Inside NYLS’s Second Annual Constitution and Citizenship Day Summit
On September 16, 2026, New York Law School (NYLS) hosted its second annual Constitution and Citizenship Day Summit in collaboration with the School’s Center for New York City and State Law and The Honorable Robert A. Katzmann Justice for All – Courts and the Community Initiative: The Civic Education Project for the Federal Courts of the Second Circuit. Held in recognition of Constitution and Citizenship Day on September 17, the Summit brought together judges, attorneys, educators, law students, and civic leaders for a day of discussions about constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the essential role of civics education.
The Summit’s Planning Committee was co-chaired by NYLS Dean and President Anthony W. Crowell, who also serves as Director of the Center for New York City and State Law; Hon. Joseph Bianco of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and Hon. Victor Marrero of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Judges Bianco and Marrero serve as Co-Chairs of the Justice for All initiative. Building on the inaugural Summit in 2025, the second annual gathering explored innovative approaches to civic learning; the connection between journalism, democracy, and technology; and international perspectives on civics education. The day’s programming reflected four key thematic pillars: Civic Engagement and Democratic Participation, Civics Education for All Ages, Legal Institutions and the Civic Mission, and Technology and Information Integrity.
Beyond the Headlines: Journalism, Civic Education, and Democracy
The Summit opened with a keynote conversation exploring the role independent journalism plays in educating the public, strengthening democratic institutions, and safeguarding constitutional principles. Bill Whitaker, senior correspondent for 60 Minutes, joined Judges Bianco and Marrero for a discussion moderated by Dean Crowell.
Drawing on his decades-long career in journalism, Whitaker shared the ways in which technological developments and social media have transformed how information is created, shared, and consumed. At a time when the general public encounters a constant stream of information from an array of sources, the panelists considered how journalists, judges, and lawyers can communicate more effectively. Whitaker observed that today’s media landscape requires legal and civic leaders to “break through the noise” and use a wide range of communication channels to expand the reach of civic education programs and initiatives.
The conversation also examined the state of civic learning within the United States. Panelists reflected on the gradual erasure of traditional civics courses from the broader education system and highlighted recent efforts to strengthen civics education in New York City’s public schools. Whitaker described civics courses as a “symbol of democracy,” emphasizing their role in helping students understand the rights, responsibilities, and institutions that shape civic life. Dean Crowell then raised an important question for legal educators: How should law schools respond to the varying levels of civic knowledge students possess when they begin their legal education?
Innovative Approaches to Civics Education
The morning panel turned to how public schools, higher education institutions, and community organizations are reimagining the way civic responsibility is taught and experienced. Moderated by Hon. Vera M. Scanlon, Chief Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the session featured Siobhan Brand, a Social Studies Teacher at Townsend Harris High School; Dr. Dara Byrne, Dean and Professor of Communications at Macaulay Honors College; Jenna Ryall, Director of the Civics for All program at New York City Public Schools; and Ebonie Simpson, Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Region of Generation Citizen.
Panelists discussed how experiential learning, technology, and community engagement can help cultivate civic knowledge among younger generations. They emphasized the importance of creating meaningful spaces for young people to participate, learn, and lead, while also considering how educational institutions can draw on the specific resources of the communities they serve. One idea discussed was a “civic transfer,” an infrastructure for moving access, opportunity, knowledge, and social capital from one generation to the next.
The conversation also introduced the idea of “civics jazz,” describing civic education as collaborative and adaptive, with educators and organizations listening to one another, building on shared ideas, and responding creatively to the needs of their students and communities. Siobhan Brand, a NYC public school teacher, shared her experience running Townsend Harris High School’s Election Simulation program. Founded in 1996, the project is primarily run through seniors in AP U.S. Government and AP Macroeconomics classes, who take on roles as real-life political candidates, political action committees/special interest groups, or media/newspaper teams.
(L to R) Hon. Victor Marrero, Hon. Joseph Bianco, Bill Whitaker, and Dean Anthony W. Crowell hold the Summit's keynote conversation.
(L to R) Siobhan Brand, Jenna Ryall, Dr. Dara Byrne, Ebonie Simpson, and Hon. Vera Scanlon speak at the panel on Innovative Approaches to Civics Education.
Civics Schmooze, Part 1: Sherri and the Unfairies
In the first portion of the Summit’s signature “Civics Schmooze,” attendees viewed a special performance of Sherri and the Unfairies, a new play created by Elliot Thomson, a Sun Valley Film Festival Award-winning writer and director, and Peter K. Hirsch, an Emmy Award-winning writer. The play follows Sherri, a seven-year-old daughter of a judge, as she travels through an imaginary world inhabited by mischievous “Unfairies.” Through the story’s exploration of fairness and sharing, it aims to introduce children to broader ideas about civic responsibility and engagement. The concept was introduced during the inaugural Summit’s Civics Schmooze in 2025 and later premiered at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.
Civics Schmooze, Part 2: The Schmooze
The second part of the Civics Schmooze brought guests to the Stiefel Room, where they circulated through concurrent presentations from organizations developing new approaches to civic learning and engagement. The interactive format encouraged participants from various sectors—including the education, government, legal, nonprofit, and cultural sectors—to exchange ideas, identify shared goals, and build partnerships.
Simply Civics
Throughout the day, attendees periodically visited NYLS Professor Emerita Camille Broussard, former Director of the Law School’s Mendik Library, in the Grand Gallery to test their knowledge of New York and national civics fundamentals. Michael Siller, Director of the NYLS Office of Global Student Affairs, also invited participants to share ideas for civics programming designed to welcome and benefit international students studying law in the United States.
Reflections on Citizenship: Perspectives from The Honorable Hasa Kingo
The afternoon program opened with personal reflections from Hon. Hasa Kingo, Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. Justice Kingo shared his family’s journey through the naturalization process and considered its connection to the broader meaning of citizenship, civic participation, and civic education in the United States. His story introduced a personal perspective on themes that ran throughout the Summit, demonstrating that citizenship is in many ways an ongoing practice, and that civic institutions gain meaning through the experiences of the people who encounter them.
Professor Emerita Camille Broussard greets guests the Simply Civics booth.
Hon. Hasa Kingo shares personal reflections on citizenship and civic participation.
Empowering Civil Society and Improving Public Institutions Through Technology
The following afternoon panel examined how technology is reshaping government operations, public services, and interactions between communities and civic institutions. Moderated by Ben Max, Executive Editor and Program Director of the Center for New York City and State Law, the conversation featured John Avlon, journalist, author, and Chair of Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation; Ryan Howard, Chief of Staff at the Office of the New York State Inspector General; Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC; and Oscar Romero, Chief Information Officer of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission.
The panel addressed artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, data-informed decision-making, and civic technology. Speakers discussed how these tools can help expand access to government information, improve public services, and support transparency and accountability, while also acknowledging concerns about privacy, public trust, and the unequal infrastructures upon which new technologies are built. They also discussed the importance of aligning technological tools with clearly defined public goals.
Civics Education in Comparative Perspective
The Summit’s final panel expanded the conversation by examining civic education across national borders. Moderated by Penelope Andrews, John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law and Director of the Racial Justice Project at NYLS, the session featured Azadeh Khalili, Executive Director of Humanity in Action, Inc.; Hon. Aneta Łazarska, Ph.D, Judge of the District Court and Lecturer at Lazarski University in Warsaw, Poland; Maciej Rogalski, Ph.D, Rector and Professor of Law at Lazarski University; Hon. Albie Sachs, a founding member and former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa; and Dmytro Vovk, NYLS Visiting Professor and Professor at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University in Ukraine.
Drawing on perspectives from the United States, Poland, South Africa, and Ukraine, the panelists discussed how schools and communities prepare people to participate in democratic life. They addressed challenges facing democracies around the world, including political polarization, misinformation, limited resources for civic learning, and distrust in government. Justice Sachs shared personal experiences that illustrated the importance of constitutionalism and showed how individual stories can make constitutional principles easier to understand. Dean Crowell later noted Justice Sachs’s ability to connect personal experiences with a broader global perspective, describing his reflections as a lesson in themselves.
(L to R) Ryan Howard, John Avlon, Julie Samuels, and Oscar Romero speak at the panel on Empowering Civil Society and Improving Public Institutions Through Technology.
(L to R) Hon. Aneta Łazarska, Azadeh Khalili, Professor Penelope Andrews, Maciej Rogalski, Dmytro Vovk, and Hon. Albie Sachs speak at the Civics Education in Comparative Perspective panel.
As the second annual Summit came to a close, Dean Crowell and Judge Marrero reflected on the ideas and insights shared throughout the day and thanked participants for their continued commitment to civics education. They also paid tribute to the late Hon. Robert A. Katzmann, whose dedication to civic education and public understanding of the judiciary inspired the Justice for All initiative. Dean Crowell invited attendees to stay connected and continue building on the relationships and ideas developed during the Summit.
“Citizenship education, civics education, leadership in our communities, it’s never going to go out of style,” said Dean Crowell. “But it must always be something that is paid attention to and refined and built upon so we can be as effective as possible in our collective journey.”