Building Better, Stronger Communities: The David Mathews Center's 2025 Civic Institute

​The David Mathews Center for Civic Life will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the 2025 Civic Institute in Montevallo, Alabama—a daylong event dedicated to strengthening communities through dialogue, collaboration, and civic engagement. Inspired by Dr. David Mathews’ book Together: Building Better, Stronger Communities, the Institute emphasizes that progress arises when people work together despite differences. Highlights include a keynote from Representative Ginny Shaver and Senator Vivian Davis Figures on their bipartisan effort to secure paid parental leave for state employees, along with sessions showcasing community initiatives tied to Alabama’s Semiquincentennial, the Center’s youth internship program, and oral history projects that uplift underrepresented voices. With a focus on inclusive participation, equity, and practical strategies for solving complex local challenges, the Institute embodies the Mathews Center’s mission to foster civic dialogue and demonstrate that democracy grows stronger through connection, collaboration, and shared learning.

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The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is marking its twentieth anniversary with a daylong gathering that embodies the heart of democratic engagement: bringing people together across differences to strengthen communities. The 2025 Civic Institute, taking place in Montevallo, Alabama, offers civic-minded changemakers and leaders a space to explore Alabama's past, present, and future through meaningful dialogue and shared learning.

A Vision Rooted in Collaboration

Drawing its theme from Dr. David Mathews' 2021 book Together: Building Better, Stronger Communities, the Institute reflects a fundamental belief that communities thrive when people work collaboratively, even amid disagreement. This approach aligns powerfully with the principles of dialogue and deliberation—creating spaces where diverse voices can engage authentically, where listening matters as much as speaking, and where collective wisdom emerges through respectful exchange.
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The day's programming demonstrates what this looks like in practice. Participants will hear from Alabama lawmakers Representative Ginny Shaver and Senator Vivian Davis Figures, who exemplify bipartisan collaboration through their successful effort to secure paid parental leave for state employees. Their keynote will illuminate how building relationships across political divides makes possible what might otherwise seem impossible—a lesson with implications far beyond the statehouse.

From Local Action to Lasting Impact

The Institute's agenda reflects the Mathews Center's commitment to grounding civic engagement in real community experiences. Sessions will explore practical strategies for addressing complex, persistent challenges—what some call wicked problems—while highlighting successful efforts already underway across Alabama. Participants will learn about initiatives marking the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, hear from young professionals shaped by the Center's internship program, and discover how oral history projects can help communities reach across divides to include voices often left unheard.

This focus on inclusive participation and equity runs throughout the day. By showcasing diverse perspectives and celebrating community-driven solutions, the Institute creates opportunities for participants to see themselves as essential contributors to democratic life. The emphasis on learning from what works, rather than dwelling solely on what's broken, offers a generative approach to civic renewal.

The David Mathews Center's two-decade commitment to fostering civic dialogue in Alabama has created ripples that extend well beyond state lines. Its work demonstrates that strengthening democracy begins locally—in the conversations we have, the relationships we build, and the collaborative efforts we undertake to address shared challenges.
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Those interested in connecting with civic leaders, exploring strategies for community engagement, and contributing to a more participatory democracy can find complete details about registration, the full agenda, and speaker information at the Civic Institute website: https://www.mathewscenter.org/2025-civic-institute?mc_cid=8ad413389e&mc_eid=45410ff4e0