About the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement

Our Vision

Creating an informed, empathetic, and involved society.

Our Mission

We open the door to democracy by supporting teachers, empowering students, and engaging the community for a more educated Nevada. 

Our Values

We believe in service above self.
We practice and promote integrity and civility.
We champion student-centered experiences.
We are nonpartisan.

Empowering Education with Essential Skills

Group of people standing behind a desk with the Nevada state seal. They are in a formal office setting, with two American flags on either side. One person in the center holds a document.
Two pens on a partially written page with text overlay "writing."
Blurry library background with the word "research" overlaid.
Three people thinking, text "critical thinking" overlay
Two people having a conversation, wearing aprons, with the word "communication" overlaying the image.
Silhouette of a person with a raised fist against a sunrise backdrop, with the word 'confidence' overlaid.
Two people in conversation; one listening attentively while the other speaks, with the words "active listening" overlaid.
Blurred image of people with one person raising hand, text overlay reads 'taking initiative.'
Group of people gardening, blurred image, with text 'informed action' overlayed.
Hands joined together in a circle with the word "collaboration" overlaid.
Person working on a laptop with the text 'self directed learning' overlaid.
Jar of colorful paintbrushes with "creativity" text overlay.
Blurry image of a teacher with young children in a classroom setting

“A shared passion for civic education and what Lincoln called, “the perpetuation of our political institutions” brought us together as teachers and Nevadans. It didn’t matter whether our politics aligned because we shared something more significant. We were mutually committed to the democratic experiment and were inspired by watching the next generation of Americans learn how to become engaged citizens and leaders. ”

— David S. Tanenhaus
Rogers Professor of History and Law

William S. Boyd School of Law
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

We gratefully acknowledge the individuals who helped lay the foundation for NVCCE.

  • A smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a black top, standing outdoors with a blurred mountainous landscape in the background.

    Angela Orr

  • Middle-aged man in a suit with a blue tie and gray background.

    Marc Picker

  • Man in a blue shirt and striped tie sitting indoors with plants in the background.

    Dr. Fred Lokken

  • A middle-aged man wearing a dark sweater over a white shirt is smiling at the camera. Behind him are decorative plates on a wall.

    Shane Piccinni

  • Man sitting in a library with bookshelves, wearing glasses and a patterned shirt, smiling at a laptop.

    Dr. Michael Green

  • Smiling older woman in blue jacket in a library with colorful decorations and bookshelves

    Joyce Woodhouse

  • Smiling man in a suit and glasses outdoors.

    Dr. David Tanenhaus

  • A man in a suit and tie smiling with bookshelves in the background.

    Daniel Wong

  • A man standing outdoors in front of leafless trees, wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt and glasses.

    Will Hull

  • Smiling person wearing glasses in front of a freight train

    Anthony Miller

  • Woman wearing glasses and a purple shirt sitting in front of a tiled wall; she is smiling.

    Kathleen Dickinson

  • A judge in a black robe standing in a courtroom, with the American flag in the background.

    Justice Elissa Cadish

  • Person wearing glasses and a red shirt, smiling with a neutral background.

    Dr. Sondra Cosgrove

  • Elderly man in suit with glasses and light hair, smiling against a blue background.

    Lynn Stewart

Our History

Founding the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement 

The Nevada Center for Civic Engagement (NVCCE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the study of law, civics, and history; its mission is to enable Nevada Citizens to understand and work within the democratic principles governing our nation. With assistance from dedicated supporters, the NVCCE has become a strong presence in schools throughout Nevada, where its programs and curriculum are significant assets in educating young people and preparing students to become active and effective participants in representative government. The NVCCE’s Inquiry and Community-Based Learning Programs include We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (WTP), Project Citizen, National History Day in Nevada.

Initially, these programs were funded by the U.S. Congress through the Center for Civic Education (CCE); however, in 2011, that funding ended. All government funding for the programs was eliminated, and the Center’s national and local programs were threatened. That year, The State Bar of Nevada sponsored We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution throughout the state, with now-retired State Coordinator Kathleen Dickinson managing the programs. Though a great help, supporters of the WTP program knew this was only a stop-gap measure, and it wasn’t long before they began seeking a long-term solution to their funding problems. This turned out to be a necessary step. The State Bar began cutting its funding in 2012. In 2014, Attorney Marc Picker, Washoe County School District Social Studies Coordinator Angela Orr, Truckee Meadows Community College Dean Dr. Fred Lokken, and Public Policy Advocate Shane Piccinini began discussing possible options to ensure the future of WTP in Nevada. Ultimately, establishing the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement was the solution.

In 2016, supporters helped to organize the NVCCE as a Nevada non-profit corporation; it obtained 501(c)(3) status in July 2017 under founding president Marc Picker, treasurer Dr. Fred Lokken, Secretary Angela Orr, and board member Shane Piccinini. In the same year, NVCCE expanded its reach statewide, adding strong and influential supporters including University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) professor Dr. Michael Green (who became co-president with Marc Picker), College of Southern Nevada Professor Dr. Sondra Cosgrove, UNLV professor Dr. David Tanenhaus, former State Treasurer Robert Seale, former Nevada Assemblyman Lynn Stewart, Supreme Court Justice Elissa Cadish (a district judge at the time), District Judge Michael Montero and Andrew Mackay. Also, in 2017, with the assistance of District 2 Coordinator Will Hull and District 3 Coordinator Anthony Miller, the NVCCE significantly increased its online profile by creating a website and Facebook pages for both the organization and Nevada We the People. This virtual presence gave the organization greater visibility, and the NVCCE has continued to move forward with virtual WTP training sessions and competitions created by Program Director Christine Hull. Though the idea behind these virtual events was originally to cut the cost and inconvenience of travel, they ultimately allowed the NVCCE to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, NVCCE took over full responsibility for WTP and the other programs sponsored initially by the Center for Civic Education; it also took on the administration of Nevada’s National History Day program-- and finally solved its most pressing funding concerns. In March of that year, the NVCCE’s teachers, students, and advocates testified to the Nevada Legislature in favor of SB193, primarily sponsored by State Senator Joyce Woodhouse. SB193 provided the funding the NVCCE needed to operate We the People in Nevada. The bill carried 22 sponsors and passed unanimously in both houses of the Nevada Legislature. This provided a stable funding source that the organization’s founders had sought for over five years.

Visit our programs overview page for more information on the NVCCE’s programs and to find out how you can get involved.