We are living through a time of profound political division. Even as our country is preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we continue to debate—sometimes furiously—the core principles of our democracy. For those debates to be constructive, we all need at least a basic knowledge of how our government works—and how it shapes our everyday lives.

That’s why I am so passionate about civic education, and why I launched the CalCivics program at PPIC. CalCivics engages with students and educators directly, providing accessible, fact-based information and offering opportunities to sharpen critical thinking skills through a variety of events and workshops.

Today we are augmenting those efforts with the release of a video explaining the fundamental structures of our government—and how young people can successfully navigate those structures to spark the changes they want to see in the world. We hope this video will be a useful resource for educators and students to build knowledge, spark curiosity, and inspire conversation.

The importance of civic knowledge cannot be overstated. It amplifies our ability to be active citizens, engaged in our own democracy. At PPIC, we believe in the power of good information to build a brighter future—for our communities, our state, and our nation. Our democracy depends on it!