Citizen University Civic Gathering Resources & Civic Saturday Fellowship Opportunity (Open Until 5/17)

The pandemic and political divisions have intensified social distancing and loneliness, underscoring the need for public gathering spaces to rebuild connections. Civic infrastructure, like community gatherings, can bridge social gaps, foster trust, and encourage civic engagement. Citizen University offers a task to all - Become a "gathering engineer" by identifying areas of disconnection and envisioning purposeful gathering places, such as swap meets or BBQs. Relatedly, if you want to strengthen your skills in civics and hosting ritualized gatherings, check out the Civic Saturday Fellowship opportunity. Applications to join the Fall Fellowship are open until May 17. Learn more in the post below and on the Citizen University site here.

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Citizen University Updates - Spring 2024

Civic Gathering
Social distancing. While this phrase isn’t plastered in every public place anymore, the habit remains. The pandemic (magnified by political polarization) has widened the distance among Americans with rippling consequences. Feeling connected to others is a basic human need — and this epidemic of loneliness is bad for our health, our economy, and our democracy.

Our communities need more public gathering places in which to rebuild connections with others. It sounds obvious, but in reality, there are fewer and fewer actual places that enable us to get to know those around us and build the relationships, trust, and collaborations that society needs to thrive. We’re talking about gatherings that are “upstream” of politics, where we can rehumanize one another and find ways to move forward.

That’s why we’re on a quest to build more “civic infrastructure” — structured and sustained community gatherings that help us feel invited, connected, and energized. That helps us overcome social anxiety and heal our social rifts. And that builds a culture of looking out for others, of taking responsibility for what’s not working, of being civically committed.

Your task this month
Become a gathering engineer. Study the areas of disconnection, of social breakdown, and of civic opportunity around you. Pay attention to the kinds of connection your community is yearning for and sketch out what it would look and feel like to have public, purposeful gathering places where everyone can belong and thrive. It could be a swap meet, a BBQ at the county fair, a program at your library, a Memorial Day potluck, a community garden workshop… gatherings can (and should!) fit with the culture of your place. Do what you can: show up once; join a planning group; organize something of your own — each small step matters!

Resources for building gatherings

• If you need help with designing a civic gathering for your community… We’ve put together journaling prompts, links to a deep-dive course in the “art of gathering” from Priya Parker, and other tools to help you imagine and embed your own civic gatherings. Explore → 
• If you want to join a cohort of other gathering-builders… We offer a free, six-month program designed for this purpose exactly — to provide you the strategies, support, and network of collaborators to develop and embed civic gatherings in your community. It’s called the Civic Saturday Fellowship — and applications for our fall cohorts are open through May 17. Learn & apply →