From Classrooms to City Hall: AP Government Students Drive Civic Engagement

Leaning into SCH’s mission to effect positive change, every student in Danielle Gross’ AP Government class has pursued a civic action project over the past year. 

Whether encouraging voter registration here on campus or in the Wissahickon, taking part in the Save the Train initiative by joining a group lobbying in Harrisburg, or working as a poll volunteer in the fall elections, students were engaging in the political process and making an impact across the city. Several students also researched topics of interest beyond Philadelphia, from gerrymandering in Michigan to the issues around the bill banning TikTok.

Senior Abdoul Diallo spent a day shadowing City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada. He shared: “It was honestly such a refreshing experience to figure out how our local government was working to make the livelihoods of residents in Philadelphia much easier. Hearing Councilwoman Lozada’s plan for Kensington or Mayor Parker’s 100-Day Plan gave me a detailed view of how this city would tackle the challenges it faces to make a greater, greener, and unified Philadelphia.” 

Amelia Baird created an interactive map of each state’s voting registration and voting procedures, and in the process, was able to analyze and understand how these different policies impact political participation.

One group who conducted a voter registration drive in the Wissahickon shared takeaways from their interactions with park visitors: “People vote for future generations, to express their constitutional rights, and to feel like they have a say in who has power in the US. They also learned that outdoor enthusiasts—runners, hikers, and dog walkers—are civically-minded. Everyone they spoke to was already a registered voter!

Gross affirms, “It’s incredibly important for students to realize how much power they have to get involved and to transform their academic study of government and politics into taking action in ways they're genuinely interested in.”

Photo: Above, seniors Cameron Harrop and Cecilia Stevenson help 29 students register to vote!