By Gabriel Nochera

One of the fastest growing organizations at Ponte Vedra High School is the Civic Coalition Initiative (CCI). The Civic Coalition Initiative is a federation of civic clubs that work together to further the mission of increased civic education. This organization is unique because it is a coalition of existing clubs that acts on behalf of those clubs.

Core member clubs of CCI include:

-Model United Nations & World Affairs;

-Speech and Debate;

-Club Politico;

-HighQ;

-Cultural Connections;

-and many other associated and affiliated civic-focused organizations both outside and inside the school club ecosystem.

Associated and Affiliated members clubs and organizations generally are smaller than core organizations or have a structural incompatibility preventing them from integrating further. Some of these sort of organizations are school based and others are partner institutions or chapters of national programs.

The leaders of the individual clubs represented sit on a council and make decisions for the organization. These leaders vote on allocating money acquired from grants applied on behalf of the organization. These leaders use parliamentary procedure and structured debate to make a decision on funding projects and clubs based on how much it will advance the mission of increase civic education. Grants could be used for funding shared opportunities, subsidizing civics competitions or trips, or club activities.

CCI’s stated mission is “The Civic Coalition Initiative works to advance civic education and awareness beyond the classroom and provide the opportunities students need to succeed in the real world.”

“CCI exists to connect the top civics organizations at PVHS and across Northeast Florida to PV students and allow ordinary students to go extraordinary places” (CCI bylaws).

The purpose of the Civics Coalition Initiative is to:

• Empower and develop the next generation of Civic leaders.
• Foster a community of civic-minded students to work together.
• Provide civic opportunities to students of all backgrounds.
• Encourage further involvement in civic related activities from involved students.
• Develop characteristics such as collaboration, morality, drive, and confidence in members.
• Develop parliamentary and conversational debate skills crucial to real-world decision making.

By joining CCI one gets access to all the clubs involved in the Initiative. Members also get access to shared opportunities such as an upcoming Trivia night (date to be determined) and voter drive ahead of the midterms.

CCI is in the process of becoming a nonprofit, allowing them to apply for more grants and expand to other schools across Northeast Florida and beyond.

Pictured: Civic Coalition Initiative Logo