Civic Renewal Initiative
The Civic Renewal Initiative fosters democratic engagement on campus. It is coordinated by the Office of Civic Engagement & Social Responsibility, the Office of Student Accountability & Restorative Practices and the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education & Support.
The Office for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility developed the Civic Renewal Initiative as an answer to political and social divisions, a growing sense of exclusion among marginalized populations and fear of talking across differences. The Initiative consists of:
A civic discourse training program: The Civic Renewal Fellowship is a yearlong cohort-based training program that teaches restorative practices, dialogue and community organizing to prepare students to facilitate conversations about current events effectively and bring about change on campus. Fellows facilitate Civic Renewal Initiative events to engage the TU community in civic discourse related to current local, national and global issues.
TU Community Conversations: This event focuses on an issue that impacts the TU campus and includes a panel discussion and listening circles. The panel is comprised of TU faculty, staff and students who describe current efforts and challenges related to the issue. Participants then engage in guided listening circles to share their own connection to the issue and envision collective paths forward.
Civic Renewal Town Hall: This event makes progress on the issue identified during a TU Community Conversation. Hosted by the Civic Renewal Fellows, TU Community members are invited to share ideas, concerns and resources to address the community-identified issue. Participants comments influence a student-led advocacy project to bring about change on campus.
TU Community Conversations and Civic Renewal Town Halls take place at least once a year. To register for an upcoming program, go to Involved@TU.
A TU Community Conversation: Becoming a Hunger Free Campus
This video features a panel conversation of TU students, staff and faculty who are discussing efforts to address hunger on campus.