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Graduation day: Center for Democracy and Citizenship moving to Augsburg but staying close

Connection with Humphrey Institute, University will remain strong

After more than two decades with the Humphrey Institute, the Center for Democracy and Citizenship (CDC) will relocate to Augsburg College, effective July 1, 2009.

The center’s work is grounded in the belief that a healthy democracy requires everyone’s participation, and that each of us has something to contribute. This work builds on a long tradition of people of all ages working together for the common good.

“We value our long association with the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and other units of the University of Minnesota,” says co-director Harry C. Boyte, “and will retain these strong ties as we further our work. I think the move to Augsburg fits well mission-wise, and we hope to multiply our good work through the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities, a five-college consortium of which Augsburg is a member.”

“CDC has been one of our most active centers,” says Humphrey Institute Dean J. Brian Atwood. “Codirectors Harry Boyte and Nan Skelton and the CDC staff have worked tirelessly to engage citizens in democratic processes, and CDC has a well-deserved reputation across the globe for innovative thinking about public engagement. We are proud to have incubated this center, and we look forward to launching new initiatives that will meet with similar success.”

CDC has initiated the move as a way to strengthen its mission-related activities. The Universities current financial situation made this a good time for the center to find an administrative structure compatible wsith its diverse, grant-funded operations.

Although the CDC staff and activities will no longer physically be located at the Humphrey Institute, the relationship with CDC will remain strong. Co-director Senior Fellow Harry Boyte will retain his title and will continue to teach as a member of the Institute’s graduate faculty, although on a reduced appointment. The strong affiliation between CDC and the CHANCE program will continue, with Humphrey Institute (and other University) students involved in CDC’s work.

At Augsburg, CDC will lead a multi-institutional effort to connect education with civic life. The center will continue its current initiatives, including Public Achievement, Learning in Cities, Jane Addams School for Democracy, the West Side Neighborhood Learning Community, and the Warrior to Citizen Campaign.