The Center for California Studies is a public education, public service, and applied research unit of California State University Sacramento. Founded in 1982 and located on the capital campus of the California State University (CSU), the Center possesses a unique trust: to bring the resources of the state's largest university system to the service of public discourse, civic education, and state go
vernment. The Center performs functions integral to the mission of the CSU. It fulfills a public service role inherent in the responsibilities of a public university. It encourages research and creative activities in support of the University's instructional mission. It provides resources for the preparation of California students for life in a multi-ethnic world. These programs, known collectively as the Capital Fellows Programs, are nationally recognized. The 18 Assembly Fellows, 18 Senate Fellows, 18 Executive Fellows and 10 Judicial Administration Fellows receive an outstanding opportunity to engage in public service and prepare for future careers, while actively contributing to the development and implementation of public policy in California. The ranks of former fellows include a Justice of the California Supreme Court, members of the United States Congress and the State Legislature, a deputy director of the Peace Corps, state and local government officials, corporate executives and community leaders. The LegiSchool Project is a civic education collaboration between California State University, Sacramento, and the California State Legislature, administered by the Center for California Studies. The Project's mission is to engage young people in matters of public policy and state government by creating opportunities for students and state leaders to meet and share ideas on the problems affecting Californians. The Center sponsors numerous programs designed to enhance political literacy and opportunities for effective participation such as the annual Envisioning California Conference, the LegiSchool Project, and Sac Semester. These programs stimulate public discussion about the state's politics and policy alternatives, its history and cultures, and its changing national and international roles. In the past, the Center has sponsored public debates and forums on immigration, affirmative action and other issues. The Center aims to:
◾Encourage young people to understand and appreciate the values of a representative democracy and instill a desire to engage in the democratic process by providing participatory experiences and educational materials in state government and representative democracy to high school and college students.
◾Encourage citizens to enhance their civic literacy by providing educational materials and experiences in state government and representative democracy to adults and community groups, as well as providing forums for public debates and discussions.
◾Encourage and reward better reporting and coverage of state government and politics by the media.
◾Build links with groups such as the National Alliance for Civic Education and National Conference of State Legislatures to strengthen the Center’s civic education capacity and become a recognized and valued part of national civic education movements. Civic engagement is important in high school as well as in college. The Center focuses on two main programs in the area of civic education, The LegiSchool Project and Sac Semester in addition to a variety of other partnerships and events in Sacramento. Like our Program Pages for more specifics on each program:
Capital Fellows: https://www.facebook.com/CapitalFellowsPrograms
The Legischool Project: https://www.facebook.com/LegiSchool
Envisioning California Conference: https://www.facebook.com/EnvisioningCaliforniaConference
