Democracy Project
of Transylvania, Inc.
Transylvania County established 1861. 2-story frame courthouse completed 1866. Existing brick structure completed 1881. Notably, it was the first brick building in Brevard, which demonstrated the county’s growth.
The Democracy Project of Transylvania brings students and community members together around a simple idea: democracy works best when people learn to listen to each other and find their own voice within it.
We exist to support civics education in Transylvania County's middle schools, working alongside teachers rather than in place of them. DPT connects classroom curriculum to real life by bringing community volunteers into 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms to share their own stories of civic engagement. We also provide direct funding that teacher teams can put toward civic education in their own classrooms, extending the impact of the program well beyond the speaker visits themselves.
After hearing from speakers, students create projects, from artwork to writing to performance, that explore how they can make their own voices heard as citizens. A panel of community judges reviews the projects, and the year builds toward Awards Night, when students, families, teachers, and community members gather to view every project on display, celebrate the winners, and share a meal together.
Democracy Project of Transylvania (DPT) is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We believe a healthy democracy depends on hearing from a genuinely diverse range of voices, and our volunteers, speakers, and participating students reflect the full range of political views found in our community. We do not promote any political party, candidate, or position. Our goal is simply to help students see themselves as capable, engaged participants in civic life.
images above courtesy of previous Democracy Project Students