Last year, with funding from the Gephardt Institute’s St. Louis Impact Fund, three students at the WashU School of Medicine hosted a series of workshops aimed at helping seniors take a more active role in their own health and well-being. Transform Grants are part of the St. Louis Impact Fund, a Gephardt Institute initiative that […]
Category: Student News
‘Books and Basketball’ invites STL youth to experience college life
February’s Civic Action Week brought civic engagement topics and education on campus not only to WashU students, but to St. Louis grade school students, as well. The Gephardt Institute kicked off its third annual Civic Action Week on Feb. 17. This weeklong initiative highlights civic engagement opportunities through events organized by student groups, faculty, staff, […]
Snowy Missouri immersion trip brings Civic Scholars together
This month, just days after a storm blanketed Missouri in snow, the Civic Scholars Classes of 2025 and 2026 embarked on their annual immersion trip. From Jan. 7 to 10, and with an itinerary that required flexibility due to the weather, the Civic Scholars met with community organizations, local elected and city management officials, and […]
Ramirez hones devotion to legal advocacy with ArchCity
Persistence can pay off. One day, while sitting in his “Social Inequality in America” class, St. Louis Fellow Brodhi Ramirez ‘27 listened to a teaching assistant discuss the role that the legal and social justice organization, ArchCity Defenders, played in the Ferguson Uprising. “I got chills for a minute, and that same day, I sent […]
Barnes presents St. Louis Impact Fund results at Delmar DivINe
Mac Barnes ’26, a 2024 Transform Grant recipient of the Gephardt Institute’s St. Louis Impact Fund, unveiled his exhibit, “Quilts as Civic Engagement: An Interactive History of St. Louis and the Delmar Region,” on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Coinciding with the grand opening of WashU’s Community Engagement Office, located in Delmar DivINe at 5501 Delmar Blvd. […]
Stix House art showcases community engagement through photography
Walking through the halls of Stix House, home of the Gephardt Institute, it’s difficult to miss the photographs of St. Louis’s urban landscape that adorn its the walls. The photographs were taken by Sydney Hlavaty, a WashU alumna and former Photography Intern for the Gephardt Institute in the 2023-2024 school year. The prints were donated […]
‘Brilliant’ Fellows help Great Rivers deliver environmental justice
Eight floors up in the nondescript Security Building in downtown St. Louis, a small legal team has been engaged in public service work for over two decades at the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center. Last summer as part of the St. Louis Fellows Program, Jordyn Ederer ‘26, a Goldman Fellow, worked out of the firm’s […]
Gephardt hosts two polling places, breaks on-campus turnout record
Nov. 5 marked the 60th presidential election in United States history, and between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., a record-setting nearly 2,100 voters flocked to WashU’s on-campus polling places to cast their ballots. “Our voter turnout on the Danforth Campus was the highest in WashU history. The vast majority of these voters were students,” said […]
Civic Scholars share impacts made across nation
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 […]
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 […]
WashU Votes co-chairs earn award, $5K grant for engagement efforts
In September, 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 $143,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations across the St. Louis region this year, 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
At Cortex, Taylor works at the intersection of economics and inclusion
In July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published that for the first time in more than three decades, St. Louis ranked in the top 10 American metropolitan areas for job growth. While that feat is no one’s alone to claim, the Cortex Innovation Community, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating the St. Louis economy, certainly […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Civic Scholars journey to DC for first time since 2019
A hallmark of the Civic Scholars Program is the opportunity to travel to Washington DC for a four-day immersion trip. Last month, 32 Class of 2024 and 2025 Civic Scholars learned about the federal policymaking process at the heart of where it takes place, met with federal representatives of St. Louis and Missouri, and discussed […]
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 […]
Alumni Spotlight: Rachel Harris ’18
Civically minded work does not end when students conclude their time with the Gephardt Institute, which holds true for alumna Rachel Harris ‘18. During her time at WashU, Harris double majored in Educational Studies and Spanish while working at the Institute, which led her to the work she does today. For the last four […]
Students develop civic interests in Gephardt internships and fellowships
Behind all the Gephardt Institute does is a team of student staff doing vital work to drive the institute’s efforts. Through internship positions for both undergraduate and graduate students, the institute offers students the ability to develop and practice skills in a workplace environment on campus. These internships are perfect opportunities for students to explore […]
Students build on community impact with Partnership Extension grants
Last month with the launch of the St. Louis Impact Fund, the Gephardt Institute introduced Partnership Extension Grants. Civic Scholars and St. Louis Fellows spend the majority of their summer during the programs cultivating relationships with community partners to impact change. The Partnership Extension Grants help students maintain these connections and continue with important projects […]
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 […]
Civic Scholars reflect on summer experiences in Share Out
“This experience grew my confidence and my ability to execute my vision.” Elisabeth-Monique Tossa ‘24 was one of 16 Civic Scholars in the senior class to present their work from the summer to family, friends and other members of the WashU and St. Louis community at the Civic Scholars Share Out. Held on Oct. […]
Gephardt enlists student advisors to help inform programming
In a new effort to further boost student input and collaboration, the Gephardt Institute launched a new Student Advisory Council this fall. The Student Advisory Council (SAC) is comprised of 18 students who will advise on key opportunities and needs related to Gephardt’s mission. In the spirit of active listening, Gephardt will engage the advisory […]
WashU celebrates LGBTQ+ experiences through “Joy as Resistance” art show
Opening night for “The Queer Experience: Joy as Resistance” art exhibition was held at Stix House on Oct. 20. Curated by WashU students Chethan Chandra ‘26, Sophie Lin ‘26, and Aspen Schisler ‘26, the multimedia art exhibit showcases work by queer, trans, and other WashU students who want to highlight and uplift the LGBTQIA+ experience. […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]