The American Democracy Project: Equipping Students with the Knowledge, Skills, and Experiences to be Informed and Engaged Citizens

Preparing college and university students to be informed and engaged citizens is imperative for a healthy democracy. In our current reality of intense political polarization, today's college students are feeling increasingly isolated and disconnected from democratic structures where partisanship impedes their ability to address important societal challenges. In this essay, I introduce the work of the American Democracy Project (ADP)—a network of 297 public colleges and universities serving 2.7 million students—that is committed to equipping students with the ability to understand and employ interdisciplinary perspectives to address society's most pressing problems. In articulating the purposes and outcomes of various ADP projects, partnerships, and initiatives, I show how an association—working both nationally and with their member campuses—can both inspire and equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to build a flourishing democracy.