Citizenship in Society

Feb 11, 2022

Key Information: BSA merit badges give Scouts opportunities to learn more about the world we live in and are earned through completing a series of guided activities and tasks. The new Citizenship in Society merit badge encourages Scouts to explore information on diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical leadership, and learn why these qualities are important in society and in Scouting.

  • Scouts will conduct research, explore resources on their own, have conversations with merit badge counselors, peers, parents and community members and identify actions they can take to ensure inclusivity and to act as upstanders.
  • The Citizenship in Society merit badge aligns with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, which collectively encourages Scouts to respect the beliefs of others, to be kind, courteous, and to help other people at all times.
  • The Citizenship in Society merit badge builds upon existing merit badges, including the American Cultures, Citizenship in the Community, Disability Awareness and American Heritage merit badges, which require Scouts to learn and grow their understanding of diverse perspectives and spur positive action.
  • The merit badge was developed carefully and thoughtfully by BSA’s Office of Diversity and Youth Development Office, with input from a dedicated group of Scouting volunteers, BSA youth and professional staff, and pairs Scouts with a merit badge counselor who will help facilitate discussion with the Scout as they seek to further understand the diverse world we live in.
  • Starting July 1, 2022, the merit badge will be required for any youth seeking to achieve the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.  Scouts who complete ALL of their requirements for Eagle, including their Eagle Scout project, AND have all of their paperwork submitted and verified on or before June 30, 2022 may earn the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge but are not required to do so.  Any Scout completing Eagle requirements on or after July 1, 2022, will be required to complete the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge.
  • This new merit badge is designed to help Scouts learn about the diverse, unique identities and characteristics we each possess, understand different perspectives and experiences, and learn how to encourage an inclusive and welcoming culture in Scouting and in society.
  • The new Citizenship in Society merit badge is an important initiative within the Boy Scouts of America’s larger commitment to develop a culture where every youth, volunteer, and employee feels a sense of belonging and to build communities where every person feels respected and valued.
  • For more information on the Citizenship in Society merit badge and BSA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, you can visit scouting.org/dei.

Council Required DEIB Training for Citizenship in Society MB Counselors and to become a Diversity Advisor for your unit  – Sunday, April 16, 2023 1-5pm  at Beth El Jewish Center, 1981 Homecrest Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11229.  

Register Now

Citizenship in Society MB at Whitney Musuem Puerto Rican Exhibit Poshuracán Sunday, March 19th, 1pm-4pm, 2023

 Please join us in our council-wide Citizenship in Society Merit Badge event.  GNYC Diversity Chair and Board Member, Antonio del Rosario will be leading this event along with other counselors from the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council Committee. 

Info and Registration

Earn the Eagle Required Citizenship in Society Merit Badge, by attending this event and completing the prerequisites Sunday, March 19, 2023 1pm-4pm at Whitney Musuem Puerto Rican Exhibit Poshuracán, at 99 Gansevoort Street in Downtown Manhattan. This is a free event for 18 and under, and Adults are $25, but you must book your timed tickets first at https://whitney.org/exhibitions/no-existe

Please be prompt as no latecomers will be eligible to complete their MB.  Please wear your Class A uniform.  You will be dismissed by 4pm.  Space is limited and registration will close by March 12th.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must be approved by your Scoutmaster to take this merit badge, FIRST CLASS RANK and you must have completed at least one Eagle-required merit badge prior to this event.  Bring your blue card and meet us on the floor where Puerto Rican Exhibit Poshuracán is located. Call Mr. del Rosario 917-680-3382 if you get lost or Or Text Mr. del Rosario in a chat with your parents or Scoutmaster included.

Please complete Requirements 6, 7, and 8 before the event.  Click here for a complete list of requirements: http://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/merit_badge_reqandres/CitizenshipSociety_ScoutReqs.pdf?_gl=1*172b4qk*_ga*MTIxNzI1MDUxMS4xNTc0NzIxODY0*_ga_20G0JHESG4*MTYzNTc2MzExNy4yODguMS4xNjM1Nzc1NjYwLjYw

The GNYC Diversity Council Committee invite you to join to our next zoom meeting, Feb 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, 2023 all Tuesdays at 8pm.

This is a good time to learn about our agenda in growing our scouting membership and volunteers, discussing what we can improve in the way of diversity and inclusion, finding solutions to make scouting more equitable,  exploring some of the issues in each of our 8 districts that impact our sense of belonging, and sharing success stories.  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB ) Council Committee is for all and we are committed to creating access to the scouting program to all our youths and volunteers in all 5 boroughs.

Testimonial from new DEIB Council Committee Member and  veteran NYLT Trainer, Judge (retired) Efrain Alvarado:

“May I encourage everyone to take the in-person Merit Badge and DEIB training offered by our council.  The 4-hour session flies by fast because of the subject matter.  Remember that IOLS training is also 4 hours, but it does not deal with the psychological safety of our youth.  It is an Eagle required badge,  but it is nothing like any merit badges we have encountered.  Yes, training in our council is required, however, I learned the training and the nature of this badge applies to or everyday lives.”

For questions, please text  (917-680-3382) or email Council Diversity Chair, Antonio del Rosario

Register in advance for the DEIB meetings

Would you like to be a merit badge counselor for Citizenship in Society Merit Badge and be part of the DEIB scouting community?

 

Please follow the below steps:

    • Attend an in-person DEIB in Scouting course. Courses are held quarterly by the Greater New York Councils’ DEIB Committee..
  • All merit badge counselors need to complete an adult leader application and a merit badge counselor application before they can be registered.  Individuals already registered in the district as a merit badge counselor must complete a merit badge counselor application,
  • Merit badge counselor applications are submitted to the district advancement chair for review and approval prior to being entered into ScoutBook. 

  • Once the applications are completed and approved please send to SupportDesk@NYCScouting.org

 

Please read through the merit badge counselor guidelines and the merit badge requirements before committing to be a counselor for this new merit badge. Links to both documents can be found below.

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Fact Sheet- http://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/diversity_equity_and_inclusion/Citizenship-in-Society-Merit-Badge-Fact-Sheet.pdf 

The Boy Scouts of America Introduces New Citizenship in Society Merit Badge

Merit badge will be available to youth in Scouts BSA program beginning November 1

Irving, TX – November 1, 2021— Today, The Boy Scouts of America (BSA), one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, announced the launch of the Citizenship in Society merit badge, its newest merit badge for youth in the Scouts BSA program (ages 11-17). The new merit badge encourages Scouts to explore important topics around diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership and learn why these qualities are important in society and in Scouting. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Citizenship in Society merit badge will be required for any youth seeking to achieve the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.


The Boy Scouts of America introduces the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge, the newest merit badge for youth in the Scouts BSA program.

“The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law,” said Roger Mosby, president and chief executive officer of The Boy Scouts of America. “This merit badge aligns with both the Scout Oath and Scout Law, which encourage Scouts to respect the beliefs of others, to be kind and courteous, and to help other people at all times.”

The Citizenship in Society merit badge is the latest initiative as part of BSA’s ongoing commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Developed by BSA’s Office of Diversity and Youth Development Office, with input from a dedicated group of Scouting volunteers, BSA youth and professional staff, the merit badge pairs Scouts with merit badge counselors who will help guide Scouts on their journey of self-discovery and facilitate discussions as Scouts seek to further understand the diverse world we live in.

“The Citizenship in Society merit badge is an important initiative to help Scouts learn about the diverse identities we each possess, understand different perspectives and experiences, and promote good citizenship in society,” said Elizabeth Ramirez-Washka, chief diversity officer and vice president of diversity & inclusion, Boy Scouts of America.

The new merit badge complements existing merit badges, such as the American Cultures, Citizenship in the Community, Disability Awareness and American Heritage merit badges, which require Scouts to learn and grow their understanding of diverse perspectives and spur positive action.

“As part of earning the Citizenship in Society merit badge, I learned that it’s important to understand different opinions and perspectives to become a good leader so that you’re prepared to handle any situation that comes up,” said Maya, a 15-year-old Scout who participated in the pilot program. “I also enjoyed getting to discuss diversity and inclusion topics with my friends in Scouting, as it felt like a safe environment to be open and honest about these topics.”

For more information on the Citizenship in Society merit badge, please visit www.scouting.org/dei.

About the Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth programs of character development and values-based leadership training, which help young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.Scouting.org.

The Boy Scouts of America Introduces New Citizenship in Society Merit Badge​

Any of our Scouts may contact any of the MB Counselors for Citizenship in Society.

At this time there are over 20+ qualified counselors from all 5 Boroughs.

These counselors have all gone through the required in-person DEIB Council Training.

Here are their names and contact info –

View Citizenship in Society Counselor List on Google Docs

 

Like every other merit badge Scouts earn, this merit badge encourages Scouts to embark on a journey of discovery. In this case, it’s a journey of self-discovery. They will explore a variety of topics around diversity, equity and inclusion, and they will discuss how they apply their findings to life as a Scout and good citizen in society.

Though we all come from differing backgrounds, in Scouting, our goals and commitments are the same. We all take the same Scout Oath, and we all follow the same Scout Law. This merit badge aligns with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, which collectively encourage Scouts to respect the beliefs of others, be kind and courteous, and help other people at all times.

What you won’t see in the Citizenship in Society merit badge:

There is no merit badge booklet with prescribed approaches or ideologies. There are no requirements meant to drive a particular response or lead a Scout down a path toward a predetermined conclusion.

The Citizenship in Society merit badge wasn’t developed by one person. In fact, the merit badge was developed by multiple Scouting volunteers, youth, and professional staff working together. Just like every other merit badge, this one connects Scouts with a merit badge counselor who will help facilitate discussion with the Scout as they seek to further understand the topic and the world we live in.

The Boy Scouts of America has a commitment – both to developing a culture where every youth, volunteer, and employee feels a sense of belonging, and to building communities where every person feels respected and valued. The Citizenship in Society merit badge is an important initiative within that larger commitment.

We are grateful to all our volunteers who join us in partnering with families and communities to shape young people of high moral character with greater respect, empathy, and understanding of perspectives, including those different than their own. Thank you again for all you do to support Scouting. Your work is valued and appreciated.