The Rhode Island Department of State has announced that nearly 100 students from 44 high schools across the state have joined the Civic Leadership Program, a new program that aims to empower students to become active citizens.
The program is a collaboration between the RI Department of State, elected officials, and community and government leaders, and will feature a series of monthly sessions held at the Rhode Island State House as well as a two-night, three-day summit in Providence for a Civic Leadership Summit. The program is free for all participating students.
“As a former teacher, I know how much energy, hope, and enthusiasm our state’s students have for the future,” said Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore. “This program gives students an opportunity to learn about how our government works and how they can become civically engaged, enabling them to channel that hope and enthusiasm into efforts that strengthen their communities. I am excited to welcome our next cohort of students and look forward to the year ahead.”
This is the second year that the program has been offered, with this new cohort featuring 20 more students than the first year. Students from the following schools have been selected to participate in the program this year: Bishop Hendricken High School, Blackstone Academy Charter School, Burrillville High School, Central Falls High School, Central High School, Chariho Regional High School, Coventry High School, Cranston High School East, Cranston High School West, East Providence High School, E-Cubed Academy, Exeter-West Greenwich Senior High School, Hope High School, Johnston Senior High School, La Salle Academy, Lincoln High School, Middletown High School, Mount Saint Charles Academy, Mt. Hope High School, Narragansett High School, North Kingstown High School, North Providence High School, North Smithfield High School, Paul Cuffee School, Pilgrim High School, Ponaganset High School, Portsmouth High School, Providence Country Day School, Scituate High School, Smithfield High School, South Kingstown High School, St. George’s School, St. Mary Academy, Bay View, Saint Raphael Academy, The Greene School, The Met – East Bay, The Met – Providence, The Wheeler School – Tiverton High School, Toll Gate High School, William E. Tolman Senior High School, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts, West Warwick High School, and Westerly High School.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.