Design for Election Season
Coming May 2024!
Leadership+Design is excited to build on our 2020 Design for Election Week program by creating an updated Design for Election Season experience that will leave educators feeling confident and prepared to facilitate critical civil discourse with students.
Design for Election Season offers experiences for students that build empathy, stoke civic engagement, and celebrate our democratic republic.
Does the election make you anxious?
We have heard from educators that they are anxiously anticipating the fall election. Over the last four years, our schools have reflected the changing way that people relate to each other regarding the larger political landscape. More specifically, the 2016 and 2020 elections marked an inflection point that has continued to reflect a deeply divided country. Fast forward to 2024, and we are looking ahead to November and anticipating emotions running high about the midterm elections, with an outcome that is likely to test our school communities. What used to be an opportunity to learn about the democratic process and about important issues has become a polarizing experience, leaving many schools wondering how to approach the election. If we can get past the understandable anxiety, we see a huge opportunity to build capacity through conversation and connection.
Design a better experience.
As a human-centered design firm, we felt compelled to provide opportunities for school teachers, students and leaders to come together to better understand one another and to deepen curiosity for different perspectives. Knowing that Election Season will trigger emotions and that emotions will underpin the conversations, how might school communities be intentional about how we talk, where we talk and how might the election week experience be deeply human and designed to meet students where they are?
Sign Up to be Notified!
We are in the final phases of putting this exciting program and curriculum together. If you would like to be placed on a mailing list when we launch, please fill out the form and we will contact you once the program is fully online and ready to be purchased.
If you have any questions please contact carla@leadershipanddesign.org.
Our Game Plan
Leadership+Design has created a new and updated Election Season experience for your school that is fully downloadable. The adventure runs from the spring throughout the fall Election curriculum on topics such as the debates, media and social media, the electoral college, voting and the ballot. These materials were originally designed for the 2024 Presidential Election, but with the exception of materials for the debates and materials on the Electoral College, all are adaptable to the midterm elections. We encourage you to take some time and look through each week and adapt the materials for your needs.
Schools have the option to use some or all of the materials and to offer the activities to student as part of the curriculum or on a voluntary basis. This kit is flexible, adaptable and can even be facilitated remotely in the event that schools are not physically open.
What’s included?
A suggested schedule of topics and activities that goes throughout the fall that culminates the weeks leading up to the election. Schools may use some or all of the materials.
Materials and supplies for participants that can be distributed electronically to as many participants as needed for each day of the week. Training videos accompany each week of materials.
Facilitation Guides for teachers, student-leaders and administrators including sample communications to the community.
Communication Protocols to accompany all conversations that are a part of the schedule.
When you order, you will be able to download your materials.