Lena Wimes, Civic Nebraska’s interim director of Youth Civic Leadership, has been selected from applicants nationwide to facilitate a cohort of the Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange Program hosted by the Office of the Under Secretary for Education at the Smithsonian Institute.
As a facilitator, Wimes will collaboratively design and lead place-based investigations with students to understand better the stories emerging from their hometowns. Within each cohort, paired groups of youth come together in a series of live video dialogues and virtual learning experiences to explore and share the stories of their communities. These exchanges are supported by work that paired student groups undertake, culminating in final student projects.
“Youth Civic Leadership is about creating spaces for young people to learn about, engage with, and personally experience democracy,” Wimes said. “We are raising up the next generation of leaders in our communities, and it is a privilege and responsibility to be involved in these vital processes. Our experiences shape us and inform our worldview.”
As a facilitator, Wimes will attend professional training sessions with Smithsonian education leaders, recruit students to participate in the exchange, and partner with a facilitator from another part of the country to design and lead a virtual exchange for students.
The Smithsonian was established in 1846 to support “the increase and diffusion of knowledge” and has grown to become the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. They recognize some of the most critical work occurs when the Institute collaborates with educators to create youth learning experiences.
“The Smithsonian’s Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange is a unique service-learning opportunity to expand students’ civic capacity outside the traditional classroom walls,” she said. “I am thrilled to facilitate Lincoln’s cohort and look forward to the growth and impact we will collectively experience as a result of our participation.”
