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 a popular program for students, offering them a chance to deepen their understanding of civic issues, gain valuable skills, and connect with civic-minded individuals. Two regular attendees, Elise Thompkins ‘24 and Colby Crowder SW ‘24, shared their reasons for attending and why they continue to come back each week.
Both Thompkins and Crowder attended their first Civic Café event somewhat on a whim. Thompkins found out about the event through APO and thought it sounded interesting. She attended the Gephardt Institute’s Midterm Election Recap event and was hooked. Crowder, on the other hand, said “to be honest, the free food [got me to attend my first event]. But the discussion has kept me.”
Since attending Civic Café events, Thompkins has gained valuable knowledge on a variety of topics that she otherwise would not have encountered. “I really have loved the variety of topics each week and have truly never felt bored at a Civic Café event. I feel like I come away each week with more knowledge about how to get engaged in the St. Louis community and with the ability to apply what I have learned from Civic Café into my life,” she said.
Thompkins also emphasized the importance of each topic covered in Civic Café events in fostering students’ understanding of the current political climate. They both underscored the community-building aspect of Civic Café, noting that the program has deepened their connection to the St. Louis community.
“It has given us great direct access to people in the St. Louis community to learn directly from them, rather than being separated as WashU students in their own bubble,” Thompkins explained.
Crowder shared a similar sentiment, stating that as “a student at WashU, it’s important for me to be engaged in the community I’m living in. Civic Café provides a great opportunity to do just that.”
By meeting and engaging with community experts, Thompkins and Crowder have gained deeper appreciation for the St. Louis community and a stronger sense of civic responsibility. To those who may be hesitant to attend their first Civic Café event, Elise offered some words of encouragement.
“Just come! Everyone there is super welcoming and kind. They also provide free dinner, and it is always delicious!” she said.
Crowder agreed, emphasizing the inclusive and supportive environment of the program. “The conversation is open and it is not intimidating at all. It is a very supportive environment and you are not judged for whatever side you take or your insight. It is more just, ‘Here is what I see, and what do you all think?’”
As the popularity of Civic Café continues to grow, it is clear that the program fills a need among WashU students for meaningful civic engagement and community building. Through its diverse range of relevant topics, inclusive environment, and of course, delicious food, Civic Café has provided an important platform to connect with each other and the broader St. Louis community.
“I truly have learned so much from my experiences at Civic Café, and it is now one of my favorite parts of attending WashU,” said Thompkins.
Visit the Civic Café webpage to learn more and to see past and upcoming topics.