We are overwhelmed with gratitude over what has occurred over the past 12 months. Californians Advancing Civic Education was started in 2012 with the goal to provide volunteer and financial support to students in California participating in civic education programs like We The People. This year has been one of our most successful years we’ve had by far.

This April at the We The People National Finals in Washington DC, 56 teams from across the country showed up to participate in one of the most academically rigorous competitions available. After two days of open competition California placed 2 teams in the top 15. Both teams worked closely with CACE from the very beginning of their academic year. Then, after competing on Capitol Hill in the final round, Amador Valley High took home the silver medal.

We are so proud of their achievement. If you donated, volunteered, or otherwise supported CACE, We the People, or these kids over the past year, you should be proud as well. We could not be more thankful to everyone that helped.

Here’s what some of the students had to say about your support.:

“Writing this on the anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education 1954 decision, I am reminded of the true power of education and the necessity for diversity both in our schools and in our thoughts. My time in We the People has allowed me to embody these values as by spending countless hours at CACE sessions and at unit meetings, I’ve come to realize that the virtual meaning of the Constitution lies in those three words--We the People--revealing it is ultimately up to us to uphold our Founding principles through active participation and involvement in our communities and governments. This is why I admire organizations like CACE; the dedicated alumni and volunteers work tirelessly to educate youth in the very tenets of civic education, entrusting us with the life-long tools to become our own catalysts for change. We the People has additionally given me the opportunity to reflect on my internal goals and personal character and is an experience I will always treasure. “

-Prerita Govil, Amador Valley High School, Unit 3

The We the People program allowed for a different environment of learning than high schools normally have. A lot of the learning was by yourself and with peers, which helps to truly learn the materiel. Even better, the program has the support of dedicated teachers, lawyers, volunteers, and alumni like CACE who help judge and support along the way. It all makes for an enriched real-world experience that I couldn’t have otherwise had in high school.

-Aaron Guerra, Foothill High School, Unit 6

Sincerely,
 

Clint Woods
President
Californians Advancing Civic Education