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Citizens & Scholars President to Co-Chair America 250 Committee

The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission announced today that prominent advocates for improving American civic life, Victoria Hughes of Millwood, Virginia and Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, will serve as volunteer co-chairs of its Civics & Civic Engagement Task Force. In this role, Hughes and Vinnakota will provide counsel on nonpartisan, civic-minded […]

New Name and Focus—on Strengthening Democracy—for a Longtime Nonprofit

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars President Rajiv Vinnakota spoke with the Chronicle of Philanthropy about the new name and expanded mission of the organization. From the article: “There are serious questions about the strength of our democracy. What really worries me is our inability to find common ground and the tone of the rhetoric being used. […]

Citizens & Scholars featured on CBS This Morning

Most Americans Could Not Pass A Citizenship Test, A Major Issue For The Country https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acYJoMV9xHg&t=2s Americans don’t know their Constitution. In 2019, the Institute for Citizens & Scholars found that only four in 10 could pass the U.S. citizenship test. But this isn’t new news. In fact, it has been a source of concern for many […]

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars: New Name and Mission Statement

PRINCETON, NJ (November 16, 2020)—After extensive consultation, the Board of Trustees of the WW Foundation has adopted a new name and mission statement: The Institute for Citizens & Scholars (Citizens & Scholars) prepares leaders and engages networks of people and organizations to meet urgent education challenges. The overarching goal is to shape an informed, productively engaged, […]

Can Gen Z Save Us? Only with Adult Partners

A case for intergenerational civic learning In this op-ed for The Bulwark, Citizens & Scholars President Raj Vinnakota makes the case for adults and young people working together to strengthen our democracy. From the article: In his first inaugural address, former President George W. Bush asked every American “to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. I […]

Journalists Named to Higher Education Media Fellowship

Second Class Of Journalists Named To Higher Education Media Fellowship NEWS RELEASE  FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, September 15, 2020CONTACT: Frances Hannan | Program Officer | hannan@woodrow.org | 201-587-4755 Fellows To Build Tools And Networks For More Comprehensive Coverage Of Postsecondary Career And Technical Education PRINCETON, NJ (Tuesday, September 15, 2020) – The WW Foundation is pleased to announce its second class […]

Civic Spring Fellows Featured on MSNBC

New Youth Projects Focus on Civic Education The Civic Spring Fellowship was featured on MSNBC in August. Citizens & Scholars president Raj Vinnakota and grantee Emanuelle Sippy were interviewed by Brian Williams and Nicole Wallace during an afternoon MSNBC Live segment. You can see the full interview in the video above. Mr. Vinnakota outlined the need to focus on […]

Civic Spring Partners with Youth Research Experts

Civic Spring Partners With Youth Research Experts To Learn From Local Pandemic-Response Projects NEWS RELEASE  FOR RELEASE: Thursday, July, 30, 2020CONTACT: Frances Hannan | hannan@woodrow.org | 201-587-4755 Partnership With Tufts University’s Circle To Derive Important Lessons From Youth-Led Initiatives PRINCETON, NJ (August 5, 2020) – As a continuation of its work to develop and increase more opportunities to learning about […]

2020 HistoryQuest Fellows Named

American History Teachers Build Game-Based Learning Skills NEWS RELEASE  FOR RELEASE: Thursday, July, 30, 2020CONTACT: Frances Hannan | hannan@woodrow.org | 201-587-4755 HistoryQuest Fellowship Names New Fellows, Begins Summer Institute PRINCETON, NJ (Thursday, July, 30, 2020) – The middle and high school American history teachers among the 2020 HistoryQuest Fellowship class began building their game-like learning skills this week. The 20 […]