With a passion for both education and social justice, the path of Jeremy Scheiner ‘13 has taken him from WashU’s campus to the forefront of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Through his experiences at WashU, previous role leading a Gephardt Institute tutoring partnership with KIPP, and his subsequent career, Scheiner exemplifies the power of […]
Tag: civic engagement
STL Fellow finds illumination on local government in summer internship
“Behind an elected official is an army of individuals who dedicate their time, and have genuine interest, in improving the communities they represent and live in…I have a newfound respect and admiration for all of these individuals.” These are just a couple of the lessons that Goldman Fellow Jesse Sanchez ’25 learned through the St. […]
Episode 20: Kelly McGowan and Shavanna Spratt
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.
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.
Fond farewells for 2023 graduates
On Monday, May 15, the Gephardt Institute joined the Washington University community in congratulating the Class of 2023 on their hard work—much of it under the trials of the COVID pandemic—and their collective commitment to the betterment of our world.
Nash well suited for Gephardt community engagement role
In what might be a perfect match between a job description and an employee, Sarah Nash is the Gephardt Institute’s Community Engagement Manager. Since joining the Gephardt Institute in July 2022, Nash leads program strategy and implementation to foster mutually beneficial community engagement between WashU students and community partners in the St. Louis region. Nash […]
Comeaux’s commitment to St. Louis service highlighted in Class Acts
As one of 12 WashU graduates featured in the university’s annual Class Acts piece in The Source, St. Louis Fellow alumni Blake Comeaux reflected on his experiences over his last four years. In addition to his experiences as an Ervin Scholar and varsity athlete, Comeaux credits the Gephardt Institute with making his undergraduate experience even […]
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.
Students grant $40,000 to local nonprofit organizations
A WashU sociology course supported by the Gephardt Institute presented $40,000 in funding to four local nonprofit organizations to bolster their work in the St. Louis community. Philanthropy Lab, a course in Arts & Sciences’ Department of Sociology taught by Barbara Levin and David Rigby, gives students a theoretical and practical understanding of philanthropy today. […]
Civic Scholars celebrate end of school year, next stops on civic journeys
The All Civic Celebration is a unique event that brings together all current students in the Civic Scholars Program—newly selected sophomores, juniors and seniors—to facilitate relationships and celebrate major milestones in the Civic Scholar experience. This year’s event took place on Sunday, April 30, in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. “It has been such an […]
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.
Chancellor, Thomas talk now available to view
The Gephardt Institute welcomed Nancy Thomas, director of the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE) at Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, to WashU for a series of presentations, workshops, and a feature even on “Educating for Democracy in a Time of Division.”
Alumni Spotlight: Anne Filipic ’04
An undergraduate leadership program at WashU helped Anne Filipic ’04 cement her passion for community service—a passion that took her to the White House, and now to her career as a national leader in the fight to end poverty and hunger. In August, Filipic was hired as Chief Executive Officer of Share Our Strength, a […]
Institute Effort Drives Voter Turnout
“Best voting experience ever!” “Great experience, start to finish.” “Every vote day should feel like this!” The results are in, and the Gephardt Institute’s voter turnout efforts were a smashing success, according to the students who voted on campus on Nov. 8. Almost 950 students and other St. Louis County voters cast their Midterm Election […]
Civic Engagement doesn’t End with the Election
After the massive effort to get out the vote at WashU, the Gephardt Institute’s efforts to instill civic engagement interest and skills in students are still going strong. Civic Café is a new weekly event held in Stix House on Tuesdays, in which the WashU community is invited to discuss a civic issue or develop […]
Staff Feature: Louis Damani Jones
As the 2022 Primary Elections rapidly approach, we sat down with Voter Engagement Coordinator, Louis Damani Jones, to hear more about his work. Louis is a graduate of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and a previous Engage Democracy Fellow at the institute. We are excited that he is now bringing his […]
Alumnus Reflects on Path to Citizen-Activism
Alumnus Steve Frappier (MLA in ’06, concentration in American culture studies; BA in ’00, Russian and art history & archaeology) reflected on his background and developing role as citizen-activist at a Gephardt Institute brunch for graduating students dedicated to civic and community engagement. Frappier is Director of College Counseling at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. […]
A Look Ahead for Civic Scholars Program Graduates
The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement recently honored senior Civic Scholars during a special graduation toast. Over the past two years, the Civic Scholars Class of 2017 completed four semesters of academic course work, received multiple levels of mentorship, and developed substantial summer civic engagement projects. Like the 28 alumni Civic Scholars who have come before […]
Introducing the Civic Scholars Class of 2019
The Civic Scholars Program, comprising four semesters of academic course work, combines self-exploration, peer relationship building, and experiential education to lead students to a deeper understanding of themselves and their roles as civic agents. Sophomores are selected through a competitive merit-based process and learn together through their junior and senior years. The program includes two years of […]
Symposium Recap: American Democracy and the Rise of Donald Trump
The political rise of Donald Trump, and his ascendancy into the presidency, represents one of the most surprising and contentious events in American history. Civic education and engagement are increasingly critical as individuals and communities consider their role in the democratic process. On March 9, the Gephardt Institute collaborated with a team of faculty to offer […]
Civic Engagement Fund Grantees Tackle Sustainability, Communication, Food Security and More
The Gephardt Institute is advancing a bold vision to enhance a civic culture at Washington University, and the Civic Engagement Fund is a critical tool that supports members of the WashU campus community who seek to strengthen the social fabric of our communities. In the 2015-16 academic year, the fund awarded more than $75,000 to […]
Important Voting Information for November 8
Election Day is fast approaching. The Gephardt Institute encourages you to have a plan. Make sure you: Know what’s on the ballot! Visit Vote 411 for a guide. You can’t look at your phone in the polling place so use scrap paper for notes. Know where your polling place is! Go to the Missouri Secretary […]
Voter Engagement Initiatives Coming Up This Fall
This 2016 election cycle provides an exciting opportunity to launch a new voter engagement strategy for WashU, as the upcoming presidential debate at WashU and long publicized election have created a surge of interest in political engagement across campus.
A Love for WashU and Community Engagement
Support from National Council member Matt Seiden and his wife Wendi Weill has far-reaching impact.
Civic Scholars 2016 Reflections
The Civic Scholars Program Class of 2016 reflects on their two years as scholars.
In the News: A Lasting Friendship, A Lasting Impact
Senior Civic Scholars and friends Nick Okafor and Carrick Reddin discuss their shared experiences in the classroom and the community
Immersed in Place and Identity
Students led an immersion trip to Memphis, TN to peel back layers of community to understand social issues surrounding civil rights, diversity, and inclusion.
In the News: Civic Engagement Fund Supports Engineering Ethics Course
Students explore the parallels between Challenger disaster and Ferguson crisis during a unique class.
Danforth Scholars Reflect on Spring Break Immersion in St. Louis
Danforth Scholars asked for a new model for spring break service, one that would teach them about St. Louis and provide an anchor for their studies at WashU.
WashU Selected to Host 2017 Impact Conference
WashU has been selected as host of the 2017 IMPACT National Conference, which will gather national student leaders in civic engagement and service.
In the News: Getting College Students to Vote
Prof. Moore McBride shares her perspectives on how universities should engage students in the voting process in a WashU Expert article.
Institute to Host Higher Education Civic Engagement Leaders
The Research University Civic Engagement Network will focus on civic engagement practices in higher education.
Goldman Fellows Program Deepens Understanding of St. Louis
Applications for the program are now being accepted.
Understanding What We See
Through a series of tours, Community Engagement Faculty Fellow Prof. Bob Hansman reveals the complexities of St. Louis to faculty, staff, and students.
In the News: From Charity to Change
The new university homepage features Civic Scholars Program alumni and the 10-year anniversary of the institute.