Civic Renewal
Facilitating and encouraging citizen-led democracy.
Why Civic Renewal
The strength of our democracy and state of our union is dependent on developing the skills and increasing the desire of people to work with other people, institutions, and governmental entities to build a better society for all. We foster this individual and community skill-building by leveraging the humanities in partnership with educational institutions, community organizations, and governmental entities.
Questions?
Creating a Just Society Through Civic Renewal
“Democracy demands the wisdom of its citizens,” as stated in the enabling legislation of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). MHC, as an affiliate of the NEH, was created to sustain and enhance our Democracy. In order to create a vibrant and peaceful democracy, we must get to know each other, work together, and support institutions that support the common good. Humanities help us understand the histories, motivations, concerns, values of others while also giving us the tools to navigate institutions and entities that impact our lives.
We strengthen our society and bolster our democracy by building the capacity of people to engage in thoughtful dialogue on issues of importance to them, work toward common goals with their neighbors, and influence the institutions that impact their lives.
Our Priorities
Learning
Offering opportunities to deepen understanding of how and why our culture and institutions operate as they do.
Sharing
Advancing productive public discourse and action through interactive exhibits and discussions.
Demonstrating
Model and share best practices on how people can build collective civic muscle, support more responsive and inclusive institutions, and fortify our democracy.
Our Civic Renewal Offerings
Our priorities inform the initiatives and event offerings we co-create with partners. As issues of importance to the public are not static and understanding of all issues are not uniform, our civic renewal offerings are developed to meet the needs of today in a manner that broadly helps develop skills.
Get Involved
You have the power to connect our citizenry to civics and help them to develop the skills and desire to work together to build a better common life and stronger union. And we’re here to support and partner with you along the way. Attend one of our upcoming offerings.
“I’ve learned to listen, and that listening is often the best way to learn. All college should be this way.”
Garett, Third Way Civics student at the Minnesota State University-Mankato
Partners in Civic Renewal Programming
Each partnership presents a unique opportunity to collaborate and create change. Here is a partial list of current or recent partners engaged in our civics and democracy work:
- American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU)
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
- Ball State University
- Coalition for Civic Learning and and Democracy Engagement (CLDE)
- Dakota County
- Happy Dancing Turtle
- Hoċokata Ṫi
- Leech Lake Tribal College Library
- Metropolitan State College in Prisons Program
- Minnesota North Community Colleges
- Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Roseau County Historical Society
- Sherburne County SWCD
- Somali Museum of Minnesota
- Southeastern University
- University of Indiana-Bloomington
- University of Missouri-St. Louis
- University of St. Thomas
- Westminster Town Hall Forum
- Winona State University
