Project Pericles is a not-for-profit organization that encourages and facilitates commitments by colleges and universities to include social responsibility and participatory citizenship as essential elements of their educational programs. Founded in 2001 by philanthropist Eugene M. Lang, Project Pericles works directly with its member institutions as they individually and collaboratively develop model civic engagement programs in their classrooms, on their campuses, and in their communities.
Recent News
2012 Debating for Democracy (D4D)™National Conference
The 2012 Project Pericles D4D National Conference was held on March 22 and 23 at Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts in New York City. More than 60 student leaders and activists from colleges and universities across the country were joined by college presidents, faculty, foundation, government and community leaders, and members of the media to participate in workshops, keynote addresses, and panel discussions on social action, social media, the federal budget, income inequality, and the role of non-profits. Conference Agenda
A highlight of the two-day conference was the D4D Legislative Hearing, where five teams of college students selected through a competition presented their ideas for addressing some of the most important public policy issues facing the United States to a panel of government officials.
Carol Browner, former Director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy in the Obama administration and former Administrator of the EPA in the Clinton Administration,delivered the keynote address at the dinner.
Project Pericles appreciates the generous support of the Eugene M. Lang Foundation and the Periclean colleges and universities.
Ana M. Polanco, Managing Director of Organizing, Amnesty International USA, speaking on the "Social Action - Panel Discussion."
Five Finalist Teams Present Letters to an Elected Official at Debating for Democracy (D4D)™Legislative Hearing
We are pleased to announce the five Letters to an Elected Official that were featured in the Legislative Hearing at the 2012 Debating for Democracy (D4D) National Conference on March 22. We received 54 letters from our 29 Periclean colleges and universities proposing innovative solutions to a wide variety of issues ranging from anti-bullying, to human trafficking protection, to initiatives for Native American Education. These letters were sent to more than 100 elected officials throughout the United States.
At the hearing, the five finalist teams presented their letters to a legislative committee and an audience of college presidents, faculty, students, foundation, government, and community leaders. The legislative committee included former government officials: U.S. Senator Harris L. Wofford; U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Constance Berry Newman; and Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland Kurt L. Schmoke.
The winning team will receive a $3,000 award from Project Pericles to develop an advocacy and education campaign to move their issue forward.
Debating for Democracy (D4D)™on the Road 2011-2012
Project Pericles held D4D on the Road training workshops at 12 Periclean colleges and universities during the 2011-2012 academic year. Each workshop helped attendees learn the concrete tools for successful organizing and advocacy, identify new strategies for making change on a particular issue, practice developing and delivering an effective advocacy message, and build relationships to support and sustain their work.
The workshops were led by The Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL), a national nonpartisan training institute based in Washington, D.C. that has trained over 5,000 diverse leaders.
The workshops were open to students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and community leaders.
The Periclean Faculty Leadership Program in Action
Hendrix College student Stephanie Oshrin helps to organize Arkansas' first Rally for Reproductive Justice. Periclean Faculty Leader Lisa Leitz is proud of her students, calling the rally a "tremendous success." Full article and Video
Seven Macalester College students spend a week in New Orleans for a seminar on cultural survival. Led by Periclean Faculty Leader Molly Olsen and Macalester Program Director Paul Schadewald, students had the opportunity to explore the challenges and cultural strategies of resistance in New Orleans. They alsomet with local community partners, scholars, and activists. See footage of their experience.
Learn more about the Periclean Faculty Leadership Program
Project Pericles White Paper Shares Strategies for Incorporating Civic Engagement in the Classroom
The Project Pericles Civic Engagement Course (CEC) Program™ White Paper, Civic Engagement in the Classroom: Strategies for Incorporating Education for Civic and Social Responsibility in the Undergraduate Curriculum, is available online.
"OUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT COPY OUR NEIGHBORS',
BUT IS AN EXAMPLE TO THEM. IT IS TRUE THAT WE ARE
CALLED A DEMOCRACY, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION IS IN
THE HANDS OF THE MANY AND NOT OF THE FEW. BUT
WHILE THERE EXISTS EQUAL JUSTICE TO ALL AND ALIKE
IN THEIR PRIVATE DISPUTES, THE CLAIM OF EXCELLENCE
IS ALSO RECOGNIZED; AND WHEN A CITIZEN IS IN ANY
WAY DISTINGUISHED, HE IS PREFERRED TO THE PUBLIC
SERVICE, NOT AS A MATTER OF PRIVILEGE, BUT AS THE
REWARD FOR MERIT, NEITHER IS POVERTY AN OBSTACLE,
BUT A MAN MAY BENEFIT HIS COUNTRY WHATEVER THE
OBSCURITY OF HIS CONDITION..."
