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—and some participated in—the eruption of the Free Speech Movement on campus, when students demanded the right to political expression 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.
Their years at Berkeley coincided with profound national upheaval. Students organized, debated, and pushed one another to think seriously about the country they were inheriting. In May of 1967, at the invitation of a student who would later serve on CCDE’s Board, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke from the steps of Sproul Hall and told the students gathered there that they had been “the conscience of the academic community and our nation.” It was in this tradition that the Class of ’68 came of age.
Decades later, at their 40th reunion, classmates came together to channel that legacy into something lasting. They founded CCDE to advance the values that had shaped them as students—constructive dialogue, civic participation, and democratic innovation—and to prepare new generations of leaders to carry that work forward.
Timeline
Explore key moments in our history.
1964–1965
Free Speech Movement
As freshmen at UC Berkeley, the Class of 1968 witnessed firsthand the eruption of the Free Speech Movement. Students demanded the right to political expression on campus, sparking a nationwide wave of activism. This formative experience instilled a lifelong commitment to civic participation and democratic engagement in the Class of ’68—values that would later inspire the founding of CCDE.
1968
Cal Class of ’68
Graduating amid social upheaval and political division, the Class of ’68 carried forward the spirit of civic participation. Decades later, classmates would channel that legacy into founding CCDE, committed to dialogue and democratic innovation.
2008
Founding of the Center
In response to growing polarization, members of the Class of ’68 established the Center on Civility & Democratic Engagement. Their original vision: “to encourage and enhance the development of engaged citizens in a diverse society, to build a better society based on civil discourse and a free and open exchange of ideas, to foster fairness and democratic participation by people of diverse backgrounds and political orientations on campus, in the state, the nation and beyond.” These founding principles continue to guide CCDE’s work today.
2024–Present
Today
In August 2024, Dr. Meredith Sadin became the Center’s Director. A political scientist focused on access, inequality, and community engagement, she introduced a renewed vision rooted in four aims: dialogue across difference, connecting practice to policy, igniting a passion for public service, and training current and future leaders.
Our Future
What’s to Come
We have grown tremendously over the last two years and don’t plan to stop now! New courses, expanded fellowships, and collaborative research projects will continue to strengthen our commitment to democratic innovation. We invite alumni, students, practitioners, and supporters to join us. Your involvement helps sustain this work and expand its impact. We welcome your support.
