Throughout nearly two decades of serving civic life in Alabama, the David Mathews Center has worked closely with our state’s local libraries. Our programming has focused on engaging young people to be active citizens, and equipping communities to host deliberative forums as they seek to work better together; our partnerships with public libraries have helped us promote these objectives one community at a time. Read More »
Tag Archives: community engagement
Public Libraries in Alabama: Gateways to the Community
Ways to Count in Your Community
Alabama citizens have until October 31 to complete the 2020 Census and have their voices heard! By submitting your data to the Census Bureau, you help allocate funding and resources that benefit your community. Alabama-specific information can be found at https://census.alabama.gov/. Get counted today!
For even more ways to be an active citizen, check out our Ways to Count list of civic engagement practices below:
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Civic Dispatch: Reflecting on “Home” in the Time of COVID-19
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 »
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.
Civic Dispatch: The Marion Cemetery, A Lesson in Community Involvement
Jean O’Connor-Snyder intern Logan Goulart reflects on the Marion Cemetery in his thought piece from Marion, Alabama.
Across the street from historic Judson College, the entrance to the cemetery is what you would expect of any cemetery entrance: two brick pillars and a metal arch with “Marion Cemetery” in slanted letters.
A paved road leads into the heart of the cemetery. Headstones dot the landscape in front, and white obelisks stand out amidst the gray. The grave markers emit an undeniable sense of history, and memories flood the senses. Read More »
Civic Dispatch: The Future of Small Town America
Jean O’Connor-Snyder intern Vaughn Gingerich reflects on small town America in his thought piece from Walker County.
I kept an open mind, having spoken with a previous intern who had a great experience, but didn’t quite know what to expect. Having grown up in Anchorage, Alaska, I had never spent much time in a rural setting before, let alone in the American South. So, when I first came to Jasper, my eyes mostly picked out what confirmed the stereotypes and assumptions people have about small, rural towns: vacated industrial properties, abandoned storefronts, and empty streets.
2018 Civic Institute: Be Together Differently
We’ve added new sessions to our third annual Civic Institute! Please join us Friday, August 17, for some deep conversations on strengthening civic life in Alabama – not for a day, but for the duration. Read More »
Civic Dispatch: Marion Collaborates to Preserve the Past
JOIP intern Katherine Mauldin reflects on how residents of Marion collaborate to preserve their past. Part of a series of thought pieces from our interns embedded in communities across Alabama. Read More »
2017-18 Call for Proposals: Immersive Civic Learning in Alabama
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is pleased to announce our Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Call for Proposals for the 2017-18 academic year!
The Fabric of Resilience: Confronting Globalization in Rural Alabama
From Chambers County comes a story of community resilience and local innovation in response to global economic forces. Read More »
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