Power + Character Educator Training
An experiential approach to nurturing civic identity in young people.
Young people are coming of age in a time of great civic upheaval, but are being offered sparse support in forming ideas about who they want to be as a citizen and the role they want to play in shaping the future. They need experiences that help them become literate in how civic power flows and develop a sense of their own civic values that can guide them into their next phase of life.
Citizen University has developed a modular and adaptable curriculum, Power + Character = Citizenship, designed to help educators support young people in developing this integrated sense of their own civic identity.
Educators need support, too. The curriculum’s activities, texts, and reflections are designed to help students understand themselves as citizens and transform the way they see themselves as a contributing member of their communities. But we know educators need support with this themselves!
In our training, educators are led through the curriculum’s activities, and are supported in thinking through how to embed these civic learning experiences in their classrooms, summer camps, or community programs.
The best part? We bring our training to you at no cost. If you work with young people ages 14-24 — whether in the classroom, on a sports field, at summer camps, or anything in between — consider how you could convene a group of peers from your district, organization, or region to go through this training together. If you’re searching for deeper ways to support young people in navigating and contributing to civic life, this training may be a great fit.
Interested in bringing training to your group in 2026? Fill out this interest form, and we’ll be in touch ASAP!
Fill out the Training Interest form →
Want to scope out—and start using—the full curriculum? Check in out here:
Why this training — and why now?
It’s time to reimagine civics.
Most civic programs stop at knowledge. But in today’s world, young people need more than facts — they need formation. This training helps educators offer experiences that ground students in a sense of self, community, and purpose in public life.
We must couple power and character.
Too often, students learn about civic power without ethical grounding — or learn about “being good” without knowing how to effect change. We teach both. When young people integrate civic fluency with moral clarity, they begin to live like citizens.
This is identity-based, not issue-based.
This isn’t a one-off project or plug-and-play lesson. Our curriculum helps young people explore who they are, who they’re responsible for, and how they want to show up — not just in the classroom, but in the communities they’re a part of.
Educators deserve this too.
We know how much heart you pour into your work. This training is designed to nourish your civic imagination, too. You’ll reflect, connect, and leave ready to lead experiences that change how young people see themselves — and what they believe is possible.
“Implementing [this program] has been a game-changer. For my students, it’s more than just learning about civics; it’s about redefining their roles in the community. I’ve seen them embrace new perspectives and engage with real-world issues in a way that’s truly inspiring.”
How does it work to train with CU?
WHO
This curriculum and training is for educators who…
- Work with young people ages 14-24
- Might work in many contexts, such as program facilitators, classroom teachers, out-of-school educators, librarians, coaches, faith leaders
- Are searching for deeper ways to support young people in navigating and contributing to civic life
Our training is for groups consisting of 30-35 educators. We build a cohort-based learning experience anchored around an in-person training.
WHAT
Through our two-and-a-half day training, educators themselves experience aspects of the curriculum:
- Decoding the patterns of power in public life
- Connecting with an internal sense of the values and virtues that drive them
- Understanding their civic identity in the context of our national story
- Developing the skills and attitudes of responsible citizens acting in service of the common good
Trainees engage in discernment for themselves so that they can build their own capacities, conviction, and extend the activities, texts, and discussions back to the young people they work with.
WHERE & WHEN
That part is up to you! Our team brings the training experience to your community. We provide the enthusiasm, expertise, and essentials (including a tub of sticky notes, play doh, and bean bags) — and you provide the space and other supports for your educators.
We are now booking Training Cohorts for 2026. Explore what a partnership would look like by filling out our Training Interest form, and a CU team member will be in touch shortly!
“The most powerful thing y’all taught us was to listen. Not just to be heard, but to hear others—deeply. To use shared language, even if it’s not your own, so they can finally hear you. That’s how change happens.”
Are you looking for information on Citizen Redefined? We are phasing out that edition of our educator training, but past info can be found here.
Growing young people’s civic identity through Citizen Redefined.
Lessons from a community leader on military service, responsibility, and the importance of being seen.
Civic power is how we can be a force for good and civic character is what you do when everybody’s looking.
Reckoning with our role as an American is part of what it means to live like a citizen.
