Healey-Driscoll Administration Hosts Statewide Civics Project Showcases

Healey-Driscoll Administration Hosts Statewide Civics Project Showcases 1,150 students from 80 districts participated in events in Boston, Dartmouth, Springfield and Worcester Photo above: Students talk about their project at the Worcester Civics Project Showcase on June 1. Photos from all four showcases are available upon request.  EVERETT – The Healey-Driscoll Administration hosted four Massachusetts Civics Project Showcases in collaboration with Generation Citizen between May 26 and June 5 in Springfield, Dartmouth, Worcester and Boston. At these regional “science fairs for civics,” approximately 1,150 students from 80 districts shared real-world action they are taking on community issues such as teen mental health and substance use, environmental sustainability, school funding and road safety. The events provided students with the opportunity to share their civics projects with community advisors and each other, gather feedback on their work and be recognized for their civic engagement. “Massachusetts has some of the brightest and most engaged young people in the country,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These students are tackling real challenges in their communities and showing that civic engagement can make a real difference. We're proud to support opportunities that help young people develop leadership skills and make their voices heard.” “The Civics Project Showcases highlight the power of student leadership,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Students are learning how to work together, solve problems and advocate for issues they care about. Those are skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives and strengthen communities across Massachusetts.” “It was incredibly inspiring to see these students engaging with their community and finding ways to not only make it better but develop the confidence and skills to enact that change,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “I am proud that students, as part of these showcases, are developing the skillset they need to be successful in college or career." “These interactive projects help our students become informed and civically engaged community members,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “They gain real-world experience engaging with stakeholders and learning about specific aspects of their communities.” The Massachusetts Civics Project Showcases began in 2023. At each showcase, volunteer community advisors have short conversations with students about their projects, asking questions and offering feedback based on their own expertise. Given the wide range in project topics, advisors come from a diversity of backgrounds: community organizers, legislators, business and non-profit leaders, educators, healthcare workers and more. Advisors nominate exemplary  projects for commendations. The 2026 civics project commendations will be posted soon on the Civics Project Showcases webpage. "Seeing our young people turn research into action and their ideas into reality is a powerful reminder of what's possible,” said Alex Pereira, education specialist at the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, who served as a community advisor at three of this year’s showcases. “Civic engagement isn't just something we teach, it must be something our young people lead. Our young people continue to prove that when we invest in youth voices, they can and do create meaningful change." In 2018, Massachusetts enacted legislation to strengthen civics education in public schools and incorporated student-led, nonpartisan civics projects into eighth grade and high school. Projects can be done by individuals, small groups, or entire classrooms and are designed to promote students’ ability to analyze complex issues; consider different points of view; make logical arguments supported by valid evidence; engage in civil discourse; and demonstrate an understanding of the connections between federal, state and local policies, including issues that may affect their schools or communities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education supports districts’ work in this area through the 2018 History and Social Science Frameworks.