A key aspect of democracy is innovation; people’s ability to be creative and create an impact within their communities, but also having the civic space to carry out this inventiveness. The space to actively engage in civic conversations and initiatives is missing in some cases, a need Cristin Brawner noticed during her time working as an associate for the Kettering Foundation and, previously, as Executive Director of the David Mathews Center.

DMC McKenzie Civic Fellow, Lauren Lockhart, recently completed the “NextGen Bama Community” series, a program hosted by the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. Alabama Appleseed addresses the intersection of mass incarceration and racial and economic justice through research, policy change campaigns, coalition building, and direct action, utilizing civic engagement practices to spread awareness and action across the state. Facilitated by Communications and Development Manager, Megan Cheek, these meetings aimed to gather young and young-at-heart people, who are dedicated to a better Alabama, and provide them with the information, resources, and space to work towards addressing these issues.

On Thursday, April 27th, the DMC hosted Keys to the City partners, Hollie Cost and Herman Lehman, to facilitate a deliberative forum about food insecurity in Montevallo and the surrounding areas, utilizing the Land of Plenty issue guide from the National Issues Forums Institute. This forum was part of the National Week of Conversation movement.

The David Mathews Center for Civic Life and PACERS Rural Community Newspaper Network hosted the 2023 Conference & Workshop on Friday, April 14th, and Saturday, April 15th. Over 40 journalists and Jean O’Connor Snyder interns across the state met at the Rotunda and the Mathews Center office at the American Village to get to know each other and learn about the techniques and importance of rural journalism.

DMC McKenzie Civic Fellow, Lauren Lockhart, recently attended the first two sessions of “NextGen Bama Community,” a four-part series presented by the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. Alabama is one of the poorest states in America, while having one of the highest incarceration rates. Alabama Appleseed confronts these challenges with research, policy change campaigns, coalition building, and direct action, focusing on the intersection of economic and racial justice and mass incarceration. Facilitated by Communications and Development Manager, Megan Cheek, these meetings aim to gather young and young-at-heart people, who are dedicated to a better Alabama, and provide them with the information, resources, and space to work towards addressing these issues.

DMC Education Director Zara Greene recently completed a three-part professional development series with The Morgan Project. This organization, whose mission is to teach civil rights through Birmingham’s history of conflict and courage, provides active and meaningful programs that work to teach and celebrate Black history. Their workshop series provides classroom and community educators with an increased understanding of Birmingham’s civil rights history and supplies the tools necessary for effective instruction and dissemination.