iCivics founder Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced that she is stepping back from public life because of her diagnosis of dementia. Her message to the public called for a national movement to re-invigorate civic education and civic engagement in our country. In her public letter, she states: 

I can no longer help lead this cause, due to my physical condition. It is time for new leaders to make civic learning and civic engagement a reality for all. It is my great hope that our nation will commit to educating our youth about civics, and to help young people understand their crucial role as informed, active citizens in our nation.

On October 23rd her son Jay O’Connor took to Fox News to talk about why his mother created iCivics:

View the interview here

Please watch this video on Justice O’Connor’s ambitious vision to ensure every child in America receives a quality civic education: 

Besides being our founder, Justice O’Connor is a true civic champion and an inspiration to many. We are thankful for her vision. iCivics is fully committed to continuing the great work she started a decade ago. We pledge to ensure that her mission drives our decisions to empower teachers as they inspire students to see themselves as an important part of a healthy democracy. You can join the movement to make civic education a priority by taking the CivXNow pledge and share your voice using the hashtag #CivXNow on social media.

Find the full press release on Justice O’Connor’s statement here. Read Justice O’Connor’s full public address here. We encourage you to share your thoughts and stories about Justice O’Connor’s impact on social media using the hashtag #OConnorLegacy.