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Civics

Which Americans are most isolationist? It may not be who you think
Humans spread out in groups, clusters, and individuals conveying varying degrees of connectivity.

Which Americans are most isolationist? It may not be who you think

A course taught by Diana Mutz is designed to teach and implement research methodology, discovered a major shift in young Americans’ isolationist views on foreign aid.

From Annenberg School for Communication

SNF Paideia Program expands, thanks to new grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Group of people gathered together by a building entrance.

During a celebration in May 2022, current fellows in the SNF Paideia Program welcomed the 2025 cohort.

SNF Paideia Program expands, thanks to new grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation

Increased funding will enable the SNF Paideia Program at Penn to strengthen a commitment to the civic mission of higher education on campus and beyond with enhanced course offerings, an expanded fellowship program, and more event programming.
Engaging in intersectional conversations on race and racism
students in a classroom watching a guest speaker

Students in American Race: A Philadelphia Story, a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program course, examined intersectional topics on race and racism through a broad, multidisciplinary lens. The course included directed readings, guest speaker presentations, such as this discussion led by Jessie Harper from the Graduate School of Education, and in-depth conversations about the city of Philadelphia.

Engaging in intersectional conversations on race and racism

In the spring, students engaged with complex topics, both intellectually and civically, as part of American Race: A Philadelphia Story, a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program course.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Course shows students how Washington really works
students walk in front of the capitol building before class

(Homepage image) Penn students took Amtrak to Washington every Friday for the class, held at the Penn Biden Center, across from the U.S. Capitol.

Course shows students how Washington really works

Penn and George Mason University students traveled to Washington, D.C. every Friday this spring for a class that gives the inside scoop on policymaking inside the Beltway.

Kristen de Groot

Tyrants get bad information—so do non-tyrants

Tyrants get bad information—so do non-tyrants

PIK Professor Jonathan D. Moreno and Stephen N. Xenakis, a member of the executive board of The Center for Ethics & the Rule of Law, pen an op-ed arguing that there is no validity to those who claim the superiority of democratic institutions in collecting and using military intelligence. “In any setting, sound decision-making requires that leaders rely on the best possible inputs for information, situational awareness, and military intelligence,” they write.

Empowering refugees through education
Group of students face camera, arm in arm, in front of Perry World House

The student-led Penn for Refugee Empowerment organization offers tutoring and helps refugee-resettlement organizations with after-school programming, child care, home setup, and event assistance.

Empowering refugees through education

The student-led group Penn for Refugee Empowerment offers tutoring and helps refugee-resettlement organizations with after-school programming, child care, home setup, and event assistance.

Kristen de Groot

Public media can improve our ‘flawed’ democracy
Radio microphone and a soundboard with an ON AIR sign.

Image: Fringer Cat via Unsplash

Public media can improve our ‘flawed’ democracy

A new study finds that countries with well-funded public media have healthier democracies, and explains why investment in U.S. public media is an investment in the future of journalism and democracy alike.

Alina Ladyzhensky

The Black Lives Matter movement, but not COVID encouraged voters toward Biden
Group of protesters in masks in the streets, one carries a large sign that reads BLACK LIVES MATTER.

On June 5, 2020, 50,000 protesters marched through the streets of Philadelphia during a Black Lives Matter protest. (Image: Shawn Kornhauser)

The Black Lives Matter movement, but not COVID encouraged voters toward Biden

As swing voters registered more awareness about discrimination against Black Americans, they became more likely to vote for the party they felt would best rectify that—Democrats.

Julie Sloane