Hoy es el Día Nacional de la Cívica. Tiene sus raíces en la historia y es un recordatorio de la importancia de aprender los derechos y responsabilidades de la ciudadanía. En esta fecha de 1787, se publicaron los primeros documentos federalistas y se utilizaron como base filosófica para la Constitución de los Estados Unidos. Charlie Hyde, presidente del Sitio Presidencial Benjamin Harrison en Indianápolis, dice que la educación cívica tiene un propósito más específico que un curso de historia o estudios sociales.

"Se trata de fomentar la participación pública en nuestro sistema estadounidense de autogobierno. Aprender sobre educación cívica fomenta el pensamiento crítico, la participación comunitaria y el discurso cívico civil. Si comprende cómo funciona su gobierno, entonces podrá asumir un papel de liderazgo," analizó también Hyde.

El Proyecto de Ley 1384 de la Cámara de Representantes, aprobado en la Asamblea General de Indiana de 2021, exige que a partir de este año escolar actual, los estudiantes de Indiana tomen una clase de educación cívica en sexto, séptimo u octavo grado.

El Índice de Salud Cívica en Indiana de 2021 elaborado por la Indiana Bar Foundation encontró que las tasas de registro de votantes en el estado son más altas entre las personas con títulos universitarios (casi el 85%), seguidas por aquellas con algo de educación universitaria, con un 77%. El registro de votantes entre los graduados de la escuela secundaria fue del 63%. El índice también encontró que en las elecciones de 2020, Indiana ocupó el puesto 46 entre los estados por su baja participación electoral. Hyde señala que hay muchas vías para lograr el compromiso cívico.

"Usted podría dirigir la PTA de su escuela local. Puede que en algún momento decida postularse para un cargo, o tal vez simplemente quiera ayudar a cambiar una ley o poner algo en acción. Es importante saber cómo hacer que esas cosas sucedan," explicó además Hyde.

El Índice de Salud Cívica recomendó establecer un programa escolar, inspirado en el programa de certificación STEM del estado, para mejorar la educación cívica para 2023 y aumentar los requisitos de cursos de cívica en todos los niveles de grado para 2026.



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As Florida recovers from Hurricane Helene, the state's network of Community Health Centers continues to provide crucial care statewide.

Community Health Centers see patients despite their ability to pay. Although some facilities avoided significant damage, the storm's widespread impact is straining resources, staff and patients. Clinics from Sarasota to the Panhandle are focused on rebuilding and restoring services.

Despite the storm's size and power, said Gianna Van Winkle, director of emergency management programs for the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, the centers largely avoided catastrophic damage.

"No total losses or anything like that," she said, "but at the same time, there's power loss, there's staff and patient impacts that are going to affect the way that these health centers operate in these days and weeks ahead."

In hard-hit rural areas, where resources and infrastructure are often limited, health centers operate mobile units and partner with county officials to deliver care and supplies. They're also collecting relief supplies to support workers affected by the storm.

Health centers along the Gulf Coast, including in Sarasota, faced significant flooding. Christine Coviello, chief advancement and engagement officer for CenterPlace Health, said its facilities avoided structural damage, but had to close for a day because staff members were unable to reach the clinics.

"The storm surge is what really got us," Coviello said. "The wind and the rain was something we could handle a lot better - but this time, the storm surge really affected those low-lying areas."

Telehealth, mobile units and backup power systems allowed many facilities to remain operational or quickly return to service. However, despite these healthcare facilities coming out largely unscathed, many staff members are struggling to recover from personal losses, while still being called to serve their communities.

A week after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the Southeast, the North Carolina town of Boone is facing an uphill battle.

With many roads still impassable, widespread power outages and a "boil water" advisory in effect, the community is coming together to aid those most affected.

SOL Nation, a nonprofit focused on environmental and social justice, is helping with the recovery effort. Tiffany Fant, the organization's executive director, said the damage is twofold, with people in rural areas dealing with much of the impact.

"Within the city limits, the water's receded, the streets are OK; there are still some power outages but people are moving about," she said. "But then when you get further out into the county, there's still people stranded, roads blocked, some roads washed out."

Fant said SOL Nation is partnering with Cornerstone Summit Church to create a resilience hub. The church sanctuary has been converted into a donation center to receive and distribute resources. The group is also partnering with others in Charlotte to provide relief to other areas.

Fant explained SOL Nation's efforts focus not only on immediate relief but also long-term recovery. She added that it is training members who are closest to the community to continue these efforts after the immediate crisis has passed.

"No one is going to be able to rebuild and recover alone, in isolation," she said, "so it's going to take community to know who is unaccounted for, to know who's still stranded, to know who needs to get medical supplies, right? And that takes community. That takes knowing your neighbor."

She said anyone looking to help can visit SOL Nation's website at solnation.org, or the Cornerstone Summit Church website at cornerstonesummit.org.

Other relief efforts are also underway in Western North Carolina from local, state and federal partners. So far, the National Guard has performed more than 1,400 rescues.


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Social behavior experts said teens have fewer safe spaces to gather, with technology-driven isolation complicating matters. It is more pronounced in places with documented violence, but a Minnesota project could keep some of the issues at bay.

This month, the organization Nonviolent Peaceforce begins specialized programming at its community hub in North Minneapolis. FBI data show a downward trend in violent crime but North Minneapolis still sees the lingering effects of shootings and other incidents.

Odell Wilson, community peacebuilder for the group, said the dedicated space allows middle and high school students to participate in healing circles and more activities.

"Certain days, on a Saturday or a Thursday, we might have journals or painting to express yourself through the arts," Wilson explained.

He indicated they are planning to set up a music studio as another outlet for teens looking for social and emotional relief from any neighborhood tension. The youth programming space sits inside the gathering hub Nonviolent Peaceforce opened in North Minneapolis last year to foster meaningful conversations among community members.

Nonviolent Peaceforce offers training in de-escalation tactics around the world. It said it sometimes can be hard for youths in troubled areas to have such conversations with family members or school staff. Wilson and other organizers hope to convince teens living in those areas they are not alone.

"It's kind of having that second home to come and to vent to or come in to just be heard," Wilson added.

He emphasized they want teens to find their voice and identity if outside forces are preventing it from happening. Nonviolent Peaceforce received a $17,000 grant from the City of Minneapolis for the new programming.