UW Impact
Huskies Building Bridges
A joint project of UW Impact, Citizen University and
the UW Alumni Association
Apply by June 21, 2023.
Free 4-day Husky Civic Saturday Fellowship Training runs Oct. 3–6,
with Opening Dinner on Oct. 3.
The Husky Civic Saturday Fellowship runs Oct. 2023–March 2024.
“We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.”
–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What is causing political division and disconnection in your community? Are folks around you feeling checked out, numb to the headlines, minimally engaged? This could be your chance to rebuild the trust and connection that is necessary to repair what is broken!
Civic Saturday gatherings are happening all across the United States as a way to bring friends and strangers together to nurture a spirit of shared purpose.
UW Impact and the UWAA are working in partnership with Citizen University to offer an exclusive opportunity for UW alumni to participate in a Husky Civic Saturday Fellowship, to become trained in a community gathering method that can be used to build bridges across political divisions.
What could Husky Civic Saturday do for my community?
Citizen University describes Civic Saturday as a civic analogue to a faith gathering. It’s a place for rebuilding faith in one another and strengthening the threads of our social fabric. Picture you, your neighbors and fellow Husky alumni coming together to reflect on your roles as citizens — and what that role asks of you.
These gatherings are a new kind of civic ritual, providing a unique place for connection (that’s not tainted by social media or wedded to political stances). And the best part? You can adapt it to bridge the political divides and divisions present in your neighborhood and bring your community together.
What does the Husky Civic Saturday Fellowship entail?
The Husky Civic Saturday Fellowship is not for the faint of heart — but we’re guessing that if you’re reading this, your heart beats with a conviction and eagerness to build a thriving future and healthier democracy. Husky Civic Saturday Fellows care deeply about their place and feel capable of hosting Civic Saturday gatherings, whether as an individual or in conjunction with another organization or project. (Sound like a Husky you know? Share this info with them!)
The Husky Civic Saturday Fellowship is a program that trains you to create these purposeful rituals in community-centered ways. Through the Fellowship, you’ll learn the model and practice hosting a series of Civic Saturday gatherings.
This six-month process begins with an immersive learning experience in Seattle on Oct. 3–6, with Opening Dinner on Oct. 3.
You’ll be supported by UW Impact and Citizen University staff along with your cohort over the next several months, as you establish Husky Civic Saturdays in your hometown and host at least two gatherings, with an eye towards embedding this as a regular community practice.
In addition to the immersive training, you’ll also take part in:
- A virtual orientation to learn about the founding principles of civic culture and get to know more about your cohort and the Fellowship
- Three cohort calls (post-training), plus personalized calls with staff, to extend the learning and feel supported along the way
This program is at no cost to you — Citizen University covers flights, meals and lodging for your time with the program.
Applications are now closed for this program.
Questions? Please contact Chris Olsen-Philips at olsenphillips@uwimpact.org.
