WHAT WE DO
WHAT IT TAKES
HOW WE DO IT
Amid rising political polarization and public distrust, higher education has a vital role to play.
The Center on Civility & Democratic Engagement prepares current and future policy leaders to navigate contentious discussions, democratize the policy process, and collaboratively address today’s most pressing public policy issues. The Center supports a wide range of programming, strategic initiatives, and events on the UC Berkeley campus and beyond.
History
The Center on Civility and Democratic Engagement was founded by UC Berkeley’s Class of 1968—a class shaped by one of the most formative moments in the university’s history. As freshmen, they witnessed the eruption of the Free Speech Movement on campus, when students demanded the right to political expression on campus and set off a nationwide wave of activism. That experience instilled a lifelong commitment to civic participation and democratic engagement in the Class of ’68.
Mission
Since its inception, CCDE has united faculty, students, practitioners, policymakers, and community organizations in the shared work of strengthening democracy. By bridging the gap between scholarship and practice, the Center seeks to achieve more productive and enduring solutions to the pressing challenges we face today.
A Letter from the Director
Current events
Announcing the Second Cohort of the UC Berkeley Democracy Policy Fellowship
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The Civic Power of Young People in California’s Central Valley
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Students Lead with Democracy Policy at Impact Showcase
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Don’t miss out
MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Meredith Sadin
Director
Claudia Garza-García
Program Coordinator
Shannon O’Brien
Program Coordinator
