Civic Action Week Proposals

What issues matter most to you and how can we organize around them to enact social change? What kinds of events can connect students to the broader civic landscape? If you have an idea, we want to hear about it! Student proposals are eligible to receive funding up to $500 to help execute their event.

See below for details on how to apply today.

Qualities of Successful Proposals

Encourage Civic Action

civ·ic ac·tion (noun) – the capacity of human communities and groups to act cooperatively and collectively on common problems across their differences of view (definition from Open Democracy)

Demonstrate alignment with the Gephardt Institute’s values (Inquiry, Empathy, Collaboration, Integrity, Equity, and Action) and mission to foster a vibrant culture of civic engagement throughout Washington University by catalyzing student learning, participation, and impact in civic life.

Guidelines

Event must occur on the campus or nearby
Event must engage an audience of 10-50+ (students, staff, faculty, alumni, and/or community members)
Event must be nonpartisan. They can pertain to politics but should focus on education, rather than advocating for a specific stance.
Event must be supported by designated event planners. While individuals may apply, we encourage students to work together in the spirit of collective action as well as for logistical support, sustainability, and feasibility.
Most proposals will be funded up to $500. Please consider seeking out additional funding to support your proposal, such as from Student Union or campus departments, if your costs are expected to be over $500.

We Cannot Fund

High-cost, big-ticket items (E.g. speakers)
Speakers who are currently elected officials or candidates for an elected position
Large group transportation

Examples of Past Civic Action Week Events

Voter education and spray paint poster making workshop
Panel discussions on voting rights restoration
Pop up interactive display on accessibility on campus
Metro ride demonstration with urban design focused student group

Proposal Submission Form

Civic Action Week Proposal

Full name

Preferred first name

Pronouns

Email address

Mobile Phone

School

Department, Student Group, or Affiliation

Major/Program

Graduation Year

Please describe your Civic Action Week proposal

Consider: How does your proposal connect to the mission and values of the Gephardt Institute? Please provide details to help reviewers understand your vision and goals.

Your proposal should be considered the starting point of an online event description if the proposal is accepted. Please draft the proposal accordingly.

You may view examples of previous Civic Action Week events here, here, and here.

Civic Action Week proposal description:

0 of 250 max words

Civic Action Week invites participants to consider different ways to take action on issues they care about. What action do you hope participants will take after attending the proposed event?

Please list your event’s Student Learning Outcomes (one per field).

A student learning outcome is intellectual, analytical, and/or practical knowledge that you hope participants will walk away from your event with. For example, “students will know the process for submitting a public comment to a federal agency.”

Student Learning Outcome #1

Student Learning Outcome #2

Student Learning Outcome #3

Please list the community(ies) that will be impacted by this event/work.

What supplies or resources do you anticipate needing to successfully carry out your event?

Those who submit an event will primarily be responsible for its planning and execution of the event. This typically takes several hours per week. By checking this box, you acknowledge this time commitment.

I acknowledge the time required to put on a Civic Action Week event.

Please provide the name and contact of each individual who is on your planning team. All planning team members must commit to check-in meetings, execution of the project, and staffing the event.

Name of Planning Team Member #1

Email for Planning Team Member #1

Phone for Planning Team Member #1

Name of Planning Team Member #2

Email for Planning Team Member #2

Phone for Planning Team Member #2

Do you have any documents/images/etc. to include?

Maximum file size: 51.2MB

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