If your organization has collected public opinion data on Americans’ attitudes towards democracy or any of the Our Common Purpose
recommendations, or is planning to conduct such polling this year, please contact us at [email protected].

CALL FOR PUBLIC OPINION DATA ON AMERICANS' ATTITUDES ABOUT DEMOCRACY
Our Common Purpose offers recommendations to reignite Americans’ commitment to constitutional democracy. In our polarized times,
achieving these changes can feel out of reach. But data indicates that Americans are ready for change. Recent research has
documented support for core American values such as the right to vote or a free press, as well as support for OCP recommendations
such as campaign finance reform or Supreme Court term limits. In 2024, we will compile evidence that illuminates American’s views
on democracy. If your organization has collected public opinion data on Americans’ attitudes towards democracy or any of the Our
Common Purpose recommendations [[link removed], or is planning to conduct such polling this year,
please contact us at [email protected] [[email protected]]. 

STORIES FROM THE FIELD
PUBLIC AGENDA ANNOUNCES GRANTEES FOR DEMOCRACY RENEWAL PROJECT.
Public Agenda announced the inaugural slate of grantees [[link removed]] for its Democracy Renewal
Project. Ten teams of scholars will receive $500,000 to conduct practice-relevant studies showing how to achieve universal access
to voting while strengthening trust and confidence in elections. Public Agenda will transform findings into practical tools and
resources tailored for pro-democracy advocates, policymakers, and funders. 

REPORT: ELECTION OFFICIAL TURNOVER ON THE RISE.
A report [[link removed]] by the Bipartisan Policy Center on
election official turnover rates from 2000-2024 finds that turnover has steadily increased, peaking in 2022. The report offers
reforms to address both the chronic and emerging roots of turnover. 

REPORT: STATES CAN EXPAND CIVIC LEARNING.
A report
[[link removed]]
by Carnegie Corporation of New York highlights the need for state-level policies that expand K-12 civic learning and features
examples of how coalition building has been used to advance more robust policies in a growing number of states. 

DIGITAL HUB TO SHINE LIGHT ON CIVIC BRIDGE-BUILDERS.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy launched the Commons [[link removed], a new digital home that will shine a
light on civic leaders who are finding innovative ways to strengthen civic engagement, build community, and bolster democracy.

ELECTION ACTION ITEMS FOR JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS.
A More Perfect Union developed a tailored menu [[link removed]] of actions Jewish organizations can
take to either begin or expand their election-related civic engagement in 2024. 

INNOVATIVE FORUM FOR ENGAGING LOCAL LEADERS.
Village Square convened 120 residents and elected officials in Tallahassee, Florida for a “speed dating
[[link removed]]”
event in which participants discussed issues of importance to the community.

STEVEN OLIKARA: THERE ARE PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO AVOID THE FUTURE DEPICTED IN 'CIVIL WAR'.
Commission member Steven Olikara offers three important strategies
[[link removed]] to steer America
clear from a second civil war.

AMERICAN EXCHANGE PROJECT ALUM: AMERICANS WANT TO GET ALONG.
Alumni of the American Exchange Project, an Our Common Purpose champion, spoke about how their experiences
[[link removed]] in the program enabled them to view parts of the U.S. differently.

IN THE NEWS
NEBRASKA PASSES FELON RE-ENFRACHISEMENT BILL.
A new Nebraska law [[link removed]] will
restore the voting rights of those convicted of felonies upon the completion of their sentences. Our Common Purpose calls for
restoring voting rights to citizens with felony convictions upon their release. 

KENTUCKY PASSES BILL TO STRENGTHEN CIVICS EDUCATION.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 535
[[link removed],
which will require high school students to complete a half-credit course in civic literacy to graduate and the Kentucky Board of
Education to establish new academic standards for civic literacy. 

CITY YEAR AMERICORPS ADDED TO COMMON APP.
City Year [[link removed], an AmeriCorps program, became the first
service organization added to the Common App, the single online application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. 

CAMBRIDGE AWARDS $2 MILLION TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOLLOWING PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS.
The City of Cambridge announced the eight winning projects of its tenth participatory budgeting (PB) process
[[link removed] The projects
will receive over $2 million to implement projects that benefit the public. Our Common Purpose recommends expanding participatory
opportunities at municipal and state levels. 

GET INVOLVED
[[link removed]]
APPLY: HEALTHY DEMOCRACY PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
Healthy Democracy, an Oregon-based nonpartisan nonprofit that designs and coordinates cutting-edge deliberative democracy programs
across America, is seeking a new Program Director [[link removed] Applications
are due by April 30.

ATTEND: COLLABORATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY VIRTUAL EVENT.
Join the next GETTING-Plurality Research Workshop with Glen Weyl as he discusses Plurality: The Future of Collaborative Technology
and Democracy, an open, git-based collaborative book project that aims to offer a vision for the future of technology focused
around empowering and bridging social difference. 

DATE: May 2, 2024 |
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

READ THE REPORT
Learn more about the Academy's current efforts to advance reforms to reinvent American democracy and read the Our Common Purpose
report here [[link removed]

amacad.org: [link removed]
Members: [link removed]
Events: [link removed]

Facebook: [link removed]
Twitter: [link removed]
YouTube: [link removed]


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