The Class of 2025 Civic Scholars congregated at Holmes Lounge on Monday, Oct. 21 to present on their Civic Summers at the annual Civic Scholars Share Out, before their advisors, mentors, community partners, family, and friends. Dewitt Campbell, Manager of Civic Learning Initiatives at the Gephardt Institute, kicked off the ceremony by welcoming attendees. “I’m […]
Author: Marley Wiemers
‘We Live Here’ hosts share Ferguson storytelling experience at Civic Café
As part of the Gephardt Institute’s Civic Café weekly dinner and dialogue series, St. Louis Public Radio reporter Chad Davis and producer Danny Wicentowski spoke to a crowd of students on Oct. 1 about their experience in making the podcast “We Live Here: 10 Years After the Ferguson Uprising.” The podcast, hosted by Davis and […]
WashU Votes co-chairs earn award, $5K grant for engagement efforts
Last month, WashU Votes leaders Amelia Letson ‘25 and Hannah Pignataro ‘26 received a $5,000 grant in honor of their campus leadership. The grant came from the Student Union Leadership Award, which WashU Student Union gives annually in recognition and support of outstanding student leaders. Throughout their leadership, they have demonstrated creative problem solving and […]
WashU course awards more than $68K to St. Louis nonprofits
Students in WashU’s Philanthropy Lab course awarded $68,700 to 14 nonprofit organizations across the St. Louis region this spring, including $10,000 to Great Rivers Environmental Law Center that ultimately grew to $35,000 for the organization. Offered in partnership with the Gephardt Institute, Philanthropy Lab is a sociology course designed to give students a theoretical and […]
STL Impact Fund projects near completion as institute looks to 2nd year
Last fall, the Gephardt Institute launched the St. Louis Impact Fund, which offers four different grant opportunities to students seeking funding and support for partnership-based projects critical to community needs. The Transform Grant, the largest of these opportunities, is designed to support robust partnerships between Washington University students and local non-profit or civic organizations, by […]
The Longest Table sees more than 200 students for dialogue and dinner
On Thursday, Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m., 210 students gathered on Brookings Quad, ready to enjoy thought-provoking conversation with those around them and delicious food from The Vine Mediterranean Café at Washington University’s second annual Longest Table. “Dialogue events like this one feel particularly important during an election year, because of how it serves as […]
Neighborhood immersions and retreat bond Fellows with St. Louis, each other
When a WashU student becomes a St. Louis Fellow, they make a commitment to serve St. Louis effectively and responsibly, immersing themselves in the community and finding ways to contribute to positive progress in the region. As part of this commitment, St. Louis Fellows participate in Engage STL Days, during which they visit local neighborhoods […]
‘My job is to give back’: Campbell joins Gephardt staff
Dewitt Campbell was raised in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, mere blocks away from the Washington University campus. He fondly recalls frolicking across the campus as a kid—using his bike to jump stairs—and notes that WashU has always been part of his life. Now, Campbell serves as the Manager of Civic Learning Initiatives at the Gephardt […]
Gephardt fall calendar packed with opportunities to engage and learn
The Gephardt Institute has a robust calendar of events and programming this fall to get students engaged. These events help students learn how they can develop their civic skills, engage with the St. Louis community, and find ways to bring their civic passions and ideas to life. The institute’s programming brings people together and provides […]
Big turnout for Missouri Primary at WashU’s on-campus polling place
Though students had yet to return to campus, WashU’s on-campus polling place saw nearly double the voter turnout in the Missouri Primary Election this month, compared to April’s Municipal Election. Though the two elections are very different in scope, races and initiatives, the steady turnout at the WashU polling place, hosted by the Gephardt Institute […]
Institute brings community engagement best practices to CLDE conference
In early June, a trio of Gephardt Institute staff traveled to Detroit, Michigan to attend the national Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Conference and present on the institute’s best practices. The annual conference is hosted by NASPA: Student Affairs Adminisrators in Higher Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. It convenes a diverse range […]
New Civic Action Lab course aims to boost voter engagement
This fall, the Gephardt Institute will offer a new democracy course to students. The course—Civic Action Lab: Strategies for Engagement in U.S. Elections—is the latest addition to the institute’s Applied Civic Courses and is listed in American Culture Studies. “Particularly in this major election year, it is vital for students to understand their many outlets […]
Civic Scholar devotes summer to KIND-ness for immigrant children
After moving away as a child, Nicole Lukens ‘25 never expected to return to Houston. But now Lukens, one of 17 students in the Civic Scholars Class of 2025, has found herself back in her childhood hometown for her Civic Summer. The Civic Summer is a key part of the Civic Scholars Program during […]
Philanthropy Lab students successfully champion $50K for local nonprofit
This spring, WashU Philanthropy Lab students granted a total of $68,000 to nine St. Louis community nonprofit organizations, including $10,000 to A Red Circle. The strength of the organization—along with the advocacy work led by one student in the class, St. Louis Fellow Mason Shaver—resulted earlier this month in the nonprofit being granted an additional […]