About Fernande Raine

Participatory Civics Education

Fernande Raine champions participatory civics as essential for student thriving, arguing that traditional lecturing fails to engage teens.[5][17] She promotes the "Power of Participation," where students complete 18 key learning journeys by age 18 ("18 by 18" framework) to build civic readiness and purpose.[1][8][16] This approach strengthens democracy by involving youth in co-creating curricula, as seen in the Civics Education Ecosystem.[2][3][9][10]

Fostering Belonging in Schools

Belonging is central to Raine's vision for education, particularly for middle-schoolers facing disconnection.[7][12][13] Schools must actively build this through tools for teachers, linking it to attendance and engagement: students with strong belonging want to be in school.[13] She connects belonging to broader civic health, tying it to patriotism and institutional trust.[5][12]

Patriotic Education and Democracy

Raine redefines patriotism as experiential, not lecture-based, to restore teen trust in institutions without ignoring America's troubled past.[5][15][18][23] She draws on German acronym BILDUNG for holistic civic formation and warns of democratic backsliding, using her Russia experience where imperialism resisted change.[2][4][6] Public leadership and civic readiness solve school engagement problems.[17]

History's Role in Civic Empowerment

History motivates participation and personal growth, countering youth disillusionment.[4][11][14] Raine celebrates the Declaration of Independence's spirit and Hamilton's cultural impact to make history "good for you."[11][14] Experiential civics leverages history's lessons for human thriving.[15][22]

Systems-Change and Entrepreneurship

As founder of History Co:Lab, Raine drives systems-change for better history and civics education.[2][9][15] She collaborates across ecosystems, breaking generational barriers and promoting teen freedom.[19][20][21] Her work includes teen-centered civics books and podcasts on crises like AI and democracy.[1][8][22]