News
Date Change: Join us February 21
The EFC community gathering planned for January 10 has been postponed to February 21, 2026, 9 a.m. Pacific/10 a.m. Mountain/11 a.m. Central/12 noon p.m. Eastern. Please save the date! Participants will gather virtually to meet our new Executive Director Dr. Faith R. Kares (she/her), board members, and recent alums. They will introduce our vision of expanding the EFC’s impact and capacity, and how we are meeting this moment of ongoing crisis and precariousness.
Ripple Effect – Samara Smith Alum Story
Samara Smith, 2015 MS “We always say ‘young people are the future and we are going to change things’ but often when you are in high school you are not really talking about these issues in person. You might be in an online group that’s talking about them or you might see social media posts about them but talking about them in person and actually meeting people whose lives are affected — that’s different.”
Shaping Social Justice Values, an Alum Update: Deanna Mousseau
Hello, I am Deanna Mousseau from the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and Oglala Sioux Tribe. I was a part of the Encampment in Jackson, Mississippi, in 2015 and Amherst, Massachusetts, in 2016. I was an intern in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 2017. I am excited to share more about myself, why I think the Encampment for Citizenship program is important, and why now is the time to support our emerging young leaders.
An Important Update from Margot Gibney
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.”
Finding Common Ground–David Ginsberg Alum Story
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.
The 2026 Encampment Application Is Open!
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.
Braeden Brings his EFC Experience Home
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.
2025 Encampers Thank EFC Donors
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.
Week Three of the 2025 Encampment
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.
Week Two of the 2025 Encampment
The second week of the 2025 Encampment was packed with varied learning activities and field trips. The Encampers went deeper into the topic of immigration, asking the question “How did we get here?” and looking at U.S. immigration history to provide the understanding and tools to change the future. They explored key historical events and policies that have shaped immigration in the United States and identified major themes and patterns over time. They learned more about farmworkers through in-depth conversations and experiences at Pyramid Flowers and Rio Farm and journeyed to Limuw Island with representatives of the Chumash people who shared their history, relationship to the land, and ongoing cultural preservation.
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This program helped me grow a lot as a person.
… I learned to be more open-minded and obtained a different perspective on life. I have become more confident, and that’s something I really needed. I’m ready to go back to my community and be a leader. I am planning to create a club at my school that will provide career education and guidance toward reaching the level of education required.