WHAT IS THE CIVICS MATTERS SUMMIT?
2nd Annual Civics Matters Summit
January 26, 2027
8:30am-2pm at State Farm Stadium
OVERVIEW
The Civics Matters Summit is an annual statewide gathering that brings together middle and high school students, educators, civic organizations, and community leaders for a day of interactive, real-world civic learning.
Students explore the many ways they can participate and lead through three signature experiences. During the Civics Fair, they connect with Arizona civic and community organizations and discover volunteer opportunities, leadership programs, internships, advocacy initiatives, and other ways to become involved. Interactive breakout sessions help students build practical civic leadership and engagement skills. Past sessions have explored identifying misinformation, practicing civic leadership, and using participatory budgeting to shape decisions within a school community. During Leadership in Action, students meet leaders from a range of backgrounds and learn how people are making a difference through public service, community involvement, and both traditional and nontraditional civic roles.
More than a one-day event, the Summit is designed to help students recognize their own capacity to lead and take meaningful action. By combining hands-on learning with direct connections to organizations and leaders, students leave with greater confidence, practical skills, and opportunities to participate in their schools, communities, and democracy.
The Civics Matters Summit serves students in grades 6–12.
Summit Registration Coming Soon
School and individual student registration will open in October.
Please check back for updates.
Summit Details
We are excited to welcome your school to State Farm Stadium.
To ensure every Arizona school can participate regardless of location, we offer transportation assistance to cover the cost of travel to and from the Summit. Schools can request transportation assistance during the registration process.
How to Register
Every school should designate one educator to serve as the primary point of contact for Civics Matters and complete the following steps.
- Register your school on our website at civicsmattersaz.com/register. Skip this step if your school already has an account.
- Log in to access your Teacher Dashboard.
- Optional: Add additional educators as Group Leaders, if desired. Group Leaders can access the shared Teacher Dashboard and help manage the school’s Civics Matters participation.
- Navigate to the Event Registration tab and open the Summit registration portal.
- Complete all required registration steps.
Students who are not attending with a participating school may register individually.
How To Register
- Create an account at civicsmattersaz.com/register. Skip this step if you already have an account.
- Log in to access your Student Dashboard.
- Navigate to the Event Registration tab and open the Summit registration portal.
- Complete the required registration steps.
Civics Matters Arizona is committed to connecting students with the organizations and leaders already making a difference across our state. The Summit provides several opportunities for community partners to share their work, introduce students to meaningful ways to participate, and help young people see themselves as civic and community leaders.
How to Participate
Civics Fair
The Summit begins with a Civics Fair, where students and educators visit booths hosted by community organizations. Students can learn about each organization’s work, explore civic engagement opportunities, and discover ways to become involved in their schools and communities. Participation is free for all organizations.
Organizations interested in hosting a booth at the Civics Fair must submit the Civics Fair interest form.
Breakout Sessions
Students participate in interactive workshops led by organizations with expertise in civic education, leadership, and community engagement. Each session should help students develop practical civic or leadership skills, examine a civic issue, or explore a meaningful pathway to participation. Organizations may indicate a preference to lead either a small session for up to 200 students, a large session for up to 1,150 students, or a teacher professional development session. Civics Matters Arizona will make final session assignments based on program needs, available space, and the proposed session format, but presenter preferences will be taken into consideration.
Organizations interested in hosting a session must review the guidelines and submit a breakout session application by October 16, 2026.
Leadership in Action
The Summit concludes with an open networking experience where students can meet young leaders, Civics Matters alumni, public servants, community advocates, and professionals working in both traditional and nontraditional civic roles. Through informal conversations, students can learn how others became involved, explore different forms of leadership, and identify ways to begin making a difference now. Educators, students, organizations, and community members may nominate emerging or experienced leaders to participate. Student leaders and young adults are especially encouraged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a registration fee?
No. The summit is free for all attendees, including students, schools, and civics partners.
Is lunch provided?
Yes. Lunch is provided for all attendees, including students, teachers, chaperones, and civics partners. Schools will submit dietary preferences through their Summit registration tab in their teacher dashboard.
Is there assistance provided for schools traveling from outside of Maricopa County and/or schools unable to secure their own transportation?
Yes. Schools can request transport assistance when they register for the summit.
How will students be supervised throughout the event?
Schools are responsible for providing enough chaperones to supervise students throughout the event. Students must be supervised at all times.
What does the Summit schedule look like?
The preliminary schedule below is provided to help schools plan for transportation, staffing, and chaperones. It is subject to change, and a final schedule will be shared with registered schools before the event.
- 8:30–10:30 a.m.: Student Arrival, Check-In, and Civics Fair
- 10:45–11:30 a.m.: Opening Session and Keynote
- 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Lunch and Optional Activities
- 12:30–1:15 p.m.: Student Breakout Sessions and Educator Professional Development
- 1:15–2:00 p.m.: Leadership in Action
Can I register my school to attend if I don’t yet know which students will be attending?
Yes. When you register, you only need to reserve the number of student spots your school would like. You do not need to submit individual student names or information at that time.
As you finalize your roster, you can log in to your Teacher Dashboard and use the Summit Portal to add or update student information. You may also request to change the number of students attending. Reducing your registration will release those spots to schools on the waitlist. Requests to add students will be approved only if space is available at the time of the request.
All student attendee information and final registration changes must be submitted by Monday, January 11, 2027.
Additional Questions
With any additional questions please reach out to us via our contact form here.
2026 SUMMIT RECAP
The Arizona Cardinals joined forces with Desert Financial Credit Union and Gallagher to host the first annual Civics Matters Summit at State Farm Stadium on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. This event brought together 4,500+ students, educators, and civic partners from across Arizona for a day of hands-on civic learning.
Students participated in interactive breakout sessions, connected with community organizations through the Civics Expo, and explored ways to take meaningful civic action in their schools and communities.
