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 2018
Civic Institute
To be held on August 17th at the American Village in Montevallo—get your tickets today!
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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18 June
RT @LivingDemocracy: Erin in #CollinsvilleAL working hard at Valley Care DPC with Dr Koe! https://t.co/AKvnA5bMOt
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12 June
RT @LivingDemocracy: Laura in #CamdenAL went to a city council meeting which reminded her of the great asset that is the Alabama River. Rea…
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5 June
The 2018 Civic Institute is your chance to "be together differently" as we explore the promises and challenges of d… https://t.co/bn42NqIJCs
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23 May
New session details for #2018CivicInstitute on the blog! Link to register within. Take advantage of our early regis… https://t.co/p4ElRKxrhs
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22 May
RT @LivingDemocracy: Erin in #CollinsvilleAL had a great time at the elementary school, where fireman Mark Shatzel gave a presentation on f…
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22 May
RT @LivingDemocracy: Photos from Erin in #CollinsvilleAL! Looks like some delicious fresh local produce https://t.co/qXPK4JevwQ
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21 May
RT @BrdgAllianceUS: The 2018 Civvys Are Coming! Bridge Alliance and @BigTentNation are already gearing up for the Civvys’ second year - whi…
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17 May
Announcing the 2018 Civic Institute on August 17th! Get your tickets now!
Hope to you there, @ACESedu @ALMediaGrp… https://t.co/KLdrDCH08Y
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16 May
RT @PACEfunders: Would you be willing to take a survey that will help a new coalition expand & improve #civiceducation in the USA? Please s…
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14 May
RT @CivicEdNow: Would you be willing to take a survey that will help a new coalition expand & improve #civiceducation in the USA? Please sh…
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14 May
RT @AuburnLD2018: LD2018 starts this week for Erin in #CollinsvilleAL and Laura in #CamdenAL. We're excited to see what adventures await th…
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9 May
RT @karadillard: Thanks to @KetteringFdn and @NIForums for convening a wonderful panel on the public's voice on immigration and divisivenes…
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9 May
-listen for differences, trade-offs, opportunities to engage with people based on common ground
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9 May
What can ordinary citizens do about today’s divisiveness & polarization? Dr. Mathews of @KetteringFdn closing out… https://t.co/cTZuJEY0OH
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9 May
RT @karadillard: Here here to what Michael Neblo is saying about online forums! I agree that facebook/social media spaces are often not co…
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9 May
RT @PACEfunders: What would #APV2018 panelists do for the world with a magic wand?
-free & independent press
-listen w/ curiosity to disag…DMCforCivicLife
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9 May
“Listen with curiosity if someone disagrees with you. What can you learn?” Jean Johnson of @NIForums on how to redu… https://t.co/pxjmdpFPCQ
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9 May
Q for the panelists at #APV2018: any insights on moderating deliberative conversations, fostering healing & trust w… https://t.co/zqJnoF4edN
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9 May
RT @PACEfunders: One thing we’ve learned is that when people say “how can someone believe that?” they really want to know.
But today, the…
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9 May
“We live in diverse spaces but we don’t interact with each other in diverse ways.” Pastor Alberto Olivas on address… https://t.co/RDQ0Nw9YRO
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9 May
RT @karadillard: "If congress members can take themselves out of the meeting and make the discussion the focus, we'd be better." - Love thi…
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9 May
“You’re never going to understand the other side if you don’t hear it.” Betsy Wright Hawkings of @DemocracyFund on… https://t.co/2L0LVWwrhd
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9 May
RT @karadillard: Why does this matter? "People can and will deliberate over difficult issues and can make progress...they point to what peo…
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8 May
@farhadjarralpk Great question @farhadjarralpk! @KetteringFdn could you let us know?
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8 May
We're really looking forward to this year's A Public Voice livestream tomorrow! Twitter friends, conveners, citizen… https://t.co/Y4uPVfz94o
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8 May
RT @mainstmarional: We're excited @HonorsCollegeUA is in town working on a variety of different projects as a part of Black Belt Experience…
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8 May
RT @KetteringFdn: What would you like to tell policymakers about divisiveness? Send us your comments or questions tomorrow at 11 am ET via…
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30 April
For DMC Executive Director Cristin Brawner, active citizenship is a countervailing force that challenges the isolat… https://t.co/YZkraG3HKt
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23 April
RT @ncdd: Are you looking to dig deep w/fellow innovators on #dialogue, #deliberation, & #publicengagement? Collaborate on how to better im…
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23 April
RT @JeffersonCtr: Instead of divisiveness, the Bowling Green Civic Assembly showed a "hunger to engage" both online and in person. @jessimc…
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23 April
RT @spaceship_media: We use journalism to bridge divides through careful listening and empathy. We’re celebrating the National Week of Conv…
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23 April
RT @TheCivicCircle: Hey, civil discourse fans! Did you know that this is the National Week of Conversation? Find a conversation here: http…
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22 April
RT @alabamapioneers: New Podcast: The town of Marion has a storied history, originally named Muckle's Ridge, the town was an education hotb…
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22 April
RT @mainstmarional: Come to downtown Marion! Jazz on the Square is in full swing! Here is a snippet of Squared Away a group of talented MMI…
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21 April
RT @APT_IQLN: Teachers, don't miss this FREE opportunity!! @DMCforCivicLife and @al200 present What's Next Alabama? Place-Based, Deliberati…
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20 April
RT @mainstmarional: Join us on the Courthouse Square in Marion, AL tomorrow starting at 2:00PM! We can't wait to see everybody! https://t.c…
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17 April
Missed today’s workshop on "What's Next, Alabama? Place-Based, Deliberative Learning in the Classroom"? We’ll be in… https://t.co/K1sx5tPAYd
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17 April
We’re at @cmdcah kicking off the first “What’s Next, Alabama?” Place-Based, Deliberative Learning teacher workshop… https://t.co/tSAYlx019H
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16 April
RT @ListenFirstProj: #ListenFirstCville kicks off National Week of Conversation in only 5 days!! Incredible support among the #Charlottesvi…
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16 April
We're so excited for our first teacher workshop tomorrow in Auburn, at Pebble Hill! We still have a few spots left… https://t.co/VyMPgZ8tJT
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14 April
RT @BigTentNation: The Power of Dialogue: a workshop from @essentialprtnrs on transforming conflicted conversations about divisive issues.…
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14 April
RT @AHF: Don’t worry #Alabama teachers! If you can’t make it to our June SUPER #TeacherWorkshop we have one May 10! Go to https://t.co/6lie…
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13 April
RT @DMCforCivicLife: Coming up in Auburn, Tuesday the 17th - our first FREE teacher workshop of 2018! Lunch provided, CEUs offered, $50 tow…
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13 April
RT @CherylGraeve: I've got my conversations planned for @NatlWkOfConvos how about you? This is an important time for us to come together as…
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12 April
Coming up in Auburn, Tuesday the 17th - our first FREE teacher workshop of 2018! Lunch provided, CEUs offered, $50… https://t.co/sEiqTjSPNk
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11 April
RT @JeffersonCtr: "Their friendship is the story of what happens when people who disagree, emphatically and sometimes angrily, get out of t…
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