Mikva Challenge

Teaching about elections can feel complicated, especially when the stakes are high and students are bringing real questions, concerns, and perspectives into the classroom.

Join the Mikva Educator Network on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for a live virtual conversation with two veteran educators about what it looks like to teach elections in ways that are thoughtful, engaging, and grounded in student voice.

We’ll talk through real classroom experiences and practical strategies.

Bring your questions. Bring your concerns. Let’s talk it through together.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cLQki1d7Rzmx3Lbxf1IBTQ #/registration

We’re thrilled to share that our CEO Verneé Green has been named a 2026 1954 Project Luminary! This recognition from the The CAFE Group's 1954 Project is an investment in our vision and goals.

As a Luminary, Mikva Challenge will receive $1 million in unrestricted funding and join a network of leaders working across the education ecosystem, with access to leadership support, relationships, and community designed to help organizations like ours deepen their impact and endure.

This recognition and investment will help us:

Deepen our work in schools. Embedding youth voice and experiential civic education into school culture so it continues after our direct involvement ends.

Grow our reach. Strengthening our existing regions, expanding district partnerships, and continuing toward our goal of reaching 2 million young people by 2035.

We’re proud to celebrate Verneé and we’re excited for what this investment will make possible for the communities we serve.

Meet the 2026 Luminaries at thecafe.org/meet-the-2026-luminaries.

Chicagoland educators! Ready to empower students to explore issues they care about and use their voices to inspire change?

Join Mikva Challenge + the Pulitzer Center for an interactive professional development workshop exploring Project Soapbox + Local Letters for Global Change!

Together, we’ll explore how educators can help students:
✅ Connect issues they care about to their local communities
✅ Make connections between global issues and local opportunities for change
✅ Develop persuasive speeches and letters for authentic audiences
✅ Move from identifying problems to imagining solutions and taking action

Plus, participants receive a $50 stipend, CPDUs, and dinner! 🍽

📅 September 24 | 4:30–7:30 PM
📍 Mikva Challenge | 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago
⏰ Applications due September 14 at 11:59 PM

Spots are limited!

👉 Apply now: https://pulitzercenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1e0daa892d0fd84e520a9c9af&id=8c43c70e0f&e=421669c5fd.

Soapbox Nation finalist Atrayu (Washington, DC) said it well: "This experience reminded me that advocacy is not measured by whether your voice is the loudest in the room. It is measured by your willingness to keep speaking, even when it feels like no one is listening." We are so proud of his leadership, advocacy, and persistence in speaking truth to power!

📣 Calling all Chicago Public Schools middle and high school social science educators!

Applications are now open for the 2026–27 Mikva Challenge IL Educator Fellowship: a year-long PAID professional learning opportunity in partnership with Chicago Public Schools Social Science Department designed to help educators strengthen inquiry-based instruction, student voice, civic learning, and informed action.

As a fellow, you'll:
✨️ Collaborate with educators from across Chicago
✨️ Earn a $1,200 stipend and PDHs
✨️ Learn to use the CPS Inquiry to Action Framework and Mikva's Issues to Action Framework
✨️ Support students in investigating issues that matter to them and taking action in their communities

🔗 Learn more: https://canva.link/mikvaef2627

📝 Apply: tinyurl.com/MikvaEF27

📅 Priority Deadline: July 1, 2026
📅 Rolling Deadline: August 21, 2026

Help students become informed, engaged, and active civic leaders!

📣 Attention educators heading to the ISTELive and ASCD Annual Conference:

Our very own Chief Strategy Officer Jill Bass is heading to the Sunshine State and will be presenting along with CoGenerate 's Janet Oh on Shared Power, Shared Learning on June 30th (Room W209AB).

This session shares new research on intergenerational allyship from CoGenerate and youth voice frameworks from Mikva Challenge. Participants will leave with strategies to elevate youth voice, strengthen school culture, and build authentic collaboration in classrooms and civic life.

We invite district and school administrators, staff, and educators to join us and learn more about how to develop youth and adult partnerships to strengthen learning and improve school culture.

Hope to see you in Orlando!

Two weeks later and we're still feeling the energy from Soapbox Nation and the young people who delivered powerful calls to action for us all! Thanks to the Chicago History Museum for hosting us!

📸 courtesy Eddie Quinones

Today, we conclude our series highlighting each of our brilliant Soapbox Nation speakers, their speech topic, and what it means to them. Here are Atrayu L. (Washington DC) and Parker H. (Illinois) sharing their reflections.

Continuing our series highlighting some of our speakers who shined on stage earlier this week at Soapbox Nation, today we check in with Lauzon M.B. (Wisconsin) and Clauzette M. (New York) on why they chose their speech topics.