Category: Gephardt News

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 […]

Work with LGBTQ+ youth inspires “The Queer Experience” art show

By Sophie Lin ‘26 2023 WUpan Fellow St. Louis Fellowships Program This summer, I had the honor of being the inaugural WashU Pride Alumni Network Fellow through the Gephardt Institute’s St. Louis Fellows program. The St. Louis Fellowship is a 10-week summer experience in St. Louis where students receive funding to conduct unpaid internships in civic and […]

Alumni Spotlight: Tishiya “T” Carey ’21

“It’s important to continue to build on things, it’s important to understand the context. It’s important to fully understand, I think, the impact of what it is that you want to do, what it is you’re trying to do, and how you’re trying to do it.”  After graduating from WashU in 2021, Tishiya “T” Carey […]

Institute awards nine students grants to further St. Louis Impact

As part of a new initiative to provide further financial support of student community engagement in St. Louis, the Gephardt Institute awarded grants totaling more than $11,000 to nine students this month.   Partnership Extension Grants aim to help students in the institute’s Civic Leadership Programs—Civic Scholars and St. Louis Fellows—continue internships with their community partner […]

“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 […]

Students eager to learn about Gephardt at orientation events

From the Danforth campus to the School of Medicine and even the St. Louis Zoo, the Gephardt Institute is involved with orientation efforts to meet with students of every background at WashU. In the incoming class of 2027 alone, there is representation from all 50 states and 33 other countries. Over half of the class […]

Engagement fair slated to help students find their civic interests

The Gephardt Institute’s annual Civic Engagement Fair brings together student organizations and efforts for social change in one place, at one time.   On Sept. 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the South 40 Clocktower Patio, students are welcome to peruse a wide range of student-led social action groups and volunteer opportunities. Featuring over 50 […]

Institute to host WashU’s inaugural”The Longest Table” next week

 On Wednesday, Sept. 6, the Gephardt Institute will host WashU’s inaugural The Longest Table event.   The event will bring together hundreds of WashU students for a dinner—and facilitated conversation—on long rows of tables on Mudd Field, for a low-pressure environment for students to progress on their journey to civic involvement.  “The goal of The Longest […]

Mack using intersection of humanity and data to address violence

For Dylan Mack, a Class of 2024 Bob and Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar humanity should always be at the core of data science.   “As someone who is interested in data, it’s so important to always have in the forefront of your mind that every single data point is a person, first and foremost,” Mack said.  […]

MAAY Foundation, Gephardt Fellows uplifting Asian American communities

In 2019, Caroline Fan, a passionate St. Louis visionary and organizer, founded the Missouri Asian American Youth (MAAY) Foundation.   Fan was driven by a powerful desire to uplift marginalized communities through education and opportunity. As president of the MAAY Foundation, she leads the creation of an organized voice for the AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, […]

Immersion trips for Fellows offer in-depth experiences in STL neighborhoods

As a part of their commitment to serve St. Louis effectively and responsibly, Gephardt Institute’s 2023 St. Louis Fellows listen and learn from local St. Louisans through Engage STL Days, where they visit local neighborhoods and hear from community members. The institute’s 33 fellows had the opportunity to interact with two cultural hubs in St. […]

Fellows impact STL by day, build strong friendships by night

What are Gephardt Institute’s Civic Scholars and Fellows doing in the evening when they’re not actively pursuing community and social impact? The answers are every bit as interesting and diverse as the students who offer them.   For Demarion Delaney, a St. Louis Fellow, time away from work means time working on the “two man whole.” […]

Alumni Spotlight: Burton transforming education and philanthropy

For Ryan Burton, working at the intersections of education, philanthropy, and community development helped land him a spot at Harvard.   Burton is a candidate in the Doctor of Education Leadership program, which utilizes a cohort model taught by faculty from three different Harvard schools and is designed for those pursuing vocations in systems-level leadership in […]

Allen and Caldie drive civic engagement through creative communication 

Behind the Gephardt Institute newsletters, website, social media, flyers, and more, there are two individuals ensuring that you know what we are about: Our mission and possibilities. Meet Scott Allen and Lara Caldie, the Subaru-driving, cat owning, Hoosier State hailing creative minds—along with a team of part-time staff and student interns—leading Gephardt marketing and communication.  […]

Alumni Spotlight: Underwood charts journey from WashU to the White House

From her undergraduate origins at WashU to her role with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy team in San Francisco, Karin Underwood’s civic journey is a powerful example of a life dedicated to civic engagement. Each experience has served as an impactful cornerstone that paved her way to the White House and […]

Fellows supporting St. Louis, building civic skills through local organizations

“It takes time to heal from the trauma of gun violence,” Dr. LJ Punch, the founder of the Bullet Related Injury Clinic, told St. Louis Public Radio at the end of 2022.   “Unfortunately, in St. Louis, bullet-related injury is endemic,” Punch said. “It brings up all the other traumas that you didn’t get the chance […]

Gephardt staff share institute’s best practices with colleagues around nation

This month, a group of Gephardt Institute staff and WashU Votes leadership traveled to Boston, Mass. for the annual Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting (CLDE).   The annual conference is hosted by NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and is designed to convene diverse stakeholders committed to advancing democracy through student preparedness for engaged […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

“The Little Things” artist profile: Mac Barnes ’26

As part of the Gephardt Institute’s inaugural art exhibition, “The Little Things,” we sat down to talk with Mac Barnes ‘26. Barnes’ piece, “T.S. 03/02/2021,” is on display—along with the work of more than 23 other talented artists—until May 1. The WashU community and the public are invited to Stix House to view the art […]

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 […]

New ChangeMaker Series hosts alumnus Marcus Brown

As part of a new event series created to make meaningful connections between civic leaders who are impacting their community and current students who aspire to do the same, Marcus Brown AB ’13, MSW ’16 spoke before a crowd of students and faculty/staff about his career experience at U.S. Bank.   His talk kicked off the […]

New Gephardt staff complete leadership team

Marking the culmination of an intentional hiring process conducted over the course last year, the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement announces the completion of its new leadership team.   “Our new leadership team represents an important milestone for the Gephardt Institute as we conclude our 18th year and build for the future,” said Stephanie […]

Civic Scholars launch spring semester with immersion trip

Junior and senior Civic Scholars embarked on a four-day immersion through the St. Louis region, capping their winter break with an in-depth experience of the history, issues and political structures of the area.   On Jan. 10-13, 30 Civic Scholars joined Gephardt Institute facilitators Dr. Alannah Glickman, Associate Director for Civic Engagement; Sarah Nash, Community Engagement […]