Civic Readiness

New Course Creates Civic Readiness

by Gracie Hall

Civic Readiness is about going outside the classroom to understand what it means to be not just an American citizen, but a global citizen. The Seal of Civic Readiness Conference has been a process in the making by Global Studies teacher, Mrs. Christine Ruff. For the past two summers, Mrs. Ruff has hosted a handful of students to participate in a summer program to explore various topics outside of the Regents curriculum. These students gave speeches and introduced speakers at the conference. 

The conference took place on March 22, 2024, and students from various schools and students from Central Valley attended. The conference had public speaker Dr. Jeffrey Scott, an expert on American citizenship, speak about the meaning of American citizenship and what it means to be an American citizen. Another speaker who attended the conference was the Director of Refuge in Utica, New York, Shelly Callahan. She spoke about the center and educated everyone on the importance of keeping the center alive. Mrs. Gonzalez, Central Valley’s technology teacher, spoke on how to obtain one’s very own seal of Civic Readiness and the benefits of having the seal. The superintendent of Central Valley Academy, Mr. Rich, educated all at the conference what the Civic Readiness seal is and how it connects to NYSED’s broader missions. It connects through diversity, equity, inclusion, social emotional learning, financial literacy, and culturally responsive-sustaining education. 

During the conference, a two-hour movie was shown called “Utica: The Last Refuge.” The movie was about various families and people coming to the Refuge for safety and how they gained citizenship. It included the struggles refugees face on their path to citizenship and adapting to a new environment. The Refuge helps them find work, a home, and more. Keeping the Refuge Center open allows for refugees to find safety and work to gain citizenship in the United States legally.