The Power
C&S sparks Gen Z to create bold, fresh civic solutions that move our country forward.
We partner with hundreds of campuses, communities, workplaces, organizations, and donors across the country:
See the latest ideas and civic solutions created by the C&S community.
Our Mission
Gen Z has big, bold ideas for America’s future.
C&S creates spaces where young people can practice three essential civic skills and turn their ideas into real impact.
Having Productive Conversations
Listening with curiosity and creating the trust needed to talk about hard topics.
Using Credible Information
Finding, assessing, and applying trustworthy information to ground ideas in facts.
Collaborating to Create Solutions
Working effectively with people from different backgrounds to build stronger solutions.
Since 1945
C&S has supported nearly 1M scholars, faculty, & students.
800K Students
C&S supports 100+ colleges and 800K+ students each year.
25 Workplaces
C&S is piloting programs with 25 companies—and counting.
$2M Invested
C&S has invested $2M in ~1,000 youth leaders creating civic solutions.
Where We Show Up
Fostering civic culture where young people gather.
On Campus
Through initiatives like College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, the Faculty Institute, and Mellon Fellowships, C&S helps colleges build a campuswide civic culture where every student can practice the civic skills they need to solve the real world problems affecting their generation. With support from C&S, schools can:
- Create spaces for students to listen, collaborate, and navigate differences.
- Embed civic learning into curriculum design.
- Measure outcomes with time-tested frameworks that help you find what works—and scale it.
In Communities
C&S partners with Gen Z civic leaders, nonprofits, and youth organizations to help the next generation channel their passion and ideas into real civic solutions. From youth-led summits to community-based projects, we co-create experiences that give young people the resources to solve real problems together.
- Inspire youth to lead local change aligned with their values.
- Create spaces where youth and adult leaders work together.
- Lean on C&S to ensure youth community initiatives continue to thrive as they evolve with changing culture.
At Work
C&S works with employers and industry partners, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, to bring our expertise for civic development into the workplace. Through co-designed training and initiatives, C&S helps workplaces develop young professionals’ collaboration and communication skills so they can become better team members—and better citizens.
- Help young professionals improve teamwork and problem-solving.
- Foster a workplace culture where young professionals feel heard, valued, and prepared to navigate differences.
- Increase organizational effectiveness with civic learning tools that boost communication and productivity.
Words from our community
“We want students to come to their own truths and own decisions about what they value and what they see as important. We also want to learn from what they’ve been able to do as we work alongside them as educators and mentors."
Derigan Silver
Faculty, University of Denver
“It’s nice to be connected to other young leaders. Our country is really big and wide and so it’s helpful to meet with all these different youths that have pulses on really different community things and to learn from each other.”
Patricia Mathu
Youth Civic Leader
“It’s nice to be connected to other young leaders. Our country is really big and wide and so it’s helpful to meet with all these different youths that have pulses on really different community things and to learn from each other.”
Judy Woodruff
PBS News Hour Senior Correspondent
"It's imperative for leaders in higher education to do all we can to promote dialogue across differences, and that's why I'm so excited to be a part of this coalition.
Sian Leah Beilock
President, Dartmouth University
“The training really enforced the importance of active listening, asking clarifying questions, and engaging in good faith discussion, rather than debate.”
Timothy Page
Student, Ohio Wesleyan University
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