Dear Educators, Students, Parents, and Supporters:
We are thrilled to share an update, we’re rebranding: United 4 Social Change is now Academy 4 Social Civics! This change isn’t just about a new name; it reflects our journey, our refined mission, and our strengthened commitment to equipping individuals and schools to meet the pressing needs of the future.
As the world gets increasingly complex and interconnected, the need for citizens who are not just informed, but actively and compassionately engaged, has never been more critical. We’re evermore dedicated to preparing individuals with the knowledge and skills to navigate global challenges and drive positive change to improve the health and vitality of democratic societies.
The Journey from United 4 Social Change
Our story began in 2013, born out of a shared dream between two siblings. They initiated the venture with an unwavering belief in the power of civic education and a commitment to fostering civic engagement skills.
Initially conceived as United 4 Social Change, the organization served as a platform offering students of all ages opportunities for civic engagement. The aim was simple yet powerful: to solve intractable social problems from the ground up and create a new generation of socially conscious individuals who could drive democratic change.
As the founders navigated through college, a global pandemic, and further education, the organization underwent significant evolution. Academic influences and discussions with professors reinforced their belief that education is the cornerstone for democratic vitality. During this period, the organization grew in scope and depth, and the mission was refined to focus on making sure everyone was equipped to be civic leaders, a term we believe to be synonymous with “an active member of a democratic society.”
This journey continues in 2025, as the organization officially shifts to its new brand: Academy 4 Social Civics. This new brand signifies a strengthened commitment to preparing students with the knowledge and skills they will need to act on the key issues of the future.
Academy 4 Social Civics: Our Mission to “Know, Care, Act”
Today, Academy 4 Social Civics has blossomed into an organization committed to providing an accessible, interdisciplinary civics education to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Our core mission is to empower students through interdisciplinary curricula to become informed, compassionate, and action-oriented civic leaders capable of addressing the pressing challenges of today and tomorrow.
Our approach is built on a central pedagogical model: the three-pronged process of Know, Care, Act.
- Know: Students gain knowledge about societal systems, global challenges, and their role within their communities.
- Care: Students develop a personal connection to the issues that matter most to them.
- Act: Students build the skills and tools needed to translate their knowledge and passion into meaningful action and leadership.
Building on our pedagogical model, we have chosen 8 core issues we believe every student needs to be prepared to lead on:
- Effective Advocacy: Equipping students with the skills to advocate for change through compelling writing, persuasive speaking, and strategic campaigns.
- Ethical Technology: Empowering students to build and use technology responsibly, with a focus on ethical AI, data privacy, and equitable tech innovation.
- Environmental Sustainability: Fostering climate action and sustainable practices to combat environmental crises and protect our planet.
- Civic Discourse: Promoting respectful and productive conversations by addressing cognitive biases, misinformation, and media literacy.
- Representative Institutions: Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion across leadership and governance structures.
- Inclusive Communities: Building diverse and equitable spaces that reflect the values of inclusion and belonging.
- Global Citizenship: Cultivating a deep understanding of global systems and pressing international issues to inspire collaboration beyond borders.
- Strengthening Democracies: Encouraging participation in democratic processes to uphold transparency, accountability, and representation.
Equipping Schools for the Future
Students often lack the civic education and leadership training necessary to navigate these complexities. Traditional civics education is often underemphasized, may focus primarily on bureaucratic processes, and is frequently taught in silos without connecting concepts to real-world challenges.
Furthermore, educators often struggle to find accessible, high-quality resources to integrate civic leadership and interdisciplinary thinking into their classrooms. Without a shift towards integrated civic education, we risk raising a generation unprepared to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Our solution involves creating an interdisciplinary curriculum that connects societal challenges across multiple disciplines, providing essential resources, and promoting collaborative problem-solving.
Our curricular philosophy is built on the foundation of interdisciplinary learning. We recognize that pressing challenges like climate change, ethical AI, and representative institutions are deeply interconnected and require knowledge and insights from multiple disciplines. Our curricula blend subjects like philosophy, science, history, psychology, and economics to provide students with a holistic understanding.
We emphasize real-world relevance, grounding lesson plans in current events and scenarios to help students connect abstract concepts to issues they care about. This approach inspires students to understand not just what matters, but why it matters.
Academy 4 Social Civics provides a wide range of resources and programs designed to empower both educators and students. These include:
- A Video Library featuring short videos on diverse topics like philosophy, economics, data science, and media literacy.
- Lesson Plans & Activities designed for collaboration and critical thinking, tailored to various educational standards.
- Student Courses & Workshops focused on leadership, advocacy, and civic skills.
- Professional Development and resources to support teachers.
- Special initiatives like a Summer Camp for middle schoolers focused on leadership and advocacy skills.
- A Student-Led Publication providing a platform for young voices to write on important issues.
- Research on the state of civics education in the US.
- Youth-led Governance initiatives to place youth on governing boards.
Conclusion
The journey from United 4 Social Change to Academy 4 Social Civics reflects our growth, our deepened understanding, and our unwavering commitment to the vital role of civic education. Founded on a dream to create a generation of individuals who could drive democratic change, we have evolved into an organization dedicated to providing accessible, interdisciplinary education grounded in the “Know, Care, Act” model.
Our mission is clear: to train every member of a democratic society with the knowledge, dispositions, and tools to become genuine civic leaders. In an era where the vitality of democratic institutions is under scrutiny, equipping the younger generation with a well-rounded understanding of civics from multiple disciplinary perspectives is more pertinent than ever.
We invite you to explore our resources, learn more about our programs, and join us in our mission to transform education and, through it, the world.
Want to get involved?
We can’t accomplish all of this alone! Here are some ways to get involved in supporting our updated mission:
- Apply to be on our Board of Directors
- Donate here
- Share our resources with colleagues
- Host an A4SC workshop at your next PD day or conference
We are excited for you to be part of this next phase!
Sincerely,
The A4SC Team
Priten Soundar-Shah (CEO)
Nina Bamberg (Chief Programs Officer)
Chandani Shah (Chief Operations Officer)