Girls Practice Democracy Through Storytelling and Art with Guidance from the Smithsonian Institute

This fall, we partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to engage youth in Democracy in Dialogue, a national curriculum that invites young people to explore democracy through lived experience—exploring their own stories, identities, and communities while learning from peers in other parts of the country.

Rather than learning about democracy from a text book, Democracy in Dialogue invites students to utilize core democratic skills in their every day lives: listening across difference, reflecting on identity and place, practicing empathy, and using their voices to understand and contribute to the broader American experience.

As part of this curriculum, our high schoolers engaged in a virtual exchange with peers participating in the program through the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA). Together, they shared personal stories, city histories, traditions, exchanged gifts from home, and reflected on how where they are from shapes their perspectives.

To put their learning into practice, students completed a “Hidden Beauty” project, exploring their neighborhoods through a camera lens, capturing meaningful places, small details, and forgotten spaces in their everyday environments. Each student then selected one photograph to analyze more deeply, creating a poem, collage, and presentation connecting their personal experience to broader community narratives. Through art and reflection, students practiced self-advocacy and storytelling as civic acts: claiming space for their experiences and affirming that their communities matter.

Student photos from their “Hidden Beauty” project

“Participating in the Smithsonian Democracy and Dialogue project with UMMA was an amazing experience,” shared Allison, a 12th-grade participant. “We connected with their students, shared ideas, and had real conversations. It was really cool to see different perspectives and how everyone finds meaning differently.”

Explore 12th grader Kelliegh’s final Hidden Beauty project and see how she brought elements of her community to life through poetry—capturing the everyday nuances, connections, and complexity of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system.

At a time when conversations about democracy feel more important than ever, experiences like this remind our girls that democracy begins with voice, connection, and participation—and that they have a role to play in shaping the future.

Thank you for making opportunities like this possible. Your support helps ensure that girls don’t just learn about leadership and civic engagement—they practice it, build confidence, and can see themselves as change-makers in their communities.

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