For You & Me
A Webinar Series &
Civic Project Incubator Initiative
“Sometimes our leaders are only as distant as we believe they are.
It is up to us to weave our social fabric tighter together, even when it seems tenuous altogether.”
This project is largely inspired by our engagement with government officials and candidates, our research and learning about American history (both known and unknown or overlooked stories)! We have, of course, tried to pay forward these experiences by mentoring other kids to connect with those who inspire them and sometimes doing our best to enable those connections.
Our Purpose & Philosophy
For You and Me is a webinar series dedicated to exploring the moral and civic dimensions of American democracy through deeply philosophical and intellectually rigorous conversation. These conversations are centered around the idea that education is as powerful as its application. Accordingly, we provide facilitated, interactive sessions highlighting some of the most internationally renowned scholars, activists, and creators who embody the spirit of citizenship through their commitment to service in each of their unique pursuits. Through direct engagement, reflection, and sustained dialogue across sessions, participants are not only exposed to ideas but also challenged to internalize and respond to them.
Each session uncovers overlooked or underappreciated endeavors that reveal our nation’s capacity for self-correction and renewal through incremental individual efforts. By delving into the process of how social good projects emerge from their ideation to execution, we aim to inspire young people to think about what they can do for their country while equipping them with the tools, mentorship, and intellectual foundation to begin implementing such ideas themselves. As the series progresses, participants move from conversation to reflection to the early stages of action, developing their own initiatives grounded in what they have learned.
At its heart, For You and Me begins with a conviction: that being a citizen requires understanding citizenship itself. Good citizenship, in turn, is rooted in good character—and character is formed through storytelling, reflection, and engagement with the past. The stories and people we engage with are not distant despite seeming to be so. Through continued participation, we offer young people the opportunity to exercise their curiosity, to connect directly with these changemakers, and to find a launchpad that supports the evolution of their own ideas into tangible efforts.
Inspired by Woody Guthrie’s refrain, “this land was made for you and me,” the series is a conversation between ordinary young citizens who believe that civic hope is not naïve but necessary for one another’s well-being. Through inquiry, reflection, and dialogue, For You and Me reminds participants that democracy is a noun that lives only as long as those who make it up engage in the verbs of giving, caring, questioning, innovating, and reforming—together.
Join Our Program
The program, designed for high school and undergraduate students, unfolds across eight thematic sessions, each designed to build on the last and deepen both conceptual understanding and personal engagement. Sessions are held live and follow a consistent format: a moderated, high-level conversation with a featured speaker; a period of direct participant engagement through Q&A and discussion; and a guided reflection that encourages participants to connect the session’s ideas to their own evolving sense of civic responsibility.
Each session centers on a distinct theme—ranging from historical moments of democratic renewal to the ethical responsibilities of leadership and the process of building initiatives for the public good. Rather than presenting these topics abstractly, speakers ground their insights in lived experience, offering participants a view into how ideas move from conception to implementation in real-world contexts.
To ensure that engagement extends beyond attendance, participants complete short written reflections after each session. These reflections are not evaluative, but developmental: they are designed to track shifts in thinking, surface questions, and encourage deeper internalization of the material over time.
Participants who attend at least six of the eight sessions are invited into a more selective youth cohort experience, which serves as the program’s transition point from dialogue to action. Within this cohort, participants:
reflect more intentionally on how their perspectives have evolved across the series
begin to develop their own civic ideas or initiatives, informed by the themes and case studies explored
receive mentorship and feedback from speakers, advisors, and an extended network of practitioners
gain access to resources, collaborative spaces, and peer dialogue to refine and potentially implement their ideas
This cohort is designed not as a conclusion, but as a launchpad, supporting participants as they move from structured learning into independent exploration and contribution.