Civic Activity at Grinnell

At Grinnell College we are committed to providing civic learning opportunities that equip students to become equity-minded and innovative civic agents. During their time at Grinnell, students are encouraged to discern, explore, and assess what their civic role might be in any given setting. Our approach acknowledges that constructive change-making necessitates the filling of many interlaced roles.  Some volunteer to make small changes or meet immediate needs. Some make concrete plans for others or manage projects. Some analyze situations or systems. Some take on activist, ally, or advocacy roles, and yet others work to create more equitable systems altogether. Our ecosystem of advising and experiential learning opportunities encourages students to explore and experience while remaining conscious of the impact of the intersections between their community context, their positionality, and their evolving civic interests and capacity.

News & Advice

What Do We Mean By “Civic Engagement”

News & Articles
Published on May 25, 2023

by Richard P. Adler & Judy Goggin in the Journal of Transformative Education Vol. 3 No. 3.

Civic engagement refers to the ways in which citizens participate in the life of a community in order to improve conditions for others …

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Systems Thinking: The Iceberg model

News & Articles
Published on April 26, 2023

Published in Bootcamp By Courage Egbude, Dec. 26, 2022

“Systems thinking is a way of approaching problems that asks how various elements within a system — which could be an ecosystem, an organization, or something more dispersed such as a supply …

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Cultural, Geopolitical, and Structural Barriers to Social Innovation

News & Articles
Published on March 21, 2023

by Heather MacCleoud, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT

Cultural, geopolitical, and structural barriers prevent many social innovation initiatives from achieving their desired impact. These barriers include social pressures, regulatory burdens, lack of resources (funding, people, knowledge), and inequitable power structures. Fortunately, there are …

By Susan Sanning
Susan Sanning Associate Dean and Director of Civic Education & Innovation
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Phone
(641) 269-4940
Email
career@grinnell.edu
Address

John Chrystal Center
1103 Park Street
Grinnell, IA 50112

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Tuesday 8:00am–5:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am–5:00pm
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