Religion and American Civil Society
The exercise of faith serves many functions, but its paramount role is to function as the foundation of civil society.
Civic Engagement Social innovations that enrich society and enhance democratic participation
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On Shared Vision and a New Social Compact
Civic engagement and community voice make up the secret sauce of US democracy. We need a new, community-generated social compact to assert the vision and policy framework for an inclusive 21st-century America.
Civic Virtues and the Healing of Partisan Divides
In a time when many are drawing a line between communities and ideologies, the best line to draw is one that goes right through every human heart—a line that leads to five essential civic virtues.
The Best Leaders May Be Those Who “Give Up”
Leadership is often defined by lists of character qualities, values, or skills. But what if the best leaders are simply those who can willingly give up things they value?
Aspirin and Democracy
With its professional management class and army of consultants, the nonprofit sector can sometimes seem isolated from the messiness of civil society, and a new Philanthropic Beltway may have sprung up. But it wasn’t always that way, and it may be time to reclaim an earlier identity as the “volunteer sector,” which is inherently democratic.
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The Curb-Cut Effect
Laws and programs designed to benefit vulnerable groups, such as the disabled or people of color, often end up benefiting all of society.
Stop Raising Awareness Already
It’s time for activists and organizations to adopt a more strategic approach to public interest communications.
Protest Movements Could Be More Effective Than the Best Charities
To do as much good as possible with limited resources, funders should look to woefully underfunded protest movements.
Community Engagement Matters (Now More Than Ever)
In adopting data-driven practices, leaders must design and implement programs in ways that engage community members directly in the work of social change.
Inside Switzerland’s Radical Drug Policy Innovation
A look at how Switzerland radically and successfully changed its approach to drug policy following a heroin epidemic in the late 1980s and 90s, and what the effort teaches us about the social innovation process.