Mission:
To engage and equip the next generation of equity-minded, civic agents.
Vision:
Every Grinnell College student will gain the insights and skills necessary to articulate and act upon their civic values and goals in a self-aware, sustainable, and equitable manner, alongside their academic and postgraduate ambitions.
Commitment:
At Grinnell, we are committed to providing students with opportunities to explore meaningful ways to positively impact their communities—personally, professionally, and civically. The Civic Education and Innovation team in the CLS provides hands-on, community-based learning experiences that equip students with the skills and insights needed to become creative, equity-focused civic leaders. By fostering collaborative reflection on how their civic roles intersect with and align with others addressing similar challenges, we empower students to recognize how their unique contributions can be intentional parts of broader systemic change.
Core Civic Values:
- Flourishing Community We prioritize fostering a flourishing community centered on mutual trust, compassion, curiosity, agency, and rest.
- Intentional Self-Reflection Equitable relationships require continuous self-reflection, assessment, and the humility to change.
- Diversity & Inclusion Civic education and innovation should critically evaluate power dynamics and honor the strengths and voices of all participants.
- Collaborative Partnerships Community-centered partnerships should be grounded in trust, mutual respect, collective empowerment, and co-creation.
- Sustainability Civic collaborations should be contextually responsive, well-researched, fiscally responsible, and focused on creating positive change. Civic activities should take into consideration their social, economic, and environmental impacts as well as their alignment with effective, systemic solutions.
Overarching Civic Learning Goals:
- Students will see themselves as a part of interconnected local communities that they are responsible to and for.
- Students will be able to reflect upon and articulate how their civic commitments intersect with their concepts of social justice, long-term change-making, and flourishing community.
- Students will learn to navigate and integrate their identities, values, academic interests, and civic work.
- Students will take part in equity-minded collaboration.
- Students will make a practice of continually assessing and prioritizing personal and communal sustainability in their civic activities.
