Civic Café is a weekly discussion series hosted every Tuesday at Stix House from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Students are invited to share a meal together and learn about civic topics from a community or campus expert. Each night will either be a Skill Building session, Democracy Dinner, or Civic Storytelling event. Graduate and undergraduate students of every discipline are invited to attend. Learn, eat, and meet other civically-minded individuals.
Would you or your department like to partner with us? Email our Associate Director for Civic Engagement, Alannah Glickman at aglickman@wustl.edu.
Upcoming Events
There are not currently any upcoming events scheduled. Please check back for new events to be added.
In the meantime, if you’d like to explore campus events, please visit Happenings at WashU.
While not required, RSVP’s assist our team in ordering enough food. Please consider filling out the form on the event page to reserve your spot if you are planning to attend.
Program Goals
- Offer a weekly space for students to practice civic dialogue and other civic skills
- Facilitate connections between students to build solidarity and a culture of civic engagement on campus
- Provide knowledge and inspiration for students to turn their civic passions into action
- Introduce students to St. Louis civic leaders who model the many different ways to contribute to social life
Event History
- Oct. 18, 2022. Civic Skill Building: Navigating the Media Landscape and Identifying Disinformation. In partnership with University Libraries. Featuring Melissa Vetter, Director of the Brown School Library.
- Oct. 25, 2022. Civic Skill Building: Getting the Political System we Want. Featuring Dr. Alannah Glickman of the Gephardt Institute.
- Nov. 1, 2022. Civic Skill Building: Music and Social Change: Creating Transformation through the Lens of Jazz. In partnership with the Department of Music. Featuring Dr. Rami Stucky, Musicology Lecturer.
- Nov. 8, 2022. Election Results Watch Party. In partnership with Campus Life.
- Nov. 15, 2022. Democracy Dinner: Results of the Midterm Election. In partnership with the Department of Political Science and the Brown School.
- Nov. 29, 2022. Democracy Dinner: Federal Holidays and the National Story. In partnership with the Brown School. Featuring Dr. Vetta Sanders Thompson, Associate Dean fro E.D.I.
- Dec. 6, 2022. Civic Journey Spotlight: David Dwight IV, Executive Director and Lead Strategist of Forward Through Ferguson.
- Jan. 24, 2023. Civic Skill Building: Getting Civically Engaged in the St. Louis Community. In partnership with Sam Babb, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Sarah Nash, Community Engagement Manager.
- Jan. 31, 2023. Civic Journey Spotlight: Wesley Bell, Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri.
- Feb. 6, 2023. Democracy Dinner: The Current State of U.S. Racial Politics. In partnership with Dr. Matthew Hayes, Associate Professor of Political Science.
- Feb. 14, 2023. Getting to Know St. Louis City Government. In partnership with Pat Kelly of the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis.
- Feb. 28, 2023. Civic Skill Building Workshop: Building the Movement. In partnership with T-Dubb-O of HandsUp United.
- March 7, 2023. Civil Disobedience: What would you do for something you care about? In partnership with Dr. Gregory Magarian, Washington University Professor of Law.
- March 21, 2023. Democracy Dinner: Censorship, Book Bans, and Democracy. In partnership with Mimi Calter, Vice Provost and University Librarian.
- March 28, 2023. Skill-Building Workshop: Understanding School Boards. In partnership with Dr. Karen Hall, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Saint Louis University.
- April 4, 2023. Civic Café x Earth Week: Civic Journey Spotlight with Heather Navarro. Director of the Midwest Climate Collaborative.
- April 11, 2023. Democracy Dinner: St. Louis Municipal Election Debrief. In partnership with Dr. Molly Metzger and Dr. Tim McBride of the Brown School.
- April 18, 2023. Arts as Civic Engagement. In partnership with Penina Acayo Laker and the Health Communications Design Studio.
- Sept. 19, 2023. Democracy Dinner: Policy and Progress in City of St. Louis. In partnership with City Treasurer Adam Layne, and Cristina Garmendia, Policy Director to the President of the Board of Aldermen.
- Sept. 26, 2023. Civic Journey Spotlight: Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. In partnership with City of St. Louis.
- Oct. 3, 2023. Are We as Divided as We Think? Practicing Civic Dialogue Across Political Affiliations with Unify America. In partnership with Unify America.
- Oct. 17, 2023. Civic Journey Spotlight: Shira Berkowitz. In partnership with PROMO.
- Oct. 24, 2023. Democracy Dinner: Sex, Gender, & the Law. In partnership with WashU Law the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.
- Oct. 31, 2023. Civic Slay, A Murder Mystery Dinner.
- Nov. 14, 2023. Skill Building Workshop Joy and Connection: A Closing Night Celebration of The Queer Experience: Joy as Resistance Art Exhibit. In partnership with WashU Spectrum Office.
- Nov. 28, 2023. Civic Journey Spotlight: Karlos Ramirez. In partnership with the International Institute of St. Louis.
- Jan. 23, 2024. Civic Skill Building Workshop: Incorporating Pleasure into Civic Action. In partnership with Dr. Dalychia Saah and Dr. Molly Pearson.
- Jan. 30, 2024. Civic Journey Spotlight: Kaveh Razani. In partnership with Kaveh Razani.
- Feb. 6, 2024. Civic Café Democracy Dinner: Black Internet Culture & Political Power. In partnership with Dr. Raven Maragh-Lloyd.
- Feb. 13, 2024. Civic Skill-Building Workshop: Imagining the Future. In partnership with Jayvn Solomon.
- Feb. 20, 2024. Civic Café Democracy Dinner: Missouri Legislature Rundown. In partnership with Mallory Rusch.
- Feb. 27, 2024. Civic Café Democracy Dinner: Open and Closed Cultural Practices. In partnership with Galen Gritts.
- March 5, 2024. Civic Café Civic Skill-Building Workshop: Craft and Social Change. In partnership with Sage Dawson.
- March 26, 2024. Civic Café Civic Skill-Building Workshop: Tracking Bills For Issues You Care About.
- April 9, 2024. Civic Café Civic Skill-Building Workshop: Policy and Political Change. In partnership with Dr. Zoe Ang
- April 16, 2024. Civic Journey Spotlight: Joan Lipkin. In partnership with Joan Lipkin.
- Sept. 10, 2024. Presidential Debate Watch Party. In partnership with Michael Isikoff and Rep. Dick Gephardt.
- Sept. 17, 2024. Civic Skill Building Workshop: Movement Building through Conversation. In partnership with Alice Nelms.
- Sept. 24, 2024. Civic Skill Building Workshop: Mindfulness for the Engaged Citizen. In partnership with Diana C. Parra and Katie Bucklen, M.D.
- Oct. 1, 2024. Civic Skill Building Workshop: Telling the Story of the Ferguson Uprising with St. Louis Public Radio. In partnership with Chad Davis and Danny Wicentowski.
- Oct. 15, 2024. Civic Journey Spotlight: The Intersection of Business and Society with Julian Nicks. In partnership with Julian Nicks and Olin Business School.
- Oct. 22, 2024. Civic Skill Building Workshop: Zines and Art Activism. In partnership with the Brown School Library.