Season 4, Episode 4

Eric Liu on Revitalizing Faith in American Democracy

How can donors support a revitalization of civic engagement and a renewed commitment to democratic citizenship? Eric Liu, co-founder CEO of Citizen University, joins Phil and Grace to discuss the crisis in civic faith, our individual power to effect positive change in our communities, and the importance of supporting literacy in power. He also exhorts donors to recognize that democracy and citizenship go beyond electoral politics, addresses the difficult question of when to engage in bridging and when it may be unproductive, and speaks to the importance of inviting youth into the conversation.

Guest Info:
Eric Liu is the co-founder and CEO of Citizen University and the founding director of the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship & American Identity Program. Liu is also the author of numerous acclaimed books, including most recently You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen and Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility, and Democracy — a New York Times New & Notable Book. Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and as the President’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He was later appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. In 2020, Liu was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, where he serves on its Trust and is co-chair of its Our Common Purpose commission on democratic citizenship.

Credits:
Podcast Production: Rococo Punch
Music: APM Music
Artwork: Jay Kustka

Resources:
Citizen University
You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen by Eric Liu
Whitney Kimball Coe, Director of National programs, Center for Rural Strategies, The Aspen Institute
Report: Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century
Report: Youth Civic Empowerment: Insights from the Student Experience
Report: Habits of Heart and Mind

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