Founded in January 2012 by Liam Haviv, the organization was inspired by his time as a page in the United States Senate. The 112th Congress, hovering just above single digit approval ratings, was notorious for its inability to compromise and pass legislation. The promise many of the Pages made to each other upon their departure was to ensure that by the time they all returned to DC, there was a new normal – a dedicated Congress informed by its members’ differences, focused on the idea that OUR country comes first. Upon leaving, Liam’s goal was to work with students across the country, to elevate the level of civic discourse, integrity, and sensitivity, and re-create a political realm in which individuals can disagree absent ill-will and animosity. Defined by the belief everyone operates with good intentions, this vision became IDEAL.

Since IDEAL's founding, partisanship, anger, and animosity have become defining features of the modern political discourse, the media, and government. Instead of advancing a singular political ideology with defined political positions, IDEAL promotes a philosophy of elevated civility, and we invest our energy in helping students define their own political world with an acute sensitivity toward others. Apathy does not seem to be the American problem; rather it seems to be a lack of understanding for those of different opinion. This is compounded by the increasing volatility of social media, a medium that seems to hinder our ability to slow down and engage critically in political issues. We believe change begins with the youngest generations, and our investment in students is the core tenet of the IDEAL model. IDEAL wants to change the way students think about politics and interact with each other – that seems to us, the first step in changing the world.

In nine years, IDEAL has grown rapidly and steadily evolved. With chapters in 14 high schools and colleges across the country, a community of thousands of students on both coasts and the states in between, IDEAL CAMPUS continues to expand alongside the blossoming media presence of CherryTree. Now, armed with a burgeoning COMMUNITY engagement program, IDEAL is here to stay. Our responsibility going forward is to learn, adapt, and improve each and every day.

IDEAL does not purport to hold any answers to today’s political problems; instead, we entrust our students and aim to provide them the tools to critically analyze and rethink the broad spectrum of practical and philosophical questions they face. Our holistic approach is the core of the IDEAL model, but it is the dedicated members nationwide, and their steadfast commitment to creating a more just democracy, that serves as the fuel powering our search for a new IDEAL.

“The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something... We need enthusiasm, imagination and the ability to face facts, even unpleasant ones, bravely.... We need the courage of the young. Yours is not the task of making your way in the world, but the task of remaking the world which you will find before you. May every one of us be granted the courage, the faith and the vision to give the best that is in us to that remaking!”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt