Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization dedicated to helping our nation’s young people become engaged and participatory citizens and understand the rule of law, the legal process, and their constitutional heritage. Established in 1962, CRF is guided by a dedicated board of directors drawn from the worlds of law, business, government, education, and the media. CRF’s professional staff includes teachers and educators, lawyers, editors and writers, and youth-development specialists.
Achievements
Mock Trial . Each year, CRF develops and distributes a new mock trial case to participants throughout California. In 2004, CRF’s mock trial program involved over 8,000 students and 2,000 lawyer and teacher volunteers.
History Day in California . Moving far beyond names and dates, History Day in California students research historical issues, ideas, and people and apply what they have learned to their own media productions, performances, web pages, research papers, and displays. CRF’s History Day program typically reaches 45,000 students from 36 California counties.
Youth Leadership and Civic Participation . Youth Leadership for Action, CRF’s L.A.-based program, attracts young people who want to address community problems. CRF’s civic-participation programs enable tens of thousands of students nationdwide to plan and implement projects to meet real community needs.
Youth Internship Program . This CRF program places qualified urban students in law firms, businesses, government offices, and non-profit organizations. This program empowers young people to serve as school and community leaders while they gain valuable work experience in a professional setting.
Teacher and Professional Development . Good teaching requires well-developed tools and strategies. CRF offers teachers a wide variety of professional-development workshops in law and government and civic participation.
Youth Conferences . CRF offers a compelling series of youth forums as effective means for educating young people about vital public policy and community issues.
Publications. CRF publishes educational texts and materials on Law and Government, Civic Participation, U.S. and World History, and Current Issues. CRF’s acclaimed quarterly curricular magazine, Bill of Rights in Action, reaches more than 30,000 educators.
The Internet. CRF’s web site (www.crf-usa.org) features online lessons on civic and historical issues and a broad array of research and resource links for teachers and students. In 2004, this constantly updated Internet resource attracted more than one-half million unique visitors.
Constitutional Rights Foundation has joined forces with the Center for Civic Education to initiate the California Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. ( http://crf-usa.org/civic_renewal/civic_renewal_home.htm) The goal of this statewide campaign is to strengthen civic education in California's public schools consistent with the recommendations in the Civic Mission of Schools report.
Contact Information
Todd Clark,
Executive Director,
Phone: (213) 316-2103
e-mail: todd@crf-usa.org.
Charles Degelman
Writer/editor,
Phone: (213) 316-2117;
Email: charlie@crf-usa.org
Website: www.crf-usa.org