This month, a group of WashU students took an Engage STL trip to Ferguson, Missouri, and learned about the community through the honoring of the life of Michael Brown Jr. 2024 marks the 10th year since Michael Brown Sr. buried his 18-year-old son, after Michael Brown Jr. was shot and killed by a Ferguson police […]
Author: Scott Allen
Gephardt, WashU go big on voter engagement throughout 2024
The 2024 General Election is almost here, and as the nation focuses on the issues, the candidates, and the politics, the Gephardt Institute has also spent thousands of staff hours encouraging civic engagement, helping students get ready to vote, and preparing to host campus polling places. When November ends, the Gephardt Institute will have hosted […]
Gephardt connects with students as institute launches 2024-2025 year
In addition to several major events that made for a memorable start to the Fall 2024 Semester, the Gephardt Institute made a big effort to connect with students and let them know their opportunities for involvement at WashU. Clockwise from upper left, Community Engagement Manager Sarah Nash talks with a student about Gephardt’s fall programming […]
Visiting Civic Fellow Isikoff draws student crowds, sparks civic engagement
It was my experience at Washington University that really gave me my appreciation for the democratic process.” Michael Isikoff AB ’74 This month, the Gephardt Institute hosted investigative journalist Michael Isikoff AB ’74, a WashU alumnus and Visiting Civic Fellow. An award-winning journalist and bestselling author who worked as an investigative reporter for The Washington […]
‘Ready, Set, Vote’ effort nets more than 200 new voter registrations
Staff and faculty joined the Gephardt Institute in running “Ready, Set, Vote,” a university-wide event spotlighting National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, Sept. 17, to encourage voting and spread the word on voter registration deadlines and requirements. National Voter Registration Day is an annual holiday to remind eligible voters to register, check local voting requirements, and […]
Three classes of Civic Scholars gather to celebrate, advise, build community
The Gephardt Institute celebrated three classes of Civic Scholars last month during the annual “All Civic Celebration” event. Held on Sunday, April 21 in Umrath Lounge, the annual program brings together graduating seniors, juniors who are about to begin their Civic Summers, and sophomores who are new to the Civic Scholars Program to celebrate their […]
Student artists selected for inaugural Atkin Residency in the Art of Democracy
Two rising seniors earned the distinction of being named the first recipients of the new Atkin Residency in the Art of Democracy. Madison Brown ’25 and Atalya Magdalena ’25 were selected through a competitive application process to be the inaugural Atkin Residents. The yearlong Atkin Residency in the Art of Democracy provides a platform […]
Yelamali brings healing through the arts program to Children’s Hospital
During the COVID pandemic, Aditya Yelamali ’24 was worried that patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital lacked interaction and stimuli that could help them heal. Yelamali, a 2023 Fandos Fellow in the St. Louis Fellows program, created Hearts for Arts as a patient-driven solution that would transcend the pandemic. “We coordinated with Melody Deweese, a […]
Spring trainings equip St. Louis Fellows with community-engaged best practices
The 2024 St. Louis Fellows have completed their spring training, immersive and experiential symposia that help equip them with the community engagement tools and knowledge to contribute to change efforts in the region this summer. With the program expanding to a record 40 Fellows this year, Community Engagement Manager Sarah Nash was grateful that the […]
Institute announces new classes of Civic Scholars, St. Louis Fellows
A record number of WashU students committed to leading change now and throughout their lives by joining the Gephardt Institute’s Civic Scholars and St. Louis Fellows programs. The announcement of the new cohorts of civic leadership programs follows a recruitment cycle that began last fall and saw more applications than ever before. “We’re particularly excited […]
Gephardt, university partners host WashU’s first Municipal Election polling place
The Gephardt Institute hosted WashU’s first-ever Municipal Election polling place this month, advancing the institute’s commitment to drive voter participation in every election. With support from a growing number of university partners and voter engagement efforts from the WashU Votes student group, Missouri’s Municipal Elections were held on Tuesday, April 2, and WashU was able […]
Five honored with Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Awards
In an inspiring show of support and love, family, friends, collaborators, and fans turned out in droves to celebrate the commitment to service of five WashU community members. Andrew de las Alas ’25, Sneha Chaturvedi ‘19 (MD/PhD candidate), Bella Gomez ’26, Adjunct Instructor Dr. Dwayne T. James, and Dr. Professor Susan Stiritz PhD, MSW, MBA, […]
Philanthropy Lab students grant more than $68,000 to St. Louis nonprofits
Students in Philanthropy Lab, a WashU Sociology course supported by the Gephardt Institute and The Philanthropy Lab national organization, granted $68,000 to nonprofits in the St. Louis region during an event held at Stix House last week. WashU Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and Lisa Weingarth, Senior Advisor for St. Louis Initiatives, joined the Philanthropy Lab […]
Watch: Elliot H. Stein Lecture in Ethics with Dr. Richard Haass
On April 1, 2024, as part of our Engage Democracy 2024 Series, the Gephardt Institute hosted Dr. Richard Haass — veteran foreign diplomat and author of “The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens” — for an Elliot H. Stein Lecture in Ethics. About Dr. Haass: Dr. Richard Haass, a veteran diplomat and […]
Notables: Da’Juantay Wynter; Spectrum Awards
Gephardt-involved WashU students and alumni — including Student Engagement Specialist Sophie Devincenti, Donovan Dixson ’24, Sophie Lin ’26, Aspen Schisler ‘26, Charlie Shaw ’24, Laken Sylvander ‘17, Pat Wang ’24, and Da’Juantay Wynter ‘26 — were honored recently for their civic engagement efforts and community contributions. Da’Juantay Wynter ‘26, a Mosbacher St. Louis Fellow, was […]
Philanthropy Lab students learn the ropes of supporting and vetting organizations
Donating to causes can be simple, but responsible philanthropy — especially when the goal is community improvement — requires building partnerships, vetting organizations, and an analytical eye. It’s a lesson that Professor Barbara Levin works to instill in students through Philanthropy Lab, a Department of Sociology course that she teaches each spring. The class, which partners with […]
Voting activist Brown urges citizen engagement in WashU Votes event
Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown spoke at WashU this month at an event co-hosted by WashU Votes, the Association of Black Students and the Social Programming Board. “Empowering Black and Brown Voters: Fireside Chat with Black Voters Matter Co-Founder LaTosha Brown” was held in Holmes Lounge on Wednesday evening, March 8. Her talk was […]
Updated “In the Lou” features students, alumni, and new interactive content
As part of the Gephardt Institute’s efforts to acclimate WashU students to St. Louis and encourage them to engage in the community, the institute’s “In the Lou” guide is updated for 2024 to feature more neighborhoods and include more tools to help WashU students engage in the region. “In the Lou” resources help WashU students learn […]
Institute awards over $30,000 to fund students’ STL community projects
The Gephardt Institute is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the Transform Grant, the largest award in the Institute’s newly launched St. Louis Impact Fund. In the 2023-2024 cycle, the Institute will award over $30,000 to five projects co-designed by Washington University students and community organizations aimed at advancing regional priorities. “The Transform Grant […]
Tori Harwell ‘24 named a Rhodes Scholar
For Victoria “Tori” Harwell ’24, a 2022 St. Louis Fellow, their stellar success invokes not only celebration, but also reflection on the monumental hurdles their ancestors faced to create opportunities for their descendants. On Saturday, Nov. 11, at an announcement event in Washington, D.C., Harwell learned that they were one of just 32 students in […]
Pearson reflects on Gephardt Institute’s impact
By Le’Aysha Pearson AB ’19A 2018 Civic Scholar, Le’Aysha contributed the following reflection about her experience with the Gephardt Institute, and how her civic journey that started here continues to shape her path. My journey began with the Gephardt Institute’s Civic Scholars Program and a passion for civic engagement, and has led me to the fulfilling civic […]
Notables: Luka Cai ’20
News from Gephardt Institute alumni Luka Cai ’20 was recognized for their work in co-founding SQSH, the St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline, by STLMade, a magazine that highlights the community and culture that make St. Louis a great place to live and work. Luka was a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar with the Gephardt Institute while at WashU, and […]
Fellows build community while becoming champions for St. Louis
The 2023 St. Louis Fellows shared their experiences and learning from their summer internships with local nonprofit and government organizations. It was part of Civic Action Week held this month. Community partners, family, friends, supporters, and the WashU community were invited to the first St. Louis Fellows Showcase, held on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Stix […]
Photos: Students connect with civic-focused groups at Civic Engagement Fair
On Friday, Sept. 13, the Gephardt Institute hosted it’s annual Civic Engagement Fair, in which nearly 50 WashU students groups and community organizations that promote community service and civic engagement sought members and helped students find a civic interest. A beautiful afternoon for the fair, students also enjoyed ice cream and the music of On […]
“The Longest Table” hosts 150 students for dinner and civic dialogue
In its inaugural event for WashU, The Longest Table was a hit as students gathered en masse to share a meal and talk with each other about their civic interests and visions for their communities. “We talked about how to improve society in terms of general hopes, and I guess fears about what’s going on, […]
Tishaura O. Jones shares journey to STL mayor’s office in special Civic Café
As a special part of the Gephardt Institute’s Civic Café event series, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones spoke to a crowd of more than 100 WashU students on Tuesday about the journey that inspired and led to her political career. “I wake up every day excited to go to City Hall, because I get […]
Artists, curators reflect on “The Little Things” in new video
St. Louis Fellows’ first days on the job
The 2023 St. Louis Fellows—the largest group ever, with 33 students representing the WashU Classes of 2024, 2025 and 2026—began their summer internships with 29 organizations in the St. Louis region at the beginning of June. Their internships involve analyzing data about marginalized populations, meeting with local officials about legislation, working with patients with Alzheimer’s and […]
Fond farewells for 2023 graduates
On Monday, May 15, the Gephardt Institute joined the Washington University community in congratulating the Class of 2023 on their hard work—much of it under the trials of the COVID pandemic—and their collective commitment to the betterment of our world.
Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Tsay ’07
Civic and community engagement can spark a passion in students that they carry throughout their careers. We caught up with one such alumni, Kevin Tsay, who graduated from WashU in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies and Organization & Human Resources and now calls Seattle home. Tsay currently serves as a […]
Nash well suited for Gephardt community engagement role
In what might be a perfect match between a job description and an employee, Sarah Nash is the Gephardt Institute’s Community Engagement Manager. Since joining the Gephardt Institute in July 2022, Nash leads program strategy and implementation to foster mutually beneficial community engagement between WashU students and community partners in the St. Louis region. Nash […]
Comeaux’s commitment to St. Louis service highlighted in Class Acts
As one of 12 WashU graduates featured in the university’s annual Class Acts piece in The Source, St. Louis Fellow alumni Blake Comeaux reflected on his experiences over his last four years. In addition to his experiences as an Ervin Scholar and varsity athlete, Comeaux credits the Gephardt Institute with making his undergraduate experience even […]
Institute celebrates 2023 graduates and wraps up school year
On Monday, May 1, students gathered with Gephardt Institute staff on the Stix House patio for our Year-End Celebration, which brought together the whole Gephardt community of changemakers. The celebration recognized all students who have participated in Gephardt Institute programming over the course of their time at WashU, and honored our 2023 graduates. Whether they […]
Students grant $40,000 to local nonprofit organizations
A WashU sociology course supported by the Gephardt Institute presented $40,000 in funding to four local nonprofit organizations to bolster their work in the St. Louis community. Philanthropy Lab, a course in Arts & Sciences’ Department of Sociology taught by Barbara Levin and David Rigby, gives students a theoretical and practical understanding of philanthropy today. […]
Civic Scholars celebrate end of school year, next stops on civic journeys
The All Civic Celebration is a unique event that brings together all current students in the Civic Scholars Program—newly selected sophomores, juniors and seniors—to facilitate relationships and celebrate major milestones in the Civic Scholar experience. This year’s event took place on Sunday, April 30, in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. “It has been such an […]
Ethic of Service Award celebrates 20 years of honorees
The Gephardt Institute hosts the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Awards each year. Here, our 2023 honorees were honored on April 25, 2023, at Washington University’s Stix House. Click on the icons to view more photos and honoree bios. Photos by Sid Hastings/WUSTL Photos “The Ethic of Service Award recognizes those in the […]
Spencer Chrein ’23 earns spot on ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) announced on Wednesday this week that 175 college students were selected for the second annual Student Voting Honor Roll. Spencer Chrein ’23, who co-chaired WashU Votes in the 2021-2022 academic year, was recognized for his nonpartisan democratic engagement work as an awardee. ALL IN’s Student Voting Honor Roll recognizes college students at participating campuses […]
Gephardt-involved students recognized for their Excellence in Leadership
The WashU student voting organization and two members of the Gephardt Institute’s Civic Leadership Programs were recognized for their leadership efforts last weekend. On Sunday, April 23, Washington University’s Campus Life department held its annual Excellence in Leadership Awards ceremony, to celebrate and honor the outstanding achievements of WashU students and the support of their […]
Ellis ensures smooth operations in Gephardt Institute staff role
Ensuring smooth day-to-day activity at Stix House and events that go off without a hitch, Danielle Ellis’s role as operations manager is integral to the Gephardt Institute. She joined the team in July 2022 and leads the institute’s business operations, building operations, and events. Ellis is a St. Louis native, whose parents moved to the […]
Finding and building community at Stix House
Every Tuesday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. students come to Stix House for Civic Café. Each event features a community or campus expert who shares their knowledge on a civic topic, thoughtful and inclusive dialogue on the topic, and a meal from a local restaurant. Since its launch in October 2022, Civic Café has become […]
Finding community at the intersection of art and mindfulness
By Sophie Devincenti, Student Engagement Specialistsdevincenti@wustl.edu Take a second to feel where you are. Sitting, standing, walking. What are the sensations you are taking in? (At WashU’s campus in spring, it feels like buzzing lawn mowers, tilled mulch, the haze of pollen, and students picnicking or huddled over laptops on Mudd Field.) What do you […]
Cultivating the next generation of civic leaders
More students than ever have committed their time, their energy, and their minds to civic change by joining the Gephardt Institute’s civic leadership programs. The new cohorts of Civic Scholars and St. Louis Fellowship programs were selected after a rigorous recruitment and selection cycle, which included an application process that urged students to meaningfully […]
Sociology course illuminates path to meaningful philanthropy
Earlier this month, students in Philanthropy Lab—a course supported by the Gephardt Institute—heard from a panel on how to appropriately vet organizations and fund initiatives to better impact the root issues of community needs. Philanthropy Lab, a course in Arts & Sciences’ Department of Sociology, gives students a theoretical and practical understanding of philanthropy today. […]
“The Little Things” to debut this month
How do civic and community issues inform and influence art—and how does art inform how we respond to the issues facing our communities? Explore how art informs and spotlights the role of personal action and community impact at The Little Things Art Exhibition. It’s the first-ever student-art exhibit for the Gephardt Institute for Civic and […]
Civic Journey: From St. Louis Fellow to Gephardt engagement specialist
One St. Louis Fellow’s journey brought her even closer to the Gephardt Institute last year. Since last June , Sophie Devincenti has served as Gephardt’s Student Engagement Specialist. Hailing from Mill Valley, Calif., Sophie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from WashU in the Class of 2022, majoring in Educational Studies and Studio Art and […]
Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award Spotlight: Shirley Brown
As we prepare to celebrate our 2023 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award honorees and the 20th anniversary of the awards, we take a moment to reflect on one of the exemplary individuals who embodies the core principles of this special university honor. In 2008, Shirley Brown was recognized for her remarkable contributions […]
Graduate Impact Forum: The effects of climate change on mental health
On Monday, Jan. 30, the Graduate Impact Forum welcomed Chris Weatherly, a Ph.D. Candidate in Social Work at the Brown School. Weatherly’s research focuses on the intersection of mental health and climate change, building on his work with farmers, victims of natural disasters, and livestock and wildlife veterinarians. Joined by more than 30 WashU graduate […]
“Pitch Panels” help Civic Scholars sharpen proposals for Civic Summer Projects
Civic Scholars in the junior cohort presented their proposed Civic Summer projects to panelists in February. This summer, the 18 Civic Scholars in the junior cohort will each receive a $6,000 stipend in lieu of summer earnings to implement the Civic Summer plans they have been developing throughout the academic year. The goal of the […]
STL County prosecutor talks equity in justice system at Civic Café
The Gephardt Institute welcomed Wesley Bell, prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, to its Jan. 31 Civic Café. A weekly event, Civic Café hosts guest speakers from WashU and the St. Louis region with students for salon-style conversations on civic topics and civic skillbuilding. Elected in 2018, Wesley Bell became the first African American to […]
Civic Scholar Mariah Davis ’24: Work with Gephardt Institute has “lit a fire in me”
Mariah Davis ’24, a Kleinhandler Civic Scholar, reflects on her civic journey during her time working with the Gephardt Institute. The following essay by Davis exemplifies the Gephardt Institute’s goal of empowering and challenging students to meet the issues facing our society with passion, care and, above all, hope for the future. The American experiment […]