Synopsis

This article explains how kids in some parts of the country have more chances to move up in life. It uses research from Harvard and shows how local traditions, history, and culture can affect success. Some areas support strong communities and good schools, while others may have fewer public services or opportunities.

Young people already want to work alongside adults to solve community issues—but often lack spaces with real power or connection reciprocal collaboration.

Without a shared story built on democratic ideals, public cohesion and collective action weaken. Amid rising polarization and authoritarian threats, a revitalized narrative rooted in civic values provides the social glue and moral framework to sustain democratic governance and shared purpose.

Contempt-driven language erodes trust, escalates division, and fuels extremism. The Dignity Index offers a practical, measurable approach to create a new standard in public dialogue—centered on mutual respect and possibility.

Millions of Americans lack a working knowledge of how government functions or what their civic responsibilities entail. Civics 101 meets this challenge head-on with fast, foundational lessons that help people of all ages—from students to retirees—understand the systems that shape their daily lives. With trust in institutions declining and polarization rising, resources like Civics 101 play a vital role in rebuilding civic competence and confidence.

Informed citizens start young. Kids Discover Online provides engaging, age-appropriate content that helps students understand systems, history, and science—all essential foundations for civic readiness. From ancient civilizations to climate change and democracy, Kids Discover connects learning to the real world, building civic awareness and critical thinking from a young age.

At a time when political polarization threatens both governance and the social fabric, Convergence offers a proven model for collaborative policymaking rooted in trust and mutual respect. Their work helps leaders—and the public—move from conflict to consensus, from gridlock to solutions.

This book reframes city-making as a collaborative cultural process—shaped by stories, rituals, and relationships, not just bricks and regulations. It offers a vocabulary and set of practices for embedding empathy, pluralism, and public imagination into civic infrastructure, directly aligning with The Change Lab’s mission of building social cohesion and systemic change from the ground up.

Leadership Houston is one of the city’s premier civic leadership programs, dedicated to educating and connecting leaders who are passionate about making a difference. Since 1982, it has brought together professionals from every sector to explore Houston’s most pressing issues, engage with decision-makers, and build lasting relationships across industries and ideologies. The goal? To create a more informed, inspired, and civically active Houston.

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit think tank and leadership organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute convenes leaders across sectors to tackle the world’s most complex challenges through dialogue, research, and action. With a strong belief in values-based leadership, the Aspen Institute creates space for bold ideas, civil discourse, and meaningful impact.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with locations across the U.S. and abroad, Aspen serves as a neutral ground where changemakers collaborate on solutions across lines of difference.

It all begins with an idea.