About The David Mathews Center
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt corporation. We build skills, habits, and capacities for more effective civic engagement and innovative decision making.
Announcing the Jean O'Connor-Snyder Fund
Your donation is an investment in Alabama's future.
Teach them something new.
This free workshop equips educators to incorporate place-based deliberative learning into their curriculum to sharpen students’ critical thinking skills.
(Substitute reimbursement and CEU’s will be provided.)
We aim to strengthen Alabama’s civic life by increasing active citizenship, community collaboration, and effective decision making.
All of our programs are designed to get Alabamians talking to each other about the issues that matter most to them.
We engage communities all across Alabama—find an event near you now!
Signature Programs
Alabama Issues Forums
AIF is designed to help communities talk to each other and through issues, rather than at each other and about issues.
Coaching Community Innovation
These local workshops equip citizens with the deliberative tools necessary for engaging their communities.
The Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Program
This internship provides experiential learning opportunities to develop the next generation of Alabama’s civic leaders.
Students’ Institute
We believe that young people learn to be civically engaged by being civically engaged—this program gives them that opportunity.
Teachers’ Institute
This two-day workshop equips teachers from all across Alabama with the tools necessary to bring deliberation into the classroom.
“Changing the way people talk can change the way they relate to each other and their problems – and that can eventually change the community.”
– David Mathews
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13 September
RT @CivChangeMakers: #CivicChat TONIGHT!!
8pm EST - "Building The New Civic Infrastructure” @LauraHowellsB @SultanReflects @hharriel @Ope…DMCforCivicLife
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13 September
RT @JeffersonCtr: While we’re sad we're not at #ONA18, we’re excited it’s because half our team is strengthening community-driven economic…
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13 September
Next Wednesday 9/19 we’ll be at the @ALPublicLibrary for another @al200 sponsored teacher workshop on engaging stud… https://t.co/mIhZ0HPua8
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11 September
RT @al200: Have you heard about #Montevallo’s Junior City Council? #AL200 https://t.co/8JOgMeRY8K
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10 September
@kylebozentko @JeffersonCtr What a wonderful conversation and heartening experience to chat with all of you--let's do it again soon!
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10 September
@ErnestAnemone @kylebozentko @JustinWayneLutz I agree--and we need to emphasize non-official modes of engagement, l… https://t.co/Fijyq1wMv5
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10 September
RT @kylebozentko: @DMCforCivicLife @JustinWayneLutz An important question - we consistently hear desire among local officials to get reside…
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10 September
@ErnestAnemone @JustinWayneLutz Yes, absolutely! We need to build more alliances with like-minded organizations acr… https://t.co/i7vP37Un6j
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10 September
There's a narrow focus on the "national conversation." How can we emphasize importance of local elections when incr… https://t.co/ACSA7Y5jw2
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10 September
We need to renew civic education, and start teaching young people how to be citizens, not just consumers! Young peo… https://t.co/7zz77iwFZH
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10 September
RT @JeffersonCtr: @DMCforCivicLife @MontevalloCity @JustinWayneLutz What a great way to get youth engaged! Definitely a model that could/sh…
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10 September
Yes! We especially love the folks at @whatsnextwv! https://t.co/y5BqIJw9TR
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10 September
RT @mcarcasson: A2 A healthy democracy is a conversation that focuses in part on the tough choices to living together. We must constantly w…
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10 September
In @MontevalloCity we have a Junior City Council made up of local youth. They attend meetings at city hall, and eve… https://t.co/IRJPL4mWd6
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10 September
One indication of a healthy democracy is that people actually *trust* in the institutions that govern them. Deep, a… https://t.co/dG30em8unZ
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10 September
RT @itscamillemn: @JeffersonCtr Q2: To me, a sign of a vibrant democracy are that ppl feel comfortable not rushing to judgement, but are co…
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10 September
RT @_sarahatwood: @itscamillemn @JeffersonCtr YES! And it's so important that people feel that they can change their mind on issues - multi…
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10 September
@JeffersonCtr @JustinWayneLutz @YourVoiceOhio We at the @DMCforCivicLife certainly do this year-round, but we're no… https://t.co/R1PpeljpCB
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10 September
RT @kylebozentko: A2: democracy is healthy when people are active not only in voting, but in all the different ways they can make a differe…
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10 September
RT @arockway: A2: A strong, vibrant democracy is a democracy where "regular" people, not just politicians, are able to meaningfully shape d…
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10 September
A healthy democracy to me is one that doesn't discount small towns and rural communities. There are civic deserts a… https://t.co/z9G4Vck0UR
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10 September
@JeffersonCtr @JustinWayneLutz Yes--first you have to find them (unregistered voters). In my case, Alabama recently… https://t.co/qj6TZurwOY
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10 September
My favorite memory of being involved with a democracy was when I registered my mom to vote for the very first time!… https://t.co/hJxgh4wQal
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10 September
@JeffersonCtr My favorite memory of being involved with a democracy was when I registered my mom to vote for the ve… https://t.co/iqrIPl5L4W
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9 September
RT @kylebozentko: We're looking forward to bringing citizens jury style of engagement and deliberation to #NYTADF this year w/@NYTLive - jo…
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7 September
RT @JeffersonCtr: Who's coming to our #DemocracyChat on Monday? Join @JoshPauly from @OpenPolicyMN, @JustinWayneLutz from @DMCforCivicLife,…
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6 September
We're looking forward to joining the #DemocracyChat Monday, September 10! https://t.co/tnfKjR3j5x
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31 August
RT @CourtneyBreese: Are you looking to dig deep w/fellow innovators on #dialogue, #deliberation, & #publicengagement? Collaborate on how to…
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29 August
RT @USNatArchives: Explore how the National Archives encourages civic literacy and engagement through public programs, educational programm…
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29 August
We’re at the #ALProHealth Summit hosted by @ACESedu @AuburnU. The day is being closed out by an engaging panel… https://t.co/qhmQAQzi7c
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29 August
RT @wacf: Civic Dispatch: Living and Working Together | David Mathews Center for Civic Life https://t.co/A0mmO3ucnY
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27 August
New (free) teacher workshops scheduled! Thx to a generous grant from @al200, we've been sharing with AL teachers ab… https://t.co/Ww75KT2r5k
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17 August
RT @JimByardJr: Engagement is paramount...good day at the @DMCforCivicLife’s 3rd Annual Civic Institute! #betogetherdifferently https://t.c…
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17 August
RT @aplusala: ”We are deeply divided. But the one thing every American agrees on, it’s that we’re TOO deeply divided.” #FindComminGround #b…
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17 August
RT @JillToday: “If you have an enemy, make him your partner. It’s hard to be divisive when you are partners depending on each other.” - Dav…
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17 August
RT @aplusala: “All people are engaged in something - care about something. The problem is they don’t think they can make a difference.” - D…
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17 August
RT @alabamacoastal: Honored to attend the @DMCforCivicLife 3rd Annual Civic Institute for the state! #BeTogetherDifferently
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17 August
RT @aplusala: Thrilled to be at the 3rd annual Civic Institute @DMCforCivicLife #betogetherdifferently #aledchat #alpolitics #edchat @al_bp…
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17 August
RT @aplusala: “We tried government OF the people. We tried government FOR the people. Why don’t we try government WITH the people?” -David…
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7 August
Check out our session at @NCDD's conference in October, Civic Initiators at Work! with Betty Knighton of the West V… https://t.co/xwaWvADaIL
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7 August
Less than thirty seats left! Save your spot before the event sells out, like last year! https://t.co/EGZNDq8H4B
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1 August
RT @aplusala: Kicking off orientation and the 1st-ever meeting of @aplusala’s student voice team for 2108-19. #studentvoicematters #aledcha…
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31 July
RT @ncdd: We are thrilled to see several NCDDers nominated for the 2018 Civvys! @CSUCPD @mcarcasson @whatsnextwv @BettyKnighton @essentialp…
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20 July
It's happening. August 17th. Tickets: https://t.co/u0i51IXm5L https://t.co/2QJblGWBQe
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18 July
RT @HonorsCollegeUA: Learn about the value of community space & The Social in Marion, AL, from Honors student and Jean O'Connor-Snyder inte…
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6 July
RT @CourtneyBreese: New at @NCDD: DMC Hosts Third Annual Civic Institute on August 17th https://t.co/1f3anaLtQf https://t.co/53P0gdqqwT
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