and discussions in reality and better equipped students to connect the past to the present.
Luke James, Social Media Manager
The students that attended the Civic Leadership Summit continued their work back at Beaver. Meeting routinely throughout the following months, the group took their goal of implementing new civic engagement initiatives at Beaver and translated it into an actionable proposal. “Coming back to Beaver, we were really excited to go back through our ideas,” says Margot Kuznetsova ’27. “We had a solid idea and had to work together to figure out how to express our vision to teachers.” The group’s work culminated in a formal presentation to Upper and Middle School history teachers at the end of the year. The leadership skills developed in D.C. were on full display as students shared data, facilitated conversations, and advocated for more civic education in the history curriculum.
Something that really stuck with me from the summit was that you can make more of an impact in our local government that you can at a larger level. There’s always the option to make change in your community.
Margo Kuznetsova '27
The NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit empowered students to build knowledge and develop the strategies necessary to make meaningful impacts on their communities. Instead of simply calling for change, students learned how to plan for it. The group was honored with the “Heart. Intellect. Action” Award at this year’s Upper School Awards Ceremony, highlighting the impact they have already made. But the work is far from over; with assistance from the Hiatt Center, the group plans to continue their work after returning from summer break.
The work of social justice and civic engagement requires commitment, research, careful consideration, criticality, and action. This experience has taken this group of 10 students through that entire process. It is our greatest hope that they will approach any future opportunities with similar depth, intentionality, and collective mindset.
Barbie Garayúa and Geeta Jain, Associate Directors of the Hiatt Center
The Hiatt Center is excited to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025. To celebrate 20 years of Social Impact, we’ll be diving deep into the Hiatt Center’s history, programming, partnerships, and future plans all year long. Follow along by checking out @hiattcenter on Instagram!