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
2013 Debating for Democracy (D4D)™ National Conference
Project Pericles' fifth Debating for Democracy (D4D) National Conference was held on March 21 and 22 at The New School in New York City, where more than 60 student leaders from colleges and universities across the country were joined by college presidents, faculty, foundation, government and community leaders, and members of the media. The conference agenda consisted of workshops and panel discussions on social action, insights from the presidential election, the federal budget, building social movements, and the role of non-profits.
One of the highlights of the conference was the D4D Legislative Hearing that took place on March 21, in which five finalist teams of Periclean students—who had competed to participate-- presented, advocated, and defended their original legislative recommendations on some of today's most important public policy issues to a panel of former government officials: U.S. Senator Harris Wofford (D-PA); U.S. Congressman Thomas Downey (D-NY); U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Constance Berry Newman; and Mayor of Baltimore Kurt Schmoke.
A celebratory dinner with keynote speaker Rajeev Goyal, author of "The Springs of Namje: A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of Congress," followed the Legislative Hearing at 6:00 PM on March 21.
Project Pericles appreciates the generous support of the Eugene M. Lang Foundation
Debating for Democracy (D4D)™ Winners Produce Video on Effective Lobbying with Award Money
Earlham College juniors David Schutt and Clara Stuligross completed a video on how to communicate effectively with elected officials, featuring Representative Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and congressional staffers. Schutt and Stuligross emphasize that elected officials pay attention to constituents who reach out to them, promoting the underlying philosophy of the D4D Program.
At the 2012 Project Pericles D4D National Conference, Schutt and Stuligross took first place in the Legislative Hearing for the defense of their "Letter in Support of the Budget Control Act"- written to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). After winning the D4D Legislative Hearing, the pair spent the summer in Washington, D.C. as interns - Schutt in Congress and Stuligross at the Environmental Protection Agency. While in D.C., they used part of their $3,000 award from Project Pericles to produce the video.
D4D is designed to promote civic engagement and effective advocacy skills among a wide range of students. Through workshops, a national conference, and co-curricular programs on each campus, students acquire the tools and tactics they need to advance their issues and to get their messages across to elected officials, fellow students, community groups, and the media.
Project Pericles appreciates the generous support of the Eugene M. Lang Foundation.
Project Pericles White Paper Explores Insights from Periclean Faculty Leadership (PFL) Program™
This White Paper presents findings from our multi-year Periclean Faculty Leadership (PFL) Program™ that included 26 participating colleges and universities. In 2010, with generous support from the Eugene M. Lang Foundation and The Teagle Foundation, we launched the PFL Program in which faculty leaders received matching grants to create new Civic Engagement Courses (CECs), organize campus-wide civic engagement activities, develop community partnerships, engage in public scholarship, and serve as civic education advocates and leaders both locally and nationally.
By extending civic pedagogy to the campus, connecting undergraduate education with community input and engagement, and linking all of these projects with faculty development, professional interchanges, reciprocal peer review, and public scholarship, the PFL Program has developed a promising, replicable, and sustainable model of civic education. These 26 courses in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences add to more than 100 existing CECs, and build upon the teachings from the Civic Engagement Course (CEC) Program™.
For more information about receiving copies of our publication, please e-mail Katherine Cross or call 212.986.4496.
Project Pericles completed its fifth year of Debating for Democracy (D4D) on the Road training workshops at 11 Periclean colleges and universities. During the 2012-2013 academic year, participants learned the tools and tactics to get their message across to policy makers, community leaders, and the public. This year's workshops addressed strategy, developing an effective message, public speaking, letter writing, bill analysis, writing a press release, and how to handle a face-to-face meeting with an official.
The workshops were led by Soapbox Consulting, a leading provider of training seminars, workshops, and lobby days for many national associations.
Since 2008, Project Pericles has brought these important workshops to 28 Periclean campuses across the United States. They are open to students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and community leaders.
Project Pericles appreciates the generous support of the Eugene M. Lang Foundation
"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..."
