Cardinals Host First Civics Summit Event For Students, Teachers

Program in addition to annual Civics Matters trip to Washington D.C.

Jan 20, 2026 at 01:17 PM

Zach Gershman

azcardinals.com

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill speaks at Tuesday's Civics Matter Summit at State Farm Stadium, flanked by (right) Cardinals offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum and (left) Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

Along the concourse at State Farm Stadium, there was a sign that posed a question that made many ponder.

"What's your wish for America's future?"

That's where Nate Lewis, a Thunderbird Avenue Academy junior, began to think about the magnitude of the event.

"It shows that young people can have a say and young people should get a say," Lewis said. "They are still really needed."

On Tuesday, the Cardinals held the first Civics Matters Arizona Summit event, presented by Desert Financial Credit Union and Gallagher. More than 4,500 middle school and high school students and teachers spent the day learning the impact their voice can have and real-world civic engagement.

The organization also announced the launch of an online learning hub containing modules and courses designed to help further their understanding of civics: civicsmattersaz.com.

Students had the opportunity to take part in interactive breakout rooms centered around non-partisan civic learning. Students learned about the inner workings of the system at local, state, and national levels. Throughout the stadium, there was an expo where students spoke with organizations about programs and career opportunities.

The students also heard from Rep. Juan Ciscomani, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, and the Cardinals Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient, tackle Kelvin Beachum.

The civics "wish board" at Tuesday's Summit, with students using sticky notes to record their hopes for America's future.

"I've been blessed to understand how important civics is within the locker room," Beachum told the crowd, seated in the lower bowl. "When you think about a unified locker room, you have people that come from all walks of life, people that come from rich neighborhoods, poor neighborhoods, rich schools, Title One schools, but at the end of the day, we all get to come together to fight for one common goal, which is winning."

Beachum shared stories about his childhood as he was raised on SNAP and WIC programs, which is one of the main reasons why food insecurity is where he focuses his community efforts. Congressman Ciscomani, who grew up in Tucson after immigrating from Mexico, talked with the students about understanding some of the challenges they may have faced.

The Cardinals are no stranger to working with the youth as they hope to create a platform for the future leaders of America. Each summer, the Cardinals send 275 students on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. where they get first-hand insight into their role within democracy.

But it was Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner who once told Bidwill that he has an obligation to do more to help advance civics education across the state.

"It was important to have a summit, bring all of the organizations that are doing something with civics together and to work as a team," Bidwill said. "I hope they understand that they are the future of our country. They're the future of our state of Arizona, and it's important for them to understand it's about starting to learn now so that they can become better and more engaged citizens as they grow up and start to understand how they'll engage with our community."

When people walk into State Farm Stadium for a Cardinals game, many of the young fans in attendance have that dream of becoming a Cardinals player when they grow up.

For students like Gus Medaa, their passion for sports and politics can help them reach a different arena.

"I think it's very important because we're the next generation," Medaa said. "After our parents, we're probably going to be the next politicians, lawmakers, and people in legislature. It's very important for us to know what we're saying how to convey it in a way that people can understand."