American Public Square Inc

APS continued to grow its Civics Education Initiative (CEI), reaching 85 students across the Kansas City region from 8 partner high schools. During the Fall semester, students engaged with a curriculum that emphasized civil discourse, media literacy, and critical thinking. Building on this foundation, those students then participated in a project-based learning experience where students designed and delivered their own APS-style public program. In 2024, this event was titled "Triggering Change: Engaging Community to Combat Gun Violence". The student-led event was hosted at the Kansas City Public Library and drew an audience of over 300 attendees. CEI not only supports civic understanding among students but also provides them with real-world opportunities to practice leadership, collaboration, and public speaking in a nonpartisan environment.