Cultivating Civic Responsibility and Joy in Higher Education

Presented by Alex Edgar and Dr. Sandra Bass of the University of California-Berkeley.

Using UC Berkeley as a case study, the presenters shared best practices and examples of how students and staff working collaboratively can fundamentally change the nature of civic engagement on college campuses. From their successful multi-year battle to secure a polling location on campus to the creation of programs like Votechella that focus on developing Civic Joy, the presenters shared the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way from their years of organizing at UC Berkeley. Attendees left the session with new tools to combat institutional and student civic apathy, foster civic joy, and create civic synergy across campus divisions.