please make this clear to me

[ada1]

1. Is it correct to say:
...........in order to help their colleagues raise their pupils' awareness of what it means to be a global citizen.

with "it" or without "it"?

2. American citizenship has been (or was) a dream that came true in December 2006 when .....

Thank you!

[Casiopea]

1a. ... in order to help their colleagues raise their pupils' awareness of what it means to be a global citizen.
1b. ... in order to help their colleagues raise their pupils' awareness of what being a global citizen means.


2a. American citizenship has been a dream that came true in December 2006 when ...
2b. American citizenship was a dream that came true in December 2006 when ...
2c. American citizenship had long been a dream that came true in December 2006 when ...