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Civic Learning California Summit: Making Democracy Work
Feb 28, 2013
California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and a committee of civic leaders organized the summit to examine successes and barriers to increasing civic literacy in California. The event featured special guest Sandra Day O'Connor and launched the Chief Justice's "Your Constitution: The Power of Democracy" campaign.
Civic Learning: The Key to a Thriving Democracy
On Feb 28, Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye stood in front of an assembly of some 200 lawmakers and other government officials, business and labor leaders, representatives of the state bar and other justice partners, teachers and students to talk about securing the future of California.
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The Chief Justice helped open the Civic Learning California Summit, an event organized to bring attention to the need for civic engagement and literacy in California schools. “We knew if we planned a civic summit, you would come," Cantil-Sakauye said. "And you did, because we all share one common interest: a future where democracy in our state continues to thrive and flourish. We all understand that the common vehicle to achieve that future is civic learning.”
"It’s important,” the Chief Justice continued, “that all Californians understand not only how democracy works, but how their participation in the democratic process guarantees that their voices are heard. The future of our democracy depends on the civic engagement of its people.”
U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
The keynote speaker at the summit, retired U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, also expressed concern about the future of American democracy.
On Feb 28, Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye stood in front of an assembly of some 200 lawmakers and other government officials, business and labor leaders, representatives of the state bar and other justice partners, teachers and students to talk about securing the future of California.
The Chief Justice helped open the Civic Learning California Summit, an event organized to bring attention to the need for civic engagement and literacy in California schools. “We knew if we planned a civic summit, you would come," Cantil-Sakauye said. "And you did, because we all share one common interest: a future where democracy in our state continues to thrive and flourish. We all understand that the common vehicle to achieve that future is civic learning.” "It’s important,” the Chief Justice continued, “that all Californians understand not only how democracy works, but how their participation in the democratic process guarantees that their voices are heard. The future of our democracy depends on the civic engagement of its people.”
U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
The keynote speaker at the summit, retired U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, also expressed concern about the future of American democracy.
“This country matters to me,” Justice O’Connor said, “to you, to all of us, and frankly to the world. In order to secure the future of our democracy, our citizens must be engaged in the running of it. And that engagement starts at an early age.”
After she left the bench, Justice O’Connor founded iCivics, an interactive website that encourages young people to learn about civics. “Securing the future of our democracy requires teaching the next generation to understand and respect our system of governance, and then passing that knowledge and passion along to the next generation.”
Additional speakers at the summit included Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, and CEO and Executive Director of the State Bar, Joseph Dunn, and a panel of leaders from education, labor, law, and business, all involved in passing the light of democracy on to the next generation..jpg)
Civic Learning Awards
A highlight of the summit was presentation of the new Civic Learning Awards. Designed to honor successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and single out models that can be replicated in other schools, the award recognized 22 schools for their efforts. Three schools—Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy in Los Angeles, Golden Valley High School in Bakersfield, and San Marino High School in San Marino—received the Excellence Award, the highest award offered.
Diana Ledezma, a senior at Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy, was chosen as the summit’s student speaker. “From my experience,” she said, “I learned that anyone can make a difference. I believe people should work for change and get involved, because one person doing something can inspire other people to do good. When people see someone trying to help, they want to help and get involved, and that’s the feeling we need in every community.”
Your Constitution: The Power of Democracy
“Democracy is a use-it-or-lose-it proposition,” Cantil-Sakauye said. “California is complicated, and there are challenges we must face every day to maintain a living, thriving democracy. Democracy is the key to perpetual freedom. In order to secure the rights to that future, we have to be civically engaged.”
Learn more on the Chief Justice's Your Constitution: The Power of Democracy webpage.
Sandra Day O'Connor Speaks Her Mind—Courthouse News Service
AHS Wins State 'Civic Learning' Award—Albany Patch
O'Connor urges better civic education at Sacramento event—Daily Journal (Subscription required)
News Releases:
Feb 28, 2013 Civic Learning Award Winners Announced
Feb 14, 2013 Civic Learning California Summit: Feb 28
Nov 12, 2012 New Civic Learning Award for California Public High Schools
AHS Wins State 'Civic Learning' Award—Albany Patch
O'Connor urges better civic education at Sacramento event—Daily Journal (Subscription required)
News Releases:
Feb 28, 2013 Civic Learning Award Winners Announced
Feb 14, 2013 Civic Learning California Summit: Feb 28
Nov 12, 2012 New Civic Learning Award for California Public High Schools
|
8:30–9:30 |
 Opening Remarks: Justice Judith D. McConnell, Administrative Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye  watch videoSecretary of State Debra Brown (pictured left) |
| 9:55–10:15 |
Civic Learning Awards Student Address
|
| 10:15–11:05 |
Panel Discussion: Why Civics? Panelists: Judge Stacy Boulware Eurie, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court, Superior Court of Sacramento County (pictured left) |
| 11:05–11:15 | Break |
| 11:15–12:05 |  A Conversation with Justice Sandra Day O’ConnorJustice Sandra Day O’Connor, United State Supreme Court (Ret.) in conversation with Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha (Ret.), Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law watch video |
|
12:05–12:25 |
Call to Action |
| 12:25–12:30 |
Closing |
The Civic Learning Award for California public high schools, co-sponsored by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, spotlights successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and identify models that can be replicated in other schools.
|
AWARD |
HIGH SCHOOL |
SCHOOL DISTRICT |
RECOGNIZED FOR |
|
Excellence |
Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Tech Academy |
Alliance College-Ready Public Schools |
U.S. Government; Civic Action Project (CAP); The Bureau |
|
Excellence |
Golden Valley High School |
Kern Union High School District |
We The People; Project Citizen; Interact Club |
|
Excellence |
San Marino High School |
San Marino Unified School District |
Civic Learning - Interdisciplinary Extra Curriculum; Civic Learning - Extra Curriculum; Civic Learning - Within the Curriculum |
|
Distinction |
Albany High School |
Albany Unified School District |
Renewal Debates; Extra-Curricular Programs; Shared Governance |
|
Distinction |
Brawley Union High School |
Brawley Union High School |
Bilingual Civics Club; Bilingual Civics |
|
Distinction |
Irvington High School |
Fremont Unified School District |
Benchmark Projects |
|
Distinction |
Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep High School |
Natomas Unified |
Law-Themed Curriculum; Senior Project; Peer Sentencing Court |
|
Distinction |
Poway High School |
Poway Unified School District |
Senior Project Requirement; Government, Politics and Civics Courses; Associated Student Body (Student Govt.) |
|
Merit |
Beaumont High School |
Beaumont Unified School District |
Mock Trial; Mock Election; Peer Mediation |
|
Merit |
Bell Gardens |
Montebello Unified School District |
Civic Action Project (CAP)/Senior Community Project; Mock-Election Arsalyn Program (Ludwick Family Found.); Deliberating in a Democracy |
|
Merit |
Buhach Colony High School |
Merced Union High School District |
Role of Women in Society and U.S. History Class |
|
Merit |
Carmel High School |
Carmel Unified School District |
AP U.S. Government and Politics; Mock Trial Club and Team; Student Leadership |
|
Merit |
Centennial High School |
Kern High School District |
We The People Program; Government College Prep; Centennial Mock Trial Program |
|
Merit |
Cesar Chavez Continuation High School |
Compton Unified School District |
Mock Presidential Election 2012-2013; |
|
Merit |
DaVinci Charter Academy |
Davis Joint Unified School District |
Rise of Democratic Ideas (Island Project); Senior Project - Hail to the Chief |
|
Merit |
Frontier |
Oxnard Union High School District |
Mock Trial |
|
Merit |
GW Carver School of Arts and Sciences |
Sac-City Unified School District |
Student Government Enrichment Club; Re-Thinking Technology Enrichment Club; Economics and Poverty Project |
|
Merit |
Ivy Academia Entrepreneurial Charter School |
Ivy Academia |
AP U.S. History; Government; ASB |
|
Merit |
John Burroughs High School |
Burbank Unified School District |
Junior State of America |
|
Merit |
Los Altos High School |
Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District |
Students for Haiti Solidarity; US History - Muckraking Project; History Week - The Pursuit of Rights |
|
Merit |
Royal High School |
Simi Valley Unified School District |
Citizen Scholar Institute and Diploma Seal; Authentic Civic Experiences; Simulations of Democratic Processes |
|
Merit |
Valley High School |
Elk Grove Unified School District |
Valley Leadership; Valley Health TECH Academy; Social Sciences Department |
Civic Learning California Summit photo gallery on 
Photos: 36
More videos will be added as they become available. Subscribe to the California Courts YouTube Channel for updates. View the event in its entirety on the California Channel.
Hon. Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Honorary Chair
Chief Justice of California and
Chair of the Judicial Council
Hon. Judith D. McConnell
Chair
Administrative Presiding Justice
Court of Appeal
Fourth Appellate District
Hon. Frank C. Damrell, Jr. (Ret.)
Vice-Chair
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Hon. Joseph Dunn
Chief Executive Officer
State Bar of California
Mr. Craig Cheslog
Principal Advisor to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ms. Sonia Gonzales
Executive Director
California Bar Foudation
Mr. David W. Gordon
Superintendent of Schools
Sacramento County Office of Education
Dr. Michelle M. Herczog
Consultant, History-Social Science
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Hon. Curtis E. A. Karnow
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Francisco
Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha
Duane and Kelly Roberts
Dean and Professor of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
Honorary Chair
Chief Justice of California and
Chair of the Judicial Council
Hon. Judith D. McConnell
Chair
Administrative Presiding Justice
Court of Appeal
Fourth Appellate District
Hon. Frank C. Damrell, Jr. (Ret.)
Vice-Chair
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Hon. Joseph Dunn
Chief Executive Officer
State Bar of California
Mr. Craig Cheslog
Principal Advisor to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ms. Sonia Gonzales
Executive Director
California Bar Foudation
Mr. David W. Gordon
Superintendent of Schools
Sacramento County Office of Education
Dr. Michelle M. Herczog
Consultant, History-Social Science
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Hon. Curtis E. A. Karnow
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Francisco
Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha
Duane and Kelly Roberts
Dean and Professor of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law