Our story
It started with a question.
How can young people be expected to inherit democracy if we rarely let them practice it?
In June 2022 a group of high school students started an organization around that question. The early version was small. Monthly membership meetings. A digital newsletter. A conviction that young voices belonged in public decisions and a suspicion that nobody was going to hand them the room.
What followed was not a plan so much as a series of attempts. Run a constitutional learning day and see whether students take it seriously. Build a competition and see whether schools will prepare for it. Ask a municipality to hand over a chair for a day and see who says yes.
Enough of them said yes.
Organizational history
-
2022
A high school freshman starts something
Maurits Acosta founds Virtutem Populo in June as a high school freshman, with a conviction that young people should have real access to civic education, public leadership and government.
The first Constitution Day programming runs that September, designed and staffed by students. Educational Federal Credit Union becomes the first institutional supporter.
Preparing materials before the doors open. -
2023
Competition and the microphone
The first Civic Knowledge Bowl turns civic content into something twelve schools prepare for and compete over.
The Civic Action Podcast launches, putting students across the table from the superintendent of the fourth largest school district in the country, a school board member, the president of Miami Dade College and the chief executive of The Children's Trust.
Two school teams face each other under a live scoreboard. -
2024
Inside the building
Youth Governance Day launches with thirteen participating municipalities and is officially proclaimed in Miami-Dade County. Students take the dais, the desk and the title for a day.
The Florida Student School Board Member Initiative begins its campaign for student representation on school boards statewide. The first Civic Excellence Gala brings students, funders and elected officials into one room.
A student takes the mayor's seat, nameplate and all. -
2025
A handoff and an expansion
Maurits Acosta graduates, moves to Chairman of the Board, and hands day to day leadership to Clint John, Jr., who takes over as Executive Director while still in high school.
Youth Governance Day reaches nineteen municipalities in a single year. The Strive305 Economic Fellowship launches with Strive305 and the Miami-Dade County Office of Innovation and Economic Opportunity.
The student team recognized at the Gala. -
2026
The work compounds
Civic Knowledge Bowl participation reaches twenty one schools. PUBLIC. opens a civic arts pathway. Twenty three municipalities have now hosted Youth Governance Day.
Fellows draft a Legacy Business Framework to protect long standing local businesses and present it to the Board of County Commissioners. The school board initiative moves from grassroots outreach to the state legislature.
Then and now.
Growth measured against the organization's own starting point rather than against an ambition.
Civic Knowledge Bowl
12 → 21
schools competing. A seventy five percent increase.
Youth Governance Day
13 → 23
municipalities have hosted the program. Nineteen took part this year.
The archive.
Programming photographed across county chambers, municipal offices, a college campus, a newsroom, public libraries and the county elections operation.
Youth Governance DayA student takes the mayor's seat, nameplate and all. 
Civic Knowledge BowlThe auditorium at the 2026 Finale, Miami Dade College North Campus. Constitution Day QuestA municipal chamber converted into learning stations for the day. 
Civic Excellence GalaA student delivers the annual address. Civic Knowledge BowlTwo school teams face each other under a live scoreboard. 
Youth Governance DayMunicipal staff brief a student on the department before the day begins. 
Student School Board Member InitiativeStudents launch the Florida Student School Board Member Initiative. 
Constitution Day QuestStudents work a constitutional challenge station in teams. 
Youth Governance DayA student seated at the commission dais in Aventura. 
Civic Knowledge BowlStudents fill the hall for the Finale. Civic Excellence GalaThe student team recognized at the Gala. 
Youth Governance DayA municipal recognition read into the record with the student present. 
Constitution Day QuestA student volunteer runs the room from the municipal podium. 
Civic Knowledge BowlCompetitors confer between questions. 
Youth Governance DayA student works from a municipal office desk, city planning map on the wall. 
Night of Global EngagementRemarks at the Night of Global Engagement. 
Constitution Day QuestStudents take the dais to present their group's decision. 
Civic Knowledge BowlA winning school team recognized on stage. 
Civic Excellence GalaStudents recognized for civic contribution during the year. 
Student School Board Member InitiativeMaking the case for student representation on school boards. 
Civic Knowledge BowlEvery competing school team at the 2026 preliminary rounds. 
Constitution Day QuestFounder Maurits Acosta teaches the room at the first Constitution Day Quest, the program he built to launch the organization. 
Youth Governance DayPresiding from the center chair of a council chamber. 
Civic Knowledge BowlCompetitors with their school trophy.
The next chapter
Built in Miami-Dade. Designed around a belief that travels.
Miami is the classroom. County Hall, municipal chambers, PortMiami, neighborhood businesses, public libraries, schools, newsrooms and arts spaces are where the learning happens.
The idea underneath is portable. Young people learn civic life by participating in it, and any community with institutions willing to open a door can test that.