Thomas Jefferson said, “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” This encapsulates why Common Sense Society is so invested in helping teachers educate the next generation of responsible citizens. We’re proud of the work we’ve done to shape civics education in America.
CSS has reached over 350,000 students through the 17,500+ educators who utilize our educational resources and in-person programming. They have totaled over 7,500 lesson plan downloads and have represented 12 U.S. states at our teacher workshops and seminars.
American Civics Project (ACP) provides supplementary lesson plans that teach civics under the central idea that the rise of Western Civilization and America is largely the story of people becoming even better at cooperating with each other.
In addition to in-person workshops and seminars, ACP offers digital courses for K-12 teachers which, once completed, award teachers with an official American Civics Project certification.
A donation of just $50 puts needed CSS resources into the hands of 10 teachers. Join us in sharing a positive approach to teaching history that is so important for today’s youth.
How can we heal and improve our country? CSS faculty member Seth Kaplan recommends we start by “one zip code at a time.” Common Sense Society’s approach to civic engagement comes from Alexis de Tocqueville. We empower leaders and “doers” to demonstrate and defend the American way of life by reforming higher education and supporting citizen initiatives committed to solving problems in their communities.
We hosted virtual briefings all year long to help universities and concerned citizens digest current events and take action. Briefings featured notable public figures such as award-winning journalist Andy Ngo, the Israeli Defense Force’s public diplomacy team, and locals living in Israel during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
As colleges ramped up censorship, hundreds of college students joined us for speeches with CSS trustee Douglas Murray. Our final event was attended by over 400 community leaders in Richmond, Virginia.
Our fellowships provide a pipeline connecting emerging leaders to civic engagement opportunities. CSS alumni go on to make an impact as government officials, superintendents of education, biomedical engineers, and more.
We partner with citizen groups to preserve history, protect free speech, and advance prosperity on the local level.
Our 2023 Leadership Summit provided a space for civic leaders and educators who are often overlooked by large conferences to convene and connect. Thirty-five education and civic engagement organizations attended. Mr. Bert Ellis, a champion of academic freedom, received the Common Sense Courage Award.
Membership with CSS offers opportunities for learning, friendship, and healthy debate where common sense prevails in addressing our concerns and optimism for the future of our country and shared civilization. Find more information here.
If you wish to send a check by mail, please send your contribution to:
ATTN: David Talbot
Common Sense Society
1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20004
Please make checks payable to Common Sense Society.
The CSS Tax Identification number is 86-1543050
For instructions to complete a wire transfer or make a stock gift, please contact David Talbot by phone at (202) 949-7900 or by email at david@commonsensesociety.org.