The Evans School of Public Policy & Governance has been a committed partner in the Project for Civic Health since its inception in 2023, as this aligns deeply with the University of Washington’s (UW) commitment to strengthening democracy and civic health. We know the important role UW plays in supporting the next generation of civically engaged community members.
The campus has a vision to model democracy by cultivating collaborative decision-making, respectful dialogue, civic engagement and belonging. The NextGen Civic Leader Corps puts that vision into action for our young people who are passionate about public service, community engagement, and civic leadership.
The Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) center launched the initiative in 2022 to inspire and prepare undergraduate students of all majors and disciplines to become leaders in their communities and advance the public good throughout their careers.
“The NextGen program isn’t a calling to public service, but a pathway to doing public good,” said UW Evans School Dean Jodi Sandfort.
The initiative has now expanded to Tacoma and Bothell as part of a Tri-Campus Network and undergraduates passionate about public service and civic engagement from any discipline can join to deepen their public service commitment. The NextGen Civic Leader Corps solidifies a long-term commitment to working for the public good through coursework, experiential learning, signature events, and professional network building. Students receive guided advising, participate in experiential learning and volunteer opportunities, access financial support, and connect to a larger statewide and national community of publicly motivated peers.
NextGen’s interdisciplinary approach makes it easy for a student in any field to explore and deepen civic leadership. NextGen Civic Leader Corps currently hosts over 2,200 undergraduate students in more than 50 majors across the three UW campuses. We are part of a growing network of programs at 22 universities across the country, hosted by the Volcker Alliance, that inspires and prepares students to serve their communities and nation.
“One of the big things with NextGen is the interdisciplinary aspect. I feel like that’s a very big draw,” said Eamon Challinor, a UW Tacoma student majoring in computer science. “I was intrigued because even though initially I thought [political science and computer science] don’t seem to mesh, I noticed that civic engagement is a very interdisciplinary thing. It’s something that translates to any profession or field.”
In the short term, members are part of a robust national network of civically minded leaders, receive priority consideration for scholarship opportunities and may be eligible for a credential. The long-term impact of civic participation is linked to a healthier transition into adulthood, higher educational outcomes, and higher income levels down the road.
Hear directly from a few other students about the impact of the NextGen Civic Leader Corps.
The tri-campus initiative is poised to expand to serve more students, and we look to our UW and Evans School community to engage with us in the work.
There are multiple ways to engage, including providing financial support, offering paid internships, providing long-term volunteer opportunities, and speaking at a signature event. Please contact nextgenleader@uw.edu if you’d like to connect to explore ways to support our NextGen students today! Visit the NextGen website if you are or know a UW student who would be interested in joining.
For more than 60 years, the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance has built a reputation as one of the top public policy schools in the nation. The school is defined by their shared purpose: to inspire public service and to democratize public policy. Their students, graduates, and faculty provide the ideas, expertise, and leadership that guide government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private companies around the country and throughout the world. In partnership with communities, they co-create solutions to the most pressing societal problems.