Teach Democracy

If you missed our last two BRIA issues during the school year, now is a great time to catch up. Reading them this summer gives you a head start on your fall lesson planning. And as always, Teach Democracy's BRIA issues are free to download.

Get the recent issues: https://teachdemocracy.org/program-page/bill-of-rights-in-action-bria/

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This year, our country turns 250. It's a milestone worth marking, and a moment that asks more of us than reflection alone.

That's why we chose 250Next as the theme of our 2026 Annual Celebration. And that's not just a tagline, it's a call to action.

Your voices have always been the power behind our work, and we want to feature them at this year's celebration. So we're asking you: What do you hope American Democracy looks like 250 years from now?

Submit your video now: http://teachdemocracy.memfox.io/250next

We're excited to announce our 2026 Annual Celebration!

Every year, Teach Democracy brings together people who believe in the power of civic education to strengthen our democracy. On September 17th, we return to The Beverly Hilton to honor the leaders shaping what comes next, with Kai Ryssdal, Host and Senior Editor of Marketplace, as our emcee.

Tickets and sponsorships are available now.

Get more information: https://teachdemocracy.org/annual-celebration

On June 19, 1865, more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas finally got the news that they were free, more than two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. That is why we call it Freedom Day.

It became a federal holiday in 2021, thanks to activists like Opal Lee, who campaigned for decades to make it official.

Today we remember that history and the lessons it still holds for every classroom, like this one on the meaning of emancipation:https://teachdemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/emancipation-day-past-and-present.pdf

Happy Juneteenth.