U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter will participate in a panel discussion convened by Ashoka U from 5-6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 26, at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The panel, part of Ashoka U’s “Education in the Age of Innovation” conference, will focus on the Department’s work to increase civic learning and engagement in democracy. Kanter will outline higher education’s responsibility to prepare students to become active, engaged citizens, and the Obama Administration’s plans to support civic engagement activities across the nation.
During her remarks, Dr. Kanter will note the findings and commitments within the recently released "A Crucible Moment: College Learning & Democracy's Future” report by the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement, which was commissioned by the Department. She will also discuss the Department’s report "Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy: A Road Map and Call to Action." The Road Map highlights nine steps the Department will take to advance civic learning and democratic engagement, including adding civic indicators to national student surveys, promoting public service internships and careers, and leveraging federal programs and public-private partnerships.
Ashoka is the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs—men and women with system-changing solutions that address the world’s most urgent social challenges. Working with these social entrepreneurs, Ashoka builds communities of innovators who work together to transform society and design new ways for the citizen sector to become more entrepreneurial, productive and globally integrated.