The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute and More Perfect Campaign Partners Host “Our Civics: Safeguarding American Democracy” at the Reagan Library

National experts will focus on universal civic learning at event held today, National Civics Day

October 27, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 27, 2022) – The Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute’s Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity (CCEO) will host “Our Civics: Safeguarding American Democracy” today at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. The event, in partnership with More Perfect, will feature prominent voices examining the shared connection and importance of civic education and democracy.

“Student and adult knowledge of our democratic norms, values, and institutions are fundamental to self-government,” said More Perfect’s executive chairman John Bridgeland. “That’s why we are thrilled to partner with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation on this forum to advance civic learning across America — our first Sustainable Democracy Goal.” 

At “Our Civics: Safeguarding American Democracy,” a diverse group of experts and thought leaders will explore the current state of civic education and the policies that support it. The event is part of More Perfect’s national campaign to engage Americans on issues impacting our democracy and the solutions to address them.

More Perfect was founded around five Sustainable Democracy Goals to renew confidence in our nation’s democracy through action-forcing events hosted at America’s Presidential Centers. These capstone conversations serve as conduits to ensuring each goal is met and conclude with a specific call to action that challenges American citizens to set aside differences and act together.

“President Reagan believed that America’s best days were ahead. He called on all Americans to be informed patriots who, together, can ensure a prosperous future for the nation,” said CCEO Director Dr. Janet Tran. “That ‘informed patriotism’ is cultivated through access to high-quality civic learning. By joining the More Perfect campaign, we are advancing his legacy and inspiring the nation to become more engaged participants in our common public life. It begins with civic education in school, opening our minds to learn and form opinions, to assert those opinions respectfully and to work together to solve shared problems and ensure our society reflects our democratic values.”

The More Perfect campaign is a partnership among 9 Presidential Centers, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Partnership for American Democracy, and more than 100 organizations. It was created to be a citizen-led, cross-divides attempt to cause our democracy not only to survive in today’s complex times, but also to sustain itself – and to thrive – for another 250 years to come.

Our Civics will be structured into a series of in-person panels and conversations and feature the following confirmed speakers:

  • Chris Reykdal, Wash. State Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Jillian Balow, Virginia State Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education 
  • Gerard Robinson, Former Virginia Secretary of Education and Florida Education Commissioner, 
  • Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Schultz Family Foundation                
  • Michael Fragale, Vice President, Education, Corporation for Public Broadcasting   
  • Luke Ragland, SVP of Grants Program, Daniels Fund
  • Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant Professor at Harvard University
  • Rajiv Vinnakota, President at Institute for Citizens and Scholars
  • Yuval Levin, Director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute
  • Louise Dube, Executive Director at iCivics

Our Civics will be livestreamed for the media and the public. For more information and to register for this event visit this link and follow @ReaganInstitute.

Media contact: Jenny Werwa, werwa@invariantgr.com

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About the Ronald Reagan Institute: The Ronald Reagan Institute (RRI), the Washington, DC office of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, promotes our 40th President’s ideals, vision, and leadership example through substantive, issue-driven forums, academic and young professional programming, and scholarly work. RRI builds on the legacy and ideas of President Reagan through our three policy centers: the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity, the Center for Peace Through Strength, and the Center for Freedom and Democracy. Each of these centers ensure President Reagan’s legacy is advanced in our nation’s capital. The Ronald Reagan Institute’s Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity (CCEO) works at the nexus of civics and education policy, answering President Reagan’s call for an “informed patriotism” to ensure a prosperous future for America. American civic life poses many challenges to our institutions and to our faith in democratic practice to improve them. These challenges require a multifaceted approach. As such, the CCEO looks to create a collective impact on American society through partnerships that help support the three levers of change. Together, the CCEO will look to these levers to better prepare America to answer the challenges of the 21st century and “renew the American spirit and sense of purpose.” www.reaganfoundation.org.

Categories: Education, Event