In this episode, Kelly and Shavanna discuss the April 2023 St. Louis Municipal Elections as part of their Monday Night Live YouTube series. Some of the themes included taxes on recreational marijuana, the Ferguson mayoral race, St. Louis City’s ward reduction to 14 alderpeople, ward funding, various school board elections in the county, St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees elections, and more.
Author: Editorial Team
Episode 19: Annie Rice
In this episode, Annie joins Eric Reiter and Bethany Copeland, of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, to discuss her journey into politics, recent changes in the St. Louis aldermanic landscape, and provide guidance on navigating local government.
Episode 18: Blake Strode
In this episode, Blake joins Eric Reiter and Bethany Copeland, of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, to discuss carceral systems, localized reparations, public safety as community wellness, and how to create more equitable structural changes within the law.
Episode 17: Tony Messenger
In this episode, Tony joins Eric Reiter and Bethany Copeland, of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, to discuss conflict, complexity, how journalism is essential to democracy, and why the news in St. Louis is so relevant to the rest of the country.
Episode 16: Dr. John Inazu
In this episode, Dr. Inazu joins Eric Reiter and Bethany Copeland, of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, to discuss authentic relationship building, how law affects activism, and the value of bringing faith identities into public discourse.
Episode 15: Dr. LJ Punch
In this episode, Punch joins Eric Reiter and Bethany Copeland, to discuss bringing institutional resources into the community, bullet injuries as a public health crisis, and how medicine can be inclusive and humanizing.
Episode 14: Aaron Naparstek
In this episode, Aaron discusses car-free advocacy, the arc of change, and personal stories from turning passion into policy.
Episode 7: The Dynamics of Democracy in Higher Education
The founders of the US argued the necessity of a robust system of public education to support democracy. One of US higher education’s missions was to foster an educated populace who could engage in debate and dialogue. Over the past century, the role of higher education in the US democratic has shifted, and, recently, has become highly politicized. This episode […]
TCM Voter Series: Voting 101
There’s a lot of terminology around elections – mail-in ballots, absentee voting, midterms – that can seem inaccessible to people just beginning to vote for the first time. Here’s a short introduction to what you need to know to make sure your vote counts.
Episode 13: Jason Rosenbaum
Jason Rosenbaum joins us to discuss the ever-evolving media landscape, the impact of the Ferguson Uprising on journalism, and the lack of public awareness surrounding local and state politics.
Episode 12: Vivian Gibson
Author Vivian Gibson, joins us to discuss factors impacting the decline of the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood. Her memoir, The Last Children of Mill Creek, documents the nations largest urban renew project and its consequences on the black community through stories from her childhood in St. Louis.
Episode 11: Lane Koch
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Lane Koch. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 10: Ray Boshara
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Ray Boshara. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 9: Caroline Fan
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Caroline Fan. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 8: Mike Jones II, Ph.D.
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Mike Jones II, Ph.D. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 6: The Legacy of January 6, 2021 (Part 2)
In part two of our conversation revisiting the insurrection at the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, guests Richard Gephardt and Zach Wamp discuss the history of elections in the United States and identify potential reforms that could increase trust in the system. They offer their advice to current members of Congress on how to bridge the widening gap between Republicans and Democrats to restore faith in our democracy.
Episode 6: The Legacy of January 6, 2021 (Part 1)
Our guests, the Honorable Richard ‘Dick’ Gephardt and Zach Wamp, spent much of their careers working inside the Capitol building as members of the US House of Representatives. In this conversation, they reflect on January 6th, recounting where they were when they first heard about the attack, what the legacy of January 6th represents for our democracy, and where we as a nation go from here.
Episode 7: Dr. Ness Sandoval
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Dr. Ness Sandoval. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 6: Rep. Avery Bourne
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville), Illinois General Assembly. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Fall Break Reimagined
For many students, the fall 2021 semester marked the long-awaited return to campus and to a greater sense of normalcy since the unprecedented arrival of COVID-19. For Civic Scholars, this term provided the opportunity to resume off-campus learning experiences through the annual immersion trip. However, this year there was a slight twist: for the first time […]
Civic Scholars Staff Spotlight: Stephanie Weiskopf
We were thrilled to welcome Stephanie Weiskopf to the Civic Scholars Program team this fall as the lead instructor for the Class of 2023. At WashU, Stephanie also serves as the Associate Director for Residential Faculty Engagement. Meet, Stephanie! Stephanie, tell us a little about yourself. I am a St. Louis transplant who often makes conversation […]
Episode 5: Richard A. Gephardt
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Richard A. Gephardt, Founder of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 4: Dr. Kira Hudson Banks
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Dr. Kira Hudson Banks. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 3: Scott Faughn
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Scott Faughn, editor and founder of The Missouri Times. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 1: Evan Krauss
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Evan Krauss, Director of East Side Aligned. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
Episode 2: Rabbi Susan Talve
In this episode of This Civic Moment, our hosts welcome Rabbi Susan Talve, Central Reform Congregation. This podcast, hosted by the Engage Democracy Fellows at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, seeks answers to these questions while providing listeners with multiple angles to inquire, reflect, and discern our civic identity and calling as a community.
A Guide to Redistricting in St. Louis
This year, the City of St. Louis redistricting process includes the additional task of reducing the number of city wards from 28 to 14. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen has until December 31, 2021, to finalize the new ward map.
The following resources provide more information about redistricting, including comparisons across states, understanding who guides redistricting, common terminology associated with the process, and more.
Former Staff and Partners of the Institute Gather for Congressman Gephardt’s 80th Birthday
Nearly 200 former employees, partners, and campaign staff members affiliated with Congressman Dick Gephardt hosted a virtual reunion over the summer for a belated 80th birthday celebration for the Congressman.
Washington University in St. Louis Announced as 2021 ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Award Winner
Washington University in St. Louis received the Best Action Plan Award for Best in Class – 4-Year Private Institution at the virtual award ceremony. The award is presented to recognize WashU’s efforts to develop and implement a campus-wide voter engagement action plan to help students to improve nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation.
Episode 5: Influencing Democracy
How do we build trust among Americans who have turned their back on the truth? How can we heal the deep divisions in our country? Host Alan Lambert welcomes author, lecturer, and journalist Anne Nelson to discuss the eroding trust in our democracy through a conversation about influence and information, an exploration of the Council […]
Episode 4: Fueling our Democracy
The fate of our democracy is increasingly entwined in the systems that govern and guide our economy, culture, environment, and more. Guest Nate Hagens and host Alan Lambert discuss big questions, including: How is energy related to climate change and what does this imply about future? Why are climate and energy issues so important to […]
Episode 3: Race and Democracy
Voting rights legislation recently enacted in Georgia and elsewhere across the country, and the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, each provides critical frames to explore issues of race, power, and privilege in our democracy. This episode tackles questions related to race in our democracy surrounding these events, including: What is the legacy […]
Episode 2: What Happened to a United States?
Division, partisanship, polarization – these are all terms we consistently hear in current news headlines about the state of our citizenry and political landscape. Much of the conversation and argument about contemporary politics and social activity is about individual and collective anger and rage. But these words are often used in vague and amorphous ways. […]
Episode 1: The Presidency
Our first episode is focused on the highest office in our democracy, the presidency, and explores the transition from Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States, to the recently inaugurated 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden. Our Guests Dr. Steve Fazzari is the Bert A. and Jeanette L. Lynch Distinguished Professor of Economics, […]
St. Louis Initiative Partners with Goldman Fellows
In 2021, the Goldman Fellows Program will support its largest cohort to date. Fourteen fellows have been selected to participate in the 14th cycle of the program. The expanded capacity for the program is thanks to a successful proposal to pilot fellowships with Washington University’s St. Louis Initiative in which fellows will work with the […]
Introducing The 2021 Goldman Fellows
The Goldman Fellows Program, funded by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, is a competitive fellowship that provides $5,000 summer stipends for undergraduate students who secure unpaid internships at nonprofit, community, or governmental organizations in the St. Louis region. Fellows are supported by a network of peers and staff as they embark on their own individually-crafted […]
Student Spotlight: Russell Beckham, Goldman Fellows Program Class of 2020
A Goldman Fellow in the summer of 2020, Russell Beckham (he/him) had the opportunity to work with Beyond Housing and an Economic Development Committee in Pine Lawn while learning about St. Louis alongside a group of other fellows. As an intern for Beyond Housing, he assisted the organization’s community engagement and policy advocacy efforts, including […]
Goldman Fellow Reflection: Kimberly Bolch, Class of 2010
In the summer of 2010 I was fortunate enough to receive a Goldman Fellowship to support my internship at the regional non-profit Focus St. Louis. My experience working on their Policy and Community Engagement team was one of my first opportunities to gain professional exposure to the world of economic and social development. In my […]
Student Spotlight: Christian Baker, Goldman Fellows Program Class of 2019
Meet Class of 2019 Goldman Fellow Christian Baker, AB ’20, and learn more about his experiences in the program, his advice for future Goldman Fellows, and more in the interview below. Can you tell about your experience at WashU? What was your academic focus, and how did you make connections across the university? As a […]
Introducing Our Civic Scholars Class of 2023
Great civic leaders are not born, but made. The Civic Scholars Program gives bright young people the mentorship, experience, and know-how to do something truly significant to benefit society. Robert C. Virgil, MBA ’60, DBA ’67, Trustee Emeritus; Past Chair, Gephardt Institute National Council; Civic Scholars Program Founding Donor The Gephardt Institute is thrilled to […]
Staff Member Spotlight: Nick Zevely
Nick Zevely is the marketing and communications manager at the Gephardt Institute. Prior to joining the Gephardt Institute in November 2020, he served as the Senior Director of External Affairs at The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit organization serving military veterans. In this short interview, he shares his motivation to join the Gephardt Institute, podcast […]
Alumni Spotlight: Rachel Sumption, AB ‘16, Civic Scholar Class of 2016
“In another world, I’d be a yoga instructor and own a bed and breakfast,” Rachel Sumption, Civic Scholar Class of 2016, confessed. But in this world, Rachel does quite the opposite—she is an associate at Clifford Chance, an international law firm, taking business calls at odd hours from her apartment in London, England while juggling […]
Washington University is Designated a ‘Voter-Friendly Campus’ For a Third Straight Year
The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement successfully led efforts to register voters and helped the university community vote safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington University ranks third in the nation for number of students — 2,600 — who registered to vote and receive voting alerts via digital voting platform TurboVote.
Course Spotlight: “Just Do It! Skills That Turn Passion Into Policy”
As part of the Gephardt Institute’s commitment to civic education and our Engage Democracy initiative, the institute and the Department of Political Science collaborate to offer one credit courses that teach students to leverage the political process to achieve a policy or advocacy goal. In 2020, David Leipholtz balanced his full-time commitment as Executive Director for the Center of Civic Research and […]
“New in the Lou” Connects WashU to St. Louis, Even from Afar
The Gephardt Institute hosted a series of virtual conversations this fall designed to introduce St. Louis to new residents, and create dialogue about the region through the eyes of our local community. The conversations, titled “New in the Lou,” were created for WashU students, faculty, and staff new to the St. Louis region or with a desire […]
Democracy is a Substitute for War
When Congress reconvened in the late hours of Wednesday evening, January 6th, following the cascade of violence that swept through the halls of the Capitol earlier in the day, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer recalled the words of our founder, former Congressman Dick Gephardt, to capture the severity and magnitude of the moment: “Democracy is […]