OurCalltoTeachDemocracyNow
“Democracy must be born anew each generation, and education is its midwife.” — John Dewey, quoted in bell hooks, Teaching Critical Thinking (2010)
Teach Democracy Now is dedicated to eradicating educational inequality by empowering Gen Z to become mobilizers. We aim to equip Gen Z with a voice in their communities through an emancipatory pedagogical digital model and resource, suitableforuse inclassrooms,churches,andcommunitysettings.
OurStrategyandPhilosophy
Our strategy is rooted in reading as resistance and education as mobilization. We believe democracy is sustained when people especially Gen Z are equippedtothinkcritically,collaborate,andreadwithpurpose.
We organize through the three pillars that shape public life: the classroom, community, and church. Within these spaces, webuildprogramslike Pay2Read that connect learning tolivelihood,ensuringthataccesstoeducationalsomeans accesstoopportunity.
Democracybeginswhenpeopleread,question,andrespond.
We view literacy not just as an academic skill, but as a form of power the powertochallengeinequality,toinformothers,andtoimaginebettersystems.
Through a grassroots, student-centered approach, we blend critical reading, civic engagement, and economic empowerment to make democracy a lived practiceratherthanadistantideal
ProblemStatement
Across the UnitedStates,civicliteracyanddemocraticengagementareincrisis. Students graduate from high school with a limited understanding of the Constitution, voting rights, public policy, and the power of their own voices–what fails is both democracy and education. In underfunded communities, especially those serving Black and Brown youth, civic education has been reducedtotestpreparationorremovedfromclassroomsaltogether
This decline in democratic education has created an urgent gap between what young people experience and what democracy demands. As misinformation spreads and polarization deepens, entire generations are being left without the toolstoquestion,organize,orleadwithinourcivicinstitutions.
Teach Democracy Now confronts this problem by restoring civic educationasa living, participatory practice not aforgottenchapterinatextbook.Weaimto reimagine democracy as something students do, not just study.Throughdebate, dialogue, research initiatives, and creative public engagement, we cultivate critical thinkers who can analyze systems of power, build coalitions, and advocateforjusticeintheirschoolsandcommunities.
At its core, Teach Democracy Now exists to close the civic literacy gap and to develop a new generation of informed, compassionate, and courageous leaders thosewhowillnotonlyunderstanddemocracy,butsustainandtransformit.
PartnersinDemocracy:JoinTeachDemocracy Now'sLiteracyMovement
Teach Democracy Now is building a literacy movement founded on genuine partnership. We seek more than just financial support;weneedcommittedallies willing to learn alongside us to listen, study, and act to expand democratic educationforthenextgeneration.
We believe that true democracy is rooted in shared understanding, whichbegins withlearningtogether.Yourpartnershipisvital:
● Join Our Learning Circles: Participate in our learning circles, reading communities, and dialogues that actively shape how young people engage withjustice,equity,andcivicimagination.
● Directly Fuel Our Mission: Your support ensures students have access to culturally relevant books, mentors, andopportunitiesthatconnectliteracy withliberation.
● Host Community Dialogues: We invite you to bring this work into your own spaces by hosting Democracy & Dinner gatherings, read-ins, or communitydialoguesthatsparkcuriosityandconnection.
Every shared conversation and every new reader contributes to the democratic story we are collectively writing. In this moment ofhistory,democracyreliesless on those who already "know the most" and more on those most willing to learn together andthatiswhyyourpartnershipissoessential.
OpportunityStatement
We respond by building generational organizing power a movement that answers the call for justice through information equality. Teach Democracy Now seeks to partner with and agitate the three primary institutions that shape civicconsciousness:theclassroom,community,andchurch
Our goal as Gen Zers is to mobilize our voices to train, share, and equip these institutions with resources that inform, inspire,andchallengeourunderstanding of democracy. We aim to shape a pedagogical experience that reverses the suppression of our voices and reclaims education as a tool of liberation rather thancompliance.
Fostering democratic agency and autonomy can only be achieved through education not merely in theory, but through praxis. This praxis begins when we elevate the murmured voices of those long silenced by distorted democratic practices. Our opportunity lies in countering overlooked narratives, transforming civiceducationintoalivingconversationaboutpower,justice,and belonging.
Through our Pay2Read model and digital organizing initiatives, we invite students, educators, and community leaders to reimagine literacy as the foundation of freedom. The opportunity before us is not only to teach democracy, but tobuilditanew ineveryclassroom,everycongregation,and everycommunitythatbelieveseducationmustserveasthemidwifeofchange.
StaffMission
TDN values advancing our collective mission while growing together as a community of leaders. A major challenge in post-college education is job placement and opportunities we respond by creating a space that develops organizational leadership through directly addressing social crises. Our work involves reading, engaging, and building theory around issues ourcommunities haveoftenbeenexcludedfrom.
Our staff promotes the mission of TDN through research, development, and initiative creation. From staff to ambassadors and interns, everyone has a vital role in preparing to inform and empower our communities as we approach our first100days
We start with reading and engagement through our Leadership Speaker Series, service projects, and collaborative teaching on civic, historical, and social inequalities in democratic education. Our strength lies in learning to lead working alongside donors, organizations, and allies who share our values, and aboveall,reachingmoreGenZerswhocanhelpmovethismissionforward.
The PayMe2Read model will empowerstaff,ambassadors,andinternstospark their imagination To imagine a world without limits is to challenge the boundaries that have long silenced our voices as participants. Together, we are creatively designing a new beginning one that challenges postcolonial educational inequality and builds a future rooted in learning, leadership, and liberation.
OurCalltoDemocraticAction
Teach Democracy Now calls Gen Z to rise as the new architects of democracy readers,thinkers,andorganizerswhotransformlearningintoliberation. We believe democracy must be taught, tested, and lived through the power of reading,questioning,andmobilizingourcommunities
Ourcallisthreefold:
1. Read: Engage critically with history, policy, and power to understand the rootsofinequalityandthepromiseofdemocracy.
2 Ready: Build civic and intellectual literacy to prepare for collective leadershipinclassrooms,churches,andcommunities.
3. Respond: Mobilize through organizing, debate, and digital storytelling thatamplifythevoicesofthosesilencedbyinequitablesystems.
We call on every student, educator, and ally to join in a living movement for information equality and civic rebirth where democracy is not a lesson in a book,butapracticeinthestreets,theschools,andthesoulofeverygeneration.
TheTeamDrivingOurMission
ElijahStrong–ExecutiveDirector
Pierre Beck Jr. – Strategic Initiatives; Campus Ambassador, Prairie View A&MUniversity
SharaiJefferson–DirectorofExecutiveCommunications
CheyenneDorsey–EventsCoordinator
JordanDansby–BrandingInitiatives
Nissia Uwase – Research Initiatives; University of Houston Campus Research Liaison
Julius Herron – Digital Development Officer; Campus Ambassador, Howard University
Katelyn Daniels – Research Intern; Campus Ambassador, Florida A&M University
TanbranceBerry–MediaRelationsCoordinator
JaelynTerry–CampusAmbassador,TexasWoman’sUniversity
IsaiahStrong–CampusAmbassador,WileyUniversity
IsabelleGreen–ResearchIntern
AllysonTejeda–ResearchIntern
GroundingTDN’sGrassrootsIdentity
Teach Democracy Now is a grassroots organization based in the nation’s capital, where decisions about democracy are made, but where too few voices of young people are heard. In a city shaped by powerandpolicy,we represent a different kind of authority: the authority that comes from reading, reflection, and community-led learning. Our mission is to counter the growing culture of misinformation, apathy, and exclusion by returning democracy to its people beginning with Gen Z, students, and educators who believe that knowledge is a public right, not a privilege. We are building from the ground up: creating spaces where reading is an act of resistance, where dialogue becomes a form of organizing, and where learningitselfbecomesthefoundationofliberation.
InauguralCampaign
Teach Democracy Now is excited to launch ourinauguralcampaignwithagoal of $30,666.00. This campaign is designed to foster learning and build relationships across classrooms, churches, and communities through our educational sessions At the same time, we are addressing college affordability issuesforourstudentsandleadersorganizationally.
As a grassroots organization, we believe in empowering Gen Z through group economics and collective action. Allies and partners are essential to advancing thismission.
As of November 11, 2025, Teach Democracy Now has raised $12,500 toward thisgoal.Thesefundsarebeingusedto:
● Incentivizestaff,ambassadors,andinterns
● Providescholarshipstomembers
● Informcommunitiesaboutourmissionandorganizationalobjectives
● Bridgeliteracytofocusonlearning,training,andshapingourmission
We invite continued support and collaboration to advance our mission in the nation’s capital and acrossthecountry Contributionsgodirectlytoempowering GenZ
Support can be provided through our website at teachdemocracynow.com by participatinginfundraisersorbyhosting/sponsoringlisteningsessions.
FiscalSponsorshipNote
Teach Democracy Now, Inc. is an emerging 501(c)(3) organization operating under fiscal sponsorship with Community Uplift Services (EIN 82-0677145).
Through this partnership, Teach Democracy Now is able to receive tax-deductible contributions, manage program funds responsibly, and operate under the legal and financial oversight of an established nonprofit whilecompletingitsindependent501(c)(3)formationprocess.
IdeaPartners
Our idea partners are allies in the mission to end educational inequality. When you partner with Teach Democracy Now, you join a community of learners, educators,andorganizerscommittedtomakingdemocracyalivedpractice
We believe every partnership is an act of literacy helping communitiesread, think, and respond to the world around them. Together, we can reach students, families, immigrants, churches, and classroomsacrossthenationwithresources thatempowerandinform.
Our team is ready to collaborate whether by distributing digital literature, hosting our Dinner & Democracy Series, or investinginourPay2Readlearning model. We welcome allies whoshareourvisiontobuildcivicimagination,train GenZleaders,andchampioneducationalequalityateverylevel.
AlliesofTeachDemocracyNow
OuralliesarethosewhoshareourmissiontoendeducationalinequalityandempowerGenZ. They engage with our work not only as supportersbutascollaborators helpingtoamplify ourvoice,expandourreach,andsustainourinitiatives.
By partnering with TDN, allies join a community of learners committed to democratic education, literacy equity, and civic engagement. Together, we work across classrooms, universities, community spaces, and congregations to ensure all students have access to the toolsandresourcesnecessarytoadvocateforthemselvesandtheircommunities.
Ourcurrentalliessupportinitiativessuchas:
● GenZ“power”staffing
● Digitalandprintliteracymaterials
● Learningandinformationaldigitalsessions
● Accesstoliteracyandeducationalresources
● Investmentindigitaltoolsforcivicengagement
● Scholarshipsandcollegeaffordabilityprograms
When you partner with Teach Democracy Now, you are not just funding a program you are joining a movement. Your collaboration fuels opportunities for students, interns, and ambassadorstoread,learn,andactasengagedparticipantsinthedemocraticprocess.
Membership&Opportunities
TDN membership is $25 and open to students, ambassadors, interns, and staff. Membershipprovidesaccessto:
● Scholarshipopportunitiesforleadershipandinitiative
● Project-basedlearningprogramslikePay2Read
● Digitalandin-personliteracyresourcestoaddresseducationalinequality
● Opportunities to champion TDN’s mission on campus and in local communities
● NetworkingwithotherGenZchangemakers
All ambassadors, staff, and interns are expected to become members, ensuring alignment, shared learning, and collective accountability. Membership is not just a contribution it is a commitment to action and a chance to transform literacyintocivicimpact.
OurImpact/Goal
Teach Democracy Now, from October through December, has begun our inaugural campaign goalof$30,66600andhasreached$10,78000ofthisgoal These funds are being used to incentivize staff personnel, provide scholarships to members, inform communities about our mission and organizational objectives,andbridgeliteracywithleadershiptrainingandcivicengagement.
Ourimpactliesinourreachto:
● EmpowerGenZthroughaccesstoeducationalopportunities
● Providestipendsandscholarshipsthatlinkliteracytoeconomic empowerment.
● Trainemergingleadersindemocraticeducationandcivicparticipation.
● Buildpartnershipswithschools,churches,andcommunityorganizations toadvanceeducationalequality.
Through these efforts, Teach Democracy Now seeks to demonstrate that literacy,advocacy,andopportunityarethefoundationofajustdemocracy.
ContactUs:empower@teachdemocracynow.com