Our Common Purpose Newsletter | September 2023
By Zachey Kliger | zachey.kliger@gmail.com | September 23, 2023
Virtual Event with General Jim Mattis on Civics and National Security
A significant number of today’s K-12 students will enter college and the workforce without the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions that they need to fully participate in our constitutional democracy. Lack of civic readiness among young Americans undermines civil discourse, increases alienation and polarization, and makes us more susceptible to misinformation and disinformation.
The Our Common Purpose report recommends investing in civics educators and civics education for all ages and in all communities through curricula, ongoing program evaluations, professional development for teachers, and a federal award program that recognizes civic-learning achievements. In this virtual event co-hosted by iCivics, General Jim Mattis, Louise Dubé, and Danielle Allen will discuss what is at stake and highlight promising solutions to promote lifelong civic learning.
DATE: October 5, 2023 | 11:00-12:15 PM ET | Register Here
Stories From The Field
Institute for Citizens & Scholars' Survey Sheds Light on GenZ's Civic Life.
Institute for Citizens & Scholars unveiled the Civic Outlook of Young Adults in America, a first-of-its-kind national survey of 18-24 year-old Americans that sheds light on their civic knowledge, civic engagement, and commitment to democracy.
iCivics Selects 34 High School Students for Civic Education Fellowship.
iCivics selected 34 high school students to take part in the iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, a yearlong program that allows students to research how civics education can be expanded and made more inclusive.
FixUs Publishes Holistic Resource on American Political Reforms.
FixUs published “Solutions Landscape”, a new resource that tracks the status of ranked choice voting, multimember districts, campaign finance and other reforms.
Protect Democracy Launches New Symposium on Proportional Representation.
Democracy Journal, in partnership with Protect Democracy, launched a new series, For a Better Democracy: Proportional Representation, which assembles insights and examines how our winner-take-all electoral system is undermining democracy.
Civity Launches New Resource Hub.
Civity launched a new resource hub called DIYcivity, which features a collection of resources and tools that you can use to add a relational focus to your meetings, gatherings, and even family dinners!
In The News
Biden-Harris Administration Launches American Climate Corps.
President Biden launched the American Climate Corps, a workforce training initiative to equip young people with the skills needed for careers in the clean energy and climate resilience economy. Our Common Purpose calls for establishing a universal expectation of a year of national service.
Pennsylvania Implements Automatic Voter Registration.
Pennsylvania became the 24th state to implement automatic voter registration. Our Common Purpose calls for same-day registration and universal automatic voter registration.
L.A. to Require Independent Redistricting.
State lawmakers passed a bill that would require Los Angeles to create an independent redistricting committee. Our Common Purpose supports the adoption of independent citizen-redistricting commissions in all fifty states to limit the influence of gerrymandering.
Does Facebook Change Your Politics?
Ethan Zuckerman of the Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at the University of Massachusetts Amherst spoke with Talia Stroud about her investigation into Facebook’s impacts on political polarization.
Get Involved
Virtual Event: "Join or Die" with Dr. Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett.
In this virtual event co-hosted by OCP champion Village Square and Florida Humanities, Academy Member Robert Putnam and Shaylen Romney Garrett will explain how the fate of our country depends on joining clubs.
DATE: October 5, 2023 | 7-8:30 PM EST | Register here
Request for Proposals: Research on Partisan Primaries.
The Unite America Institute is soliciting proposals to analyze the upsides and downsides of partisan primaries and measure the impact of reform solutions. The priority proposal deadline is November 3, 2023.
2023 National Humanities Conference.
The Federation of State Humanities Councils, an OCP Champion, and the National Humanities Alliance will co-host the 2023 National Humanities Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
DATE: October 25-29, 2023 | Register here
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