Nov 25, 2025 | Alum Stories, News
Every day, as we see lies, cruelty, inequality, and injustice as daily practices promoted by our current administration, I find myself thinking of Alice (Nanny) Pollitzer and Al Black, and why they established the Encampment for Citizenship (EFC). Having just emerged from a world war to stop fascism, they designed a program to give young people the tools to think critically and work for justice. As Al Black wrote in The Young Citizens, “The Encampment regards youth as a critically important element in the struggle between freedom and authoritarianism.”
Nov 19, 2025 | Alum Stories, News
What did you learn at the Encampment?
I learned a lot about people from different backgrounds which was the most important thing for me…. It sensitized me to their concerns and point of view…. Having people who came from such different backgrounds try to figure out how to get along together and not hurt each other and find commonality was an important lesson I learned: how to empathize with people and find common ground.
Nov 12, 2025 | News
The 2026 Encampment application is open! Help spread the word by forwarding to your networks. This summer’s theme, Meeting the Moment: Building Solidarity, Power, and Resilience, challenges participants to connect their personal stories to broader movements for justice and imagine bold, collective solutions.
Oct 28, 2025 | Alum Stories, News
After, the Encampment, I was thinking about what I could do [to make a difference]. My connection to Ola and to my friend produced this desire for change. It’s about the representation of diversity. Even if the percentage of MENA students at my high school is small, they shouldn’t have to choose between White or Asian — they should be represented.
Sep 11, 2025 | News
As a special thank you to our donors, we asked the 2025 Encampers to reflect on their EFC experience. In this sampling, the young people express the impact of the Encampment in their own words.
Jul 30, 2025 | News
The last week of the 2025 Encampment started with two inspiring field trips. On Monday, the Encampers traveled to Los Angeles to meet with the Community Coalition in South Central LA. Tuesday found them back in Oxnard at Pyramid Flowers, for a powerful opportunity to explore the intersections of labor, immigration, and environmental justice through a unique lens: the floral industry. Encampers, staff, alums and guests came together to individually and collectively to “Name the Moment” in the 2025 InterGen Program.
