Jean O’Connor-Snyder intern Ariel Jones considers the new meaning of “home” through the lens of serving the Jasper community as a remote intern. Read More »
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Civic Dispatch: Reflecting on “Home” in the Time of COVID-19
Civic Dispatch: Outdoor sports reel in new fans, economic benefits
Jean O’Connor-Snyder intern Amy Clark reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on the outdoor sports industry in Alabama’s Black Belt.
The outdoor sports industry in Alabama’s Black Belt continues to flourish as more and more Alabamians head outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wilson Named 2020 Jean O’Connor-Snyder Award Recipient
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is pleased to announce Dr. Mark Wilson as the recipient of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life’s 2020 Jean O’Connor-Snyder Award. Dr. Wilson is a longtime partner of the Mathews Center and the longest-serving Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Program faculty mentor.
The Jean O’Connor-Snyder Award annually recognizes an Alabama community leader who has empowered others in the spirit of Jean O’Connor-Snyder. Award winners are epitomized by their unique ability to uncover the potential in others. Jean O’Connor-Snyder Award recipients demonstrate a commitment to finding the worth in everyone and empowering others to use their talents to improve their communities.
2020 Innovators in Civic Education Fellows
The DMC hosted its second annual Innovators in Civic Education Teacher Fellows workshop on July 23 and 24. Teacher Fellows assist the DMC in educational programming by providing valuable insight on how to create the most relevant and useful resources for educators, both in the classroom and the community.
Common Bonds: Collective Purpose and Civic Resilience in Uncertain Times
The Mathews Center will host its annual Civic Institute on August 21st, 2020. The event will be held entirely online. The theme of this year’s event is Common Bonds: Collective Purpose and Civic Resilience in Uncertain Times.
Stories for Civic Skill Building: Our Favorite Books
For the last few weeks, we’ve been focusing on different ways to use stories as a tool for civic skill-building. I hope the blogs about music and film offered a few helpful resources for using stories to encourage empathy, perspective-taking, and global awareness. Today, I will be sharing some of the DMC staff’s favorite books for civic skill building.
Stories for Civic Skill Building: Films for Fresh Perspective
Like most of the world, I’ve spent a lot more time using streaming services recently. The other night I surprised myself by binging four straight hours of the Smithsonian Channels “America in Color.” It got me thinking about the often-overlooked potential of film and media in the classroom.Not only can film communicate content knowledge, but it can also be a tool for cultivating important civic skills like empathy, global awareness, and perspective-taking.
Alabama Talks Back: Public Health & Social Isolation
In this first installment of Alabama Talks Back, we explore the connection between public health and social isolation. Our guests are Kristin Boggs, Executive Director of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, and Carson Klein, graduating medical student (UAB ’20) and Schweitzer Fellow!
Exploring Our Unconventional Oasis: Montevallo Students’ Institute
In the unconventional oasis of Montevallo, there is a broad range of educational opportunities. From Pre-K to a master’s degree, you can achieve a quality education at an affordable price. With this opportunity, the city hopes that young people in the education system would be willing to voice their opinion on how to better the city. The town receives opinions from University students, but not the youth of the city. This is where the Montevallo Students’ Institute is essential in uplifting youth voices and making an impact on the community.
Stories for Civic Skill Building: Music
Nearly as old as humankind, music is one excellent storytelling teaching tool. And, more than any other form of storytelling, music has a unique power to evoke feeling. When we listen to music our brains “light up,” triggering responses from the parts of our brain that are associated with movement, planning, attention, and memory. Read More »
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