November chamber meeting highlights
By Lauren Tam
The Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the National Civics Bee, an initiative designed to encourage middle school students to become informed and engaged citizens while developing critical thinking, writing and leadership skills.
The National Civics Bee is an initiative of the Civics Trust, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which works to promote civic education and participation nationwide. Through the program, students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of civics, thoughtfully engage with issues affecting their communities and recognize the importance of informed citizenship.
The National Civics Bee invites students in grades 6-8 to explore how government works, identify issues they care about in their communities and propose thoughtful, real-world solutions. The program is part of a nationwide effort to strengthen civic knowledge and participation among young people at a time when civic understanding is increasingly important.
Students begin by submitting a short essay addressing a local civic issue and proposing a potential solution. Selected students advance to a live civics competition, where they demonstrate their knowledge and ideas before judges and an audience. Participants may earn recognition and prizes at both the local and national levels.
“The National Civics Bee is about more than competition,” said representatives of the Eastern Plains Chamber. “It’s about helping students understand how their voices matter, how their communities function and how they can play an active role in shaping the future.”
The Eastern Plains Chamber views the program as a natural extension of its mission to support education, leadership development and community involvement across Falcon, Peyton and surrounding Eastern Plains communities.
As the only National Civics Bee serving El Paso County, the Eastern Plains Chamber is opening participation to all eligible middle schools, school districts and educational programs throughout the county, ensuring students from a wide range of communities have access to the opportunity.
Parents, educators and community members are encouraged to learn more about eligibility, deadlines and participation details by visiting the Eastern Plains Chamber website.
For more information about the National Civics Bee and how local students can get involved, visit https://easternplainschamber.com/national-civics-bee.
