Civic Education + Civic Language: What Should We Say?

The words we use in our civic lives–our civic language–have become deeply coded and loaded, leaving little space for productive discussion within our communities. Where we used to think we were just saying words, we now realize we are speaking in signals–sometimes constructive, sometimes destructive, sometimes intentional, sometimes unintentional.

This is especially true in the civic learning and education space.

Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) leads the Civic Language Perceptions Project to hear from Americans about their perceptions of and relationships with words frequently used in democracy and civic engagement work. Building on the civic language research PACE conducted in 2021-2022, PACE is excited to share updated research from its 2023 nationally representative survey of 5000 American registered voters.

Join us on Friday, March 15th from 1:00-2:15pm ET for “Civic Education + Civic Language: What Should We Say?” where we will share data to answer questions like:

– How do people who report having civic education perceive civic language? How is that different from their non-civic education counterparts, and what has changed in two years?

– Which types of civic education (middle school, high school, college/university, adult continuing education, out-of-classroom, etc) translate to civic language positivity?

– Do people who have civic education think American democracy is working for them, people like them, or someone else?

– What should we say?

This event is open to the public and developed as part of Civic Learning Week. Please reach out to Language@PACEfunders.org with questions.

PACE website: www.PACEfunders.org
CLPP website: www.PACEfunders.org/language