shear civics exchange featured on NJ spotlight

On July 1, 2026, NJ Spotlight News, a state-wide, independent New Jersey news source, featured the Civics Exchange in the lead-up to the July 4^th holiday.

New anchor Briana Vannozzi welcomed Professor of History at Rutgers University and SHEAR 2026-27 President Andrew Shankman to address the importance of understanding America’s founding at its 250^th anniversary. Shankman discussed the role of the Civics Exchange in promoting public conversations on the founding ideals and our nation today. The Exchange is an effort of the Society of Historians of the Early American Republic to connect historians with the public. Civics Exchange educators, who are scholars with expertise in American history between 1776 and 1861, are available to discuss topics such as: the founding principles that shaped our Constitution, how the Constitution and its interpretation changed over time, and ways in which our governmental institutions evolved to serve the American people. Shankman highlighted historical contingency—the idea that the future is unwritten. While our political system is characterized by cynicism and polarization in this moment, public engagement encourages our citizenry to evaluate political options critically and thoughtfully in the hope of forming a future that reflects the founding ideals.

View the feature here. If you are interested in inviting a scholar to your public program, contact the Civics Exchange Director at civics@shear.org.