In 2023, RUSD was 1 of 14 projects across the state to be awarded a California Humanities Civics + Humanities Middle Grades Grant for its Empowering Civics in Middle School Project. 

In the critical middle grade years, California Humanities sees a powerful opportunity to cultivate the skills and habits young people need to actively engage in civic life through their school years and into the future. 

Through this grant, RUSD was able to expand its civics education program to the middle school level. Students in grades 7 and 8 either wrote a speech about a topic they care about or completed a Civic Engagement PSA Project about an important topic in their community.  Students showcased their work at two events hosted by RUSD: a fall Soapbox Riverside event and a Spring Civics Showcase.