Rachel Naftel Mosness Chosen to Lead Mathews Center as Executive Director
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is happy to announce Rachel Naftel Mosness has been chosen to lead the organization as its new Executive Director.
Welcome 2021 Innovators in Civic Education Fellows!
On June 21, the David Mathews Center for Civic Life hosted the third annual workshop of the Innovators in Civic Education Fellows. 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.
Where We’ve Been: Summer Teacher Workshops
The summer of 2021 kicked off with a series of professional development workshops across the state. During the week of June 7-11, DMC Education Director Gabrielle Lamplugh attended four workshops to present on educational resources.
Loren Gary Joins DMC as Development Director
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is pleased to announce the hiring of Loren Gary as Development Director. In this role, Loren will work with DMC Executive Director Cristin Brawner to drive the organization’s sustainable growth to meet its mission. Loren will be responsible for developing and maintaining active and productive relationships with internal and external constituencies.
DEADLINE EXTENDED: DMC Strategic Planning Request for Proposals
The Board of Directors of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life (DMC) is launching a strategic planning process for the organization that will define its direction for the next five years.
Public Libraries in Alabama: Gateways to the Community
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.
Tipping Point: The 2020 Year in Review
Despite the unique challenges posed throughout 2020, Alabamians found ways to continue serving their communities and addressing new needs. The DMC was fortunate to work remotely with our partners statewide to continue programming safely, and we hope you enjoy this month-by-month journey through a year like no other.
Women’s History Month: Alabama Stories
In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a short overview of just a few women who have made Alabama better and stronger.
NEW: Announcing the Summer 2021 Departure of Executive Director Cristin Brawner
The staff and Board of Directors of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life announce the summer 2021 departure of Cristin F. Brawner as Executive Director.
DMC Hosts the 2021 JOIP Intern Retreat
On January 22, the DMC hosted the first ever virtual JOIP Intern Retreat! Over 30 students and faculty mentors from eight universities and community colleges across the state met via Zoom to get to know each other, play games, and share their upcoming JOIP programming and projects for the Spring semester.
Innovators in Civic Education Fellowship 2021-22
The David Mathews Center (DMC) is now accepting applications for its Innovators in Civic Education Fellowship!
Black History Month: Alabama Stories
There are countless African-Americans who have made Alabama better. For Black History Month, we’re going to highlight just a few.
2021-22 JOIP Request for Proposals
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is pleased to announce our Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Call for Proposals for the 2021-22 academic year!
DMC Hosts Statewide Community Forums on SUD
Since December 2020, the David Mathews Center (DMC) has visited 20 counties all over Alabama as part of the Alabama Provider Capacity Project (APCP). This is a joint project between the Alabama Medicaid Agency, the Alabama Department of Mental Health, and the VitAL Initiative at The University of Alabama School of Social Work. APCP proposes to increase Alabama’s capacity to provide substance use treatment and expand provider participation options.
Inaugurations: A Brief History
A presidential inauguration is one of America’s most sacred traditions. Since the swearing in of George Washington to today’s ceremony, American inaugurations have been filled with historic, odd, patriotic, and unusual moments. Here’s a glimpse of notable stories from past inaugurations:
The ABCs of Voting: 2020 Edition
Confused about voting? Just curious? We’ve compiled an A – Z list of definitions, resources, and deep dives to demystify the voting process. Whether you’re looking for more information about absentee voting or just geeking out about electoral history, we’ve got you covered.
Native American Heritage Month in November!
November is Native American Heritage Month! We want to take time to honor the histories, cultures, and stories of indigenous people groups. To learn more about Native American culture, young students can read the book The Star People: A Lakota Story. In November, we will partner with the Albert L. Scott Public Library to commemorate Native American Heritage month.
DMC Partners with NCoC for a Learning Circle!
We partnered with the National Conference on Citizenship and University of Alabama to talk about a new approach to teaching history.
Teaching Difficult History: Discussing Reconstruction in the Classroom
We are hosting a free, virtual professional development opportunity titled Teaching Difficult History: Discussing Reconstruction in the Classroom. This workshop will include two modules that can be completed at your own pace, and one live Zoom session from 4-6 p.m on October 28th. Participants who complete the workshop will be eligible for 4 clock hours of professional learning.You can register for the workshop here.
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!

