The Genesis
Academy 4 Social Civics (Formerly United 4 Social Change) was born out of a shared dream between two siblings, Priten and Chandani Shah. The duo decided to initiate the venture in 2013, at a transformative juncture in their lives—Chandani was in high school, contemplating her next steps, while Priten was taking a gap year before college. Their unwavering belief in the power of civic education and their commitment to fostering civic engagement skills led them to take the leap. Chandani extended her commitment to the cause during her own gap year, while Priten chose to take another gap year to dedicate himself entirely to shaping the organization's mission and activities.
Grassroots Beginnings
Initially, United 4 Social Change was conceived as a platform to offer students of all ages opportunities for civic engagement, aiming to solve intractable social problems from the ground up. Priten, inspired by his work on a previous organization, was already deeply concerned with civic issues. The shared ambition was simple yet powerful: create a new generation of socially conscious individuals who could drive democratic change.
Broadening Horizons
As Priten and Chandani navigated through college, a global pandemic, and further education, the organization underwent significant evolution. Academic influences, discussions with professors, and a more nuanced understanding of global issues reinforced the Shah siblings' belief in education as the cornerstone for democratic vitality. Thus, United 4 Social Change started to grow both in its scope and depth. The mission was refined to focus on enabling not just students, but everyone, to become "civic leaders"—a term we believe should be synonymous with being an active "member of a democratic society."
A New Era
In 2025, the organization is going through its greatest change to date as we shift to a new brand: Academy 4 Social Civics. With this new brand, we are strengthening our commitment to preparing students with the knowledge and skills they will need to act on the key issues of the future: Ethical Technology, Environmental Sustainability, Effective Advocacy, Civic Discourse, Inclusive Communities, Representative Institutions, Global Citizenship, and Strengthening Democracies.
The Current Mission
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 curriculum delves into the complexities of the issues facing the societies we live in, inspiring students to identify their own causes and equipping them with the tools to effect change. We have developed a plethora of resources, including animated videos with corresponding lesson plans, online courses, teacher professional development workshops, and more.
Guiding Principles
At Academy 4 Social Civics, we believe that civics engagement is a 3-part process: Know, Care, Act. Our curriculum resources, workshops, and trainings are all designed to equip students with knowledge about critical issues, so that they might identify the areas of concern for them, and provide the skills needed to take effective action on those issues.
The Future
As we look to the future, our mission is clear: to train every member of a democratic society with the knowledge, dispositions, and tools to become genuine civic leaders. By doing so, we hope to make a tangible impact, one individual at a time, on democracies and societies around the world. Academy 4 Social Civics started as a dream between two siblings, and it has grown into a global force for good. We invite you to join us in our mission to transform education and, through it, the world.