Atlanta Public Schools partnered with AMB Sports and Entertainment, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Rock the Vote, and New Georgia Project on a first-of-its-kind initiative, Democracy Class Atlanta, leveraging sports and entertainment to celebrate civic education and engagement and spread the message that there is “no offseason in democracy.”
Held on Sept. 28 at the Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, APS and Rock The Vote held the National Voter Registration Day pep rally for 11th and 12th graders. The event featured games, prizes, special guests, and even a Ferris wheel and zip lining for students to experience on this day of learning around voting rights!
In addition to the activities, some big personalities such as Big Tigger of V-103’s “Big Tigger Morning Show” and BET’s “The Basement” kicked the show off, followed by Kenny Burns of V-103’s “The Kenny Burns Show.”
Rock The Vote is a 31-year-old nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to increasing young people’s political awareness. Through Rock the Vote and Atlanta Public Schools, Democracy Class is a free, nonpartisan curriculum that educates high school students about the importance and history of voting and pre-registers and registers them to vote.
Educators have access to additional lesson plans featuring:
- The history and importance of voting
- Modern-day voting rights
- The importance of local elections
- How voting impacts issues
- The 2020 Census
Ten Atlanta Public School students served on the Atlanta Youth Civic Advisory Council which helped shape the curriculum for the Democracy class.
The program comes at a time when young people across the country have become more civically and politically active in their communities.
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