Since 2016, the Citizens Thinkers Writers program has been bringing local public high schoolers into college-style seminars on transformative texts from the history of political thought and linking those texts to live political questions. Sparked by the readings, students share reflections on how their own conduct and moral awareness relate to civic life in New Haven. They meet leaders active in the city’s government and civil society to explore the practical implications of their discussions, to learn how power works in the city, and to reimagine what they might do together as citizens. Mentored by faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates, the high school students learn to translate their civic thinking into effective writing and speaking, key skills of citizenship, while the mentors develop a sense of responsibility for knowing and passing on civic knowledge and competencies.
“He came home talking of Hobbes, and New Haven politics, and of hopes to study the classics in college. He told me that he made friends with kids from 7 different New Haven city schools. He seemed to be glowing with excitement about the future. I feel like this has been a life changing experience for him and the friends that he made too.”
Parent of Citizens Thinkers Writers ’24-25 student
