Student body representatives hold a critical role in encouraging student participation in the democratic process and promoting civic responsibility across campuses. With this in mind, the SSCCC is pleased to share the Civic Engagement Toolkit, designed to support student-led efforts to strengthen civic involvement and voter participation throughout the California Community College system.
This toolkit is a practical, easy-to-use resource designed to help student leaders like you build awareness, foster dialogue, and advocate for increased civic engagement among your peers. It includes Advocacy Letter Templates, Sample Graphics, Presentation Materials, Student Testimonies, AB 963 information, and curated Outside Resources to guide and support your efforts.
As student leaders, your voice and leadership are essential to the success of this initiative. Below are several ways you can use the toolkit to its full potential:
- Familiarize Yourselves with the Toolkit: Begin by exploring the toolkit’s contents, including the Civic Engagement Presentation Samples and Webinar. These materials can help you understand the broader goals of civic participation and how they align with student equity and empowerment.
- Lead Voter Engagement Efforts on Campus: Use the Advocacy Letter Templates and AB 963 Information to communicate the importance of student voter registration and participation. Collaborate with campus departments like Student Activities or the Office of Equity to develop or support voter engagement campaigns.
- Promote Civic Education Through Events and Media: Leverage the example graphics and presentation materials to organize events, share content on social media, and raise awareness about local and national elections. Highlight student voices by sharing testimonies to inspire involvement. You can find examples of testimonies in our toolkit.
- Foster Peer-to-Peer Dialogue: Encourage open discussions about voting rights, civic duty, and community involvement. Consider hosting forums or workshops that center around student experiences and local issues. The toolkit’s outside resources can help support these conversations with data and real-world context.
- Share Your Impact and Share Success Stories: We welcome your feedback, ideas, and success stories. Your input is vital in shaping future versions of this toolkit and encouraging other student leaders across the state to take action. If you have any suggestions, success stories, or feedback, please contact us.
Your leadership has the power to inspire a more informed, engaged, and empowered student body. Thank you for your commitment to civic engagement and your continued work to uplift the voices of the students around you.
Use this template to send a letter to your college's SBA to advocate for civic engagement on your campus.
Use this template to send a letter to your college's administration to advocate for civic engagement on your campus.
This toolkit provided by the Secretary of State's Office in collaboration with Vote California and the California Students Vote Project provides additional resources to advocate for civic engagement on your campus.