Senate Resolution No. 1814

BY: Senator MAYER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 11-15, 2024, as Civic Learning Week in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to highlight
weeks of awareness which draw attention to important and beneficial
causes, and to pay tribute to those who have dedicated their time and
energy to generate future generations of informed and knowledgeable
students and citizens who participate actively and pridefully in all
civic matters; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 11-15, 2024, as
Civic Learning Week in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Civic engagement includes communities working together or
individuals working alone in both political and non-political actions to
protect public values or make a change in a community; the goal of civic
engagement is to address public concerns and promote the quality of the
community; and

WHEREAS, Youth civic engagement is defined as working to make a
difference in the civic life of one's community; it also involves
developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation
to make that difference; these activities enrich the lives of the youth
in our State, and are socially beneficial to the community at large; and

WHEREAS, According to the 2006 National Civic and Political Health
Survey, seven percent of 15- to 25-year-old Americans participated in 10
or more community engagement or political activities within the previous
year; and

WHEREAS, Organizations such as DemocracyReady NY believe in and
focus on preparing all New York students for civic participation; their
members include educators, academics, education stakeholder groups,
youth leaders, civic education practitioners, youth-development
specialists, parents, civic leaders, and advocates; and

WHEREAS, The goals of DemocracyReady NY are to raise awareness about
all the rights of all students to an education that prepares them for
civic participation, to strengthen state policy, practice, and
investment to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and
dispositions they need to engage effectively in civic and political
life, today and in the future, and to mobilize the expertise of youth,
parents, guardians, educators, researchers, advocates, attorneys,
youth-development specialists, and philanthropy to work collectively
toward these goals; and

WHEREAS, A meaningful education equips young people with the
knowledge, skills, habits, and experiences they need to build their own
futures and shape the futures of their communities; securing every

child's right to education is key to a fair society and a strong
democracy; and

WHEREAS, Civic engagement can take many forms, ranging from
individual volunteerism to organizational involvement and to electoral
participation; it can include efforts to directly address an issue, work
with others in a community to solve a problem, or interact with the
institutions of representative democracy; and

WHEREAS, The importance of youth civic engagement cannot be
understated; the effects of such active involvement are unmeasurable,
creating enduring change which positively affects communities,
democracy, youth minds, and equity across the State and Nation; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 11-15, 2024, as
Civic Learning Week in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York, and
DemocracyReady NY.