Media | Mikva Challenge

2024 Media Hits

News 8: Rochester City School District Students Participate in “Project Soapbox”
WHAM: Rochester Students Tackle Important Topics at Annual ‘Project Soapbox
Newark Post Online: Local teens get on their soapbox at public speaking exhibition
University of Delaware Daily: Engaging the next generation
WSJM: Chicago area civics program bringing high school students to St.Joseph this weekend
CBS: Chicago high school students of voting age cast ballots in ‘Parade to the Polls’
Spectrum News 1: Seneca High School students get on their soapbox
Broadway World: MMSD Students Will Participate in Project Soapbox at Overture
WTTW: A WTTW News Community Conversation: Youth and Civic Education
Chicago Today: Mikva Challenge inspires the next generation of civic leaders
Chicago Crusader: Empowering the Youth Vote: A path to a stronger democracy

2023 Media Hits

The Hill: Gen Z and millennials will be key in future elections— so how do we reach them?
KSBW 8: Salinas teen co-writes first-of-its-kind national resolution to honor farmworkers
WTTW: These young people are taking the lead on anti-violence efforts in Chicago
Newsweek: DC debater uses argument skills to enact change in city schools
Chalkbeat: Teaching civics is increasingly fraught, but I won’t stop doing it
Mining Gazette: Houghton High School student takes place in National Youth Summit
Caledonian Record: Groveton High School students attend National Youth Summit in Washington, D.C.
Concord Monitor: Concord High teen brings environmental enthusiasm to National Youth Summit in D.C.
The Washington Informer: Student advocates for career, technical education in D.C. rec centers
The Up & Up:‘Democracy is a verb’: Action-oriented civics unfolds in the nation’s capitol
WAVE 3: Jefferson County teens speak in Washington, D.C. after being selected for National Summit
Spectrum News: Jefferson County teen heads to Washington D.C. to give speech on mental health
WBEZ’s Reset: What Asian-American youth need to thrive
Keweenaw Report: U.P. Students to attend national civic engagement conference
Chicago Tribune: Pritzker ‘very impressed’ after seeing students’ Mikva Challenge civics projects at Waukegan High
ABC 6: Tom Baldini Soapbox Challenge encourages student voice
Daily Herald: East Aurora High Schools hosts Mikva soapbox speech competition
The Cap Times: Madison students speak out about fat-shaming, trans attacks, racism
ABC 27 WKOW: Project Soapbox: Madison students speak out about major issues
Channel 3000: Project Soapbox gives Madison teens a chance to speak their minds
Concord Monitor: Two among 11 selected for civic speech project
ABC7 Chicago: Chicago students pickup lifelong lessons while serving as election judges
WBEZ: Teens step in to make sure Chicagoans can vote today
Univision: Organizaciones realizan un evento para impulsar el voto de los jóvenes en las elecciones municipales en Chicago
CBS Chicago: More CPS high school students will parade to the polls ahead of next week’s elections
Newark Post: Project Soapbox helps local kids find their voice
PBS’s The Kentucky Network: Jefferson County students accept Soapbox challenge
WHAS11: Kentucky students compete in speech showcase, voice their concerns within the community
Christian Science Monitor: Civics in the shadow of Capitol Hill: Letter from a DC high school
ABC7 DC: Kids diving into politics

2022 Media Hits

Concord Monitor: At summit, local students collaborated to study issues
WTOP: DC students say their truths about their biggest concerns in the community
WAMU/DCist: At Project Soapbox, DC students urge officials to take action on issues close to home
WBBM: Chicago students answer: “What’s the biggest issues faced by your community?”
Washington City Paper: Give it up D.C. 2022 Giving Guide
Mining Gazette: Houghton HS student wins Project Soapbox
ABC 7: Chicago high school students serve as judges at polls through Mikva Challenge
WBEZ: Poll watchers serve as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the voting process
Univision: Interview with Mikva student Melanie G. for Elecciones 2022
Detroit Free Press: These kids have a lot to say. We should listen to them.
Chalkbeat: Chicago schools started removing police two years ago. What’s happened since?
KSBW Action News 8: Alisal High School student earns finalist spot in national speech competition
Univision: “Tienen que salir a votar:” jóvenes invitan a los latinos a participar de las elecciones primarias de Illinois
Chalkbeat: Chicago voters cast votes with the help of local students
Concord Monitor: Weare student addresses nation on food waste
DCist: Mayoral candidates face tough questions from candidates at youth led forum
ABC13 WHAM: Students use their voice to improve culture at Rochester school
Chicago Tribune: Waukegan students learn how to get things done at Civics Showcase
Fox6: Marquette County students compete in Tom Baldini Soapbox Challenge
Chicago Tribune: School resource officers are under scrutiny again in CPS as dozens of high schools reconsider the controversial police program
Wisconsin Public Radio: A call for empathetic listening to be taught in schools
NPR’s 1A: Civics education 101
EdSource: California offers graduation honor to encourage active civic engagement
Lessons in Adolescence: Lessons with youth participants at Mikva Challenge
Queens Chronicle: Queens students get on their soapbox
WBEZ Chicago: How Chicago’s students feel about the battle around in-person, remote learning
Newsweek: To repair democracy, teach empathic listening as a civic skill

2021 Media Hits

Rochester City School District: Students at Northeast College Preparatory High School recognized for student voice curriculum
Caledonian Record: Groveton Student’s Speech On Body Shaming Among Top 12 In Project Soapbox National Mainstage
Bridge Detroit: Detroit teens’ words are getting state, national attention
Chalkbeat Chicago: What do Chicago students say they most need? Counselors, school board seats, therapy dogs
Free Spirit Media: A new approach to safety in schools
Jefferson County Public Schools: Students Get on Their Soapbox About Issues Important to Them
WBEZ: Chicago’s K-8 Classes Are Back To In-Person. But What’s Next For High Schoolers?
Concord Monitor: Student speeches take on issues
ABC7: Our Chicago: Town hall examines city’s women in leadership roles amid Women’s History Month
Theory & Research in Social Education: Cultivating empathic listening in democratic education
Chicago Philippine Reports TV (CPRTV): Interview with Mikva Youth London and Emanuel
Manchester Ink Link: 2021 New Hampshire’s Kid Governor sworn in during inauguration ceremony
Block Club Chicago: West Side Violence Prevention Group Helping CPS Design Alternatives To Cops In Schools: ‘A Whole Different Way Of Them Doing Things’
WTTW: CPS Partnering With Community Groups to Rethink School Safety Without Resource Officers
Chicago Sun-times: CPS partners with 5 community groups to develop new safety alternatives to in-school officers
ABC 7: Teachers’ union creates creative lesson plan contest following Capitol riot
Chalkbeat: Witnessing history: Teachers and students left reeling, looking for lessons in an insurrection

2020 Media Hits

Urban Institute: Engaging Young Leaders to Drive an Inclusive Recovery
Chicago Tribune: Climate change and Abner Mikva documentaries this week on WTTW offer a couple of hours to think before Election Day
Chicago Sun-Times: Mikva could conjugate ‘democracy’
Medium: Let Youth Voters Take the Wheel
Chicago Tribune: Climate change and Abner Mikva documentaries this week on WTTW offer a couple of hours to think before Election Day
Univision: “Debe haber un cambio”: jóvenes en Chicago reaccionan al segundo debate entre Joe Biden y Donald Trump
WTTW: How Abner Mikva Inspired People to Believe in Government’s Power for Good
Education Week: Students Deserve a Voice in Our Pandemic Response. Here’s How to Give It to Them
Daily Herald: Constable: Mikva film could inspire future ‘nobodies’
Columbia Chronicle: Looking for a way to get involved in the November election? Be an election judge
WGN Radio: Chicago youth making a difference
Comcast Newsmakers Segment: Democracy is a Verb – Verneé Green, Mikva Challenge
NBC Chicago: How Youth Leaders Want Chicago to Address Pressing Issues
Chalkbeat Chicago via Patch: Under Pressure, Chicago Unveils More Reforms To School Police Program
WTTW: CPS Announces New Reforms to School Resource Officer Program
The Beverly Review: Morgan Park High School offers wall-to-wall IB program
CountAllKids: DC Action for Children – Engaging Youth in 2020 Census Outreach
News Spectrum 1: JCPS Receives Grant to Promote Student Civic Involvement
Education Week: Grassroots Momentum Builds for Anti-Racist K-12 Instruction
Bronx Times: Students at Pelham Bay school participate in civics competition
The 74: ‘Just Above Water’: As Hallowed D.C. Summer Youth Employment Program Preps to Go Virtual for First Time, Employers Rush to Create Meaningful Experience for 10,000 Students
Chicago Unheard: I Miss School, And I’m Adapting to Pandemic Learning, Too
Caledonian Record: The Mikva Challenge: A New Curriculum For NH Schools
The Cap Times: High School sophomore part of national youth group documenting COVID-19 experience
WUSA9: ‘We are the people most at stake’ | Local teenagers lead national conversation on COVID-19 and young people
WBEZ: Illinois Students Grapple With A Lost Senior Year Due To COVID-19
1340 WJOL: Governor Pritzker Announces New Statewide Telehealth Programs, Mental Health Support Hotline
New Channel ABC 20: Gov. Pritzker hosts virtual youth town hall
Patch: ‘It’s OK To Feel’: Pritzker Announces Coronavirus Support Lines
Chicago Sun Times: Students wonder when they can return to school during Gov. Pritzker’s live-streamed town hall for youth
Queens Daily Eagle: City kicks off annual teen voter drive in Long Island City
NCTV17: D204 Students Go To The 2020 Iowa Caucuses
Chicago Tribune: Students from Indian Prairie District 204 to aid and observe in Iowa caucus process Monday
CNN: These high school seniors are hitting the campaign trail in Iowa
Houston Chronicle: As Democratic primaries near, educators can teach hope to a polarized citizenry
CNN: These are the issues young people say they care about in the 2020 election
Financial Times: US election: Democrats divided on how to take on Trump
CNN: CNN outtake – Michael and Delonta on the trail in Iowa!
District 207: West Students Participate in the Mikva Challenge Election in Action Program
CNN: They grew up miles from the White House but went to Iowa to be heard
The Washington Informer: D.C. EDUCATION BRIEFS: Warriors in Action
WGLT | NPR: Normal West Students Get Facetime With Presidential Candidates During Iowa Trip
Genius Expert: Genius Expert: How Schools Can Celebrate Black History Month (And Why It Matters)
Pantagraph: ‘Super impactful’: Normal West students meet presidential candidates in caucus-ready Iowa
WBEZ 91.5: Chicago Teens Find Their Political Voice In Iowa
CBS2: Local High School Students Headed To Iowa For ‘Mikva Challenge’ To Campaign Ahead Of The Caucus
WGN Radio: Chicago kids are headed to Iowa to campaign for presidential candidates
ELON NEWS: Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at Simpson College: The presidential candidate focused on appealing to the student voters
WBEZ 91.5: Chicago Teens Testing Political Waters In Iowa
ABC7: Chicago high school students traveling to Des Moines to join campaign trail ahead of Iowa caucuses
NPR | St. Louis Public Radio: Missouri Teens Head To Iowa To Learn About Caucuses, Political Campaigns Up Close
am New York: Students share thoughts on social issues at Soapbox NYC
Good.is: Teaching hope during the 2020 campaign season

2019 Media Hits

Edutopia: Civics Education and Student-Driven Civic Action
The Washington Post: D.C. could reinvent civics education
Edutopia: Getting Started With Culturally Responsive Teaching
Social Education: From Mobilizing Youth Voters to Developing Lifelong Civic Leaders
District Administration: How civics inspires students to get involved: Watching democracy in action shifts students from recipients to leader of their own learning
WAMU / The Kojo Nnamdi Show: What Do Local Students Think Of National Politics?
Mining Journal: Soapbox challenge, Marquette County students get & give civics lessons
Fox Up: Marquette Senior High School students prepare for final round of the Tom Baldini Soapbox Showcase
Beachwood Reporter: Comics In The Classroom: Teaching Democracy
Daily Herald: Proving ourselves through civic engagement is important for immigrants
CSPAN: Soapbox Nation: Youth Speech Showcase
Chicago Humanities: Stacey Abrams meets MIKVA Challenge’s GRL PWR
Education Weekly: ‘Action Civics’ Enlists Students in Hands-On Democracy
Chicago Tribune: From the community: Mikva Challenge and Allstate Insurance Company Launch the Allstate Sponsored Youth Program Officers Initiative
CBS Chicago: High School Students Encouraged To Find Their Voices Through Civic Engagement Non-Profit
Chalkbeat: Looking at low voter turnout, some Chicago youth wonder if civics and outreach would help
Grit Daily: Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Peretti Host Comedy Benefit For Youth Civic Engagement
Los Angeles Times | HS Insider: Action Civics LA empowers young generation to participate in local communities

2018 Media Hits

WTTW: JB Pritzker Fields Questions from High School Students
Chicago Sun Times: ‘Whose voice? Youth voice!’: Crowd gets on ‘soapbox’ to speak on social issues
NBC 5 / Telemundo Chicago: 2018 ‘Project Innovation’ Grant Challenge Winners Announced—NBC 5 spotand Telemundo spot
WBBM: Newsmakers Making a Difference: Michelle Morals, Mikva Challenge
WTTW: 2018 Governor’s Race: Democratic Candidates Face High School Students
WGN: MLK Day celebrations call for public service, challenge divisive political climate

For more information, contact communications@mikvachallenge.org

Machée Kelly

Communications Manager

Staten Island students showed up and showed out at the Staten Island SoapboxNYC Preliminary Round on Jan. 16! These incredible young leaders took the center stage to voice the pressing issues impacting their community, presenting thoughtful and passionate ideas. Students also had the opportunity to connect directly with local community members and policymakers who can help bring their ideas to life.

Just two days left in the year! This is your last chance to make a difference and support Mikva Challenge as we strive to empower the next generation of civic leaders. With your help, we've celebrated 25 years of service and impacted more 1 million students. Your contributions are crucial for us to reach our ambitious goals for the coming year. Remember, every dollar you give through December 31 will be matched dollar for dollar, thanks to our matching opportunity. Let’s make this year-end giving count! Join us in inspiring young leaders today: mikvachallenge.org/mikva24

Today, DC Citywide Project Soapbox Mainstage took place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C..

Project Soapbox empowers youth to amplify their voices to address critical issues in their communities. About a hundred students from 10 DC high schools will deliver powerful speeches on issues they are passionate about like mental health, affordable housing, community violence, and safety. Stay tuned for more highlights from this incredible event!

#projectsoapbox #mikvachallenge #youthvoice

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: Access Token is not valid or has expired. Feed will not update.