Connecting Students to Powerful Learning Experiences
Our platform was created on a simple premise: to help connect people to their communities.
We believe everyone should feel part of where they live, and that starts by understanding local civics. From education to engagement, we’re empowering youth to embrace their potential as change agents and to take an active role in shaping their communities for the better.
Our Mission
Educating students to create engaged citizens
Our mission is to create and support the next generation of civic leaders who will lead, shape, and define their communities. Local Civics equips students with skills and opportunities to participate meaningfully in all dimensions of civic life, ultimately preparing them for thoughtful and active citizenship.
Our Vision
Transformation in the classroom, and beyond
At the heart of Local Civics is a deep belief: informed citizens empower communities. We envision a world in which every person can meaningfully and authentically engage in and with their community. We believe that access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to develop important critical thinking and collaboration skills are fundamental to building strong communities and democratic institutions.
Our Values
Raising the bar for civic education and engagement
We seek to empower the next generation of leaders to build, support, and reimagine their communities. To do this, we operate on the same pillars that define those communities:
Integrity in the form of standards-aligned curricula and purpose-built pathways.
Equality through an accessible platform that enables student-driven engagement.
Agility in our ability to adapt to changing educational standards and best practices.
Leadership through the confluence of resources we bring together for students.
Meet the Team
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Beverly Leon
FOUNDER
Beverly graduated from Columbia Business School with a focus on social entrepreneurship. She received her BA in History from Columbia University and an MSc in Social Policy from the University of Oxford with a focus on Education and Labor Market Policy. Beverly has over 10 years of experience as a youth educator and coach, serving as a program coordinator for Level the Field NYC and a Teaching Fellow for Columbia University’s ‘Freedom and Citizenship’ Civics Education Program.
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Caitlin Gallagher
HEAD OF GROWTH & IMPLEMENTATION
Caitlin leads Local Civics’ growth strategy and manages curriculum development and measurement & evaluation. Caitlin taught middle school math in Hartford, CT, and brings 10+ years working in urban networked improvement communities that support students’ diverse postsecondary pathways. Caitlin holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is currently a COVID-19 Response Fellow with Education Pioneers.
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John Mueller
HEAD OF CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
John manages Local Civics’ school and district partnerships, helping us to scale our impact. John received his BA in Psychology from Cornell University, and he has been an educator in the New York City Metropolitan area for over 8 years. He has designed and refined specialized curricula for students at Bronx Bridges High School, including individualized instruction for English Language Learners & Students with Learning Disabilities.
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Percee Goings
HEAD OF ENGINEERING
Percee is Local Civics’ Head of Engineering. He earned his BA in Computer Science from Columbia University, and his expertise in web design and data architecture led him to spearhead application development for both private and public institutions including Columbia University and Naval Surface Warfare Center. His technical knowledge extends to multiple languages and platforms: C, Java, Python, Javascript, PHP, HTML, CSS, Django, Laravel, & React.
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Colin Leon
DATA ENGINEER
Colin is our lead data engineer. He is passionate about using data-driven approaches to power student learning and discovery. His work helps us to connect students to new opportunities across diverse interests. At the University of Chicago, he studied philosophy and economics and brings a wealth of knowledge about data structures and evaluation techniques.
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Jihad Dennis
LEAD DESIGNER
Jihad Dennis leads our design efforts at Local Civics. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Jihad has produced work for SLAM Magazine, Milk Studios, and Redscout. His work is multi-faceted, displaying proficiency in design software, UX/UI, photography, and animation. He is passionate about elevating youth voice through various design mediums.
Press
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HOW I BUILT THIS
“How I Built Resilience: Beverly Leon of Local Civics”
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COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL
“This Startup Makes Civics Education Accessible”
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SEATTLE INNO
“Ed-tech startup Local Civics eyes growth after landing cash award from GooglE”
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AWS
“AWS announces 25 startups selected for the AWS Impact Accelerator for Women Founders”
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NEW SCHOOLS
“Local Civics”
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COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL
Four New Social Ventures Receive Seed Funding from Columbia’s Tamer Fund for Social Ventures
Contact us
Meet with our team to learn more about Local Civics and how we empower your students and educators!