Civil Society Initiative

Expanding Civil Discourse on and off Campus

The Civil Society Initiative has expanded opportunities for students and the St. Louis community to engage with challenging ideas through new undergraduate courses and its Dinner and Dialogue series, creating spaces for thoughtful disagreement, reasoning and conversation across differences.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Free Speech • Personal Responsibility

Complicating the Narrative Podcast

Creating Space for Difficult Conversations

With support from the Frick Initiatives, WashU Associate Professor Salma Abdallah’s podcast, “Complicating the Narrative,” brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, students and thought leaders to explore complex public health questions through thoughtful conversation, diverse viewpoints and respectful disagreement.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Free Speech

Listen to the most recent podcast Here

Small Business Practicum

Connecting Students and Small Businesses

With support from the Frick Initiatives, the Small Business Practicum connected nearly 60 WashU students with 12 St. Louis-area small businesses and 12 alumni mentors. The experience gives students the chance to put their skills into practice while supporting local businesses and preparing future leaders who understand the connection between economic opportunity, personal responsibility and stronger communities.

Frick Pillars: Free & Open Markets • Personal Responsibility

Webster Groves Frick Center for Civic Engagement

Preparing Students to Turn Passion Into Action

The Webster Groves Frick Center gives high school students hands-on opportunities to explore civics, government, economics and other pathways for creating change. Through guest speakers, site visits and civil discourse exercises, students learn to engage with different perspectives and build the skills to contribute to their communities.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Personal Responsibility • Free Speech

The Poli-sci Brick Guy

Bringing American Politics to Students, Brick by Brick

With support from the Frick Initiatives, WashU political science professor Dan Butler has created about 100 stop-motion videos covering the AP Government curriculum, reaching more than 200,000 views on YouTube and TikTok as of June 2026. His work also supports high school teachers with classroom resources and new lesson plans designed to help students understand American government and engage with people they disagree with.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Free Speech

Youth2Lead

Turning Young Students Into Civic Leaders

With support from the Frick Initiatives, Youth2Lead, led by Aspirations Network K-12 Programs Director Hanley Chiang, engaged more than 70 students in grades 4 through 8 across the St. Louis region. Students identified issues in their communities, listened to different perspectives and worked together to develop and put their own solutions into action.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Personal Responsibility

Stories That Win

Helping Future Leaders Find Their Voice

With support from the Frick Initiatives, The Stories That Win brings WashU students and political candidates together to study how storytelling shapes political leadership and public life. The project has helped candidates strengthen their storytelling skills while encouraging students to recognize the value of their own voices and imagine themselves as future civic leaders.

Frick Pillars: Personal Responsibility • Civil Discourse

Amended Podcast

Making the First Amendment More Accessible

With support from the Frick Initiatives, Amended was developed as a deeply researched podcast series that helps public audiences better understand the First Amendment. By presenting complex issues without telling listeners what to think, the series encourages critical thinking and creates space for informed, respectful discussion.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Free Speech

Model Constitutional Convention

Turning Disagreement Into Dialogue

With support from the Frick Initiatives, the Model Constitutional Convention brought together more than 100 students from over 80 educational institutions to debate constitutional issues, navigate political differences and practice civil discourse. The experience prepares future leaders to engage across differences, work toward consensus and carry those skills into civic life beyond the convention.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Personal Responsibility

The Longest Table

Building a Culture of Civic Dialogue

With support from the Frick Initiatives, the Longest Table brings together students, faculty and staff from across WashU to engage in thoughtful conversation with people they may not otherwise meet. Through facilitated dialogue, participants practice listening across differences, sharing their perspectives and considering their responsibility to contribute to their communities.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Personal Responsibility • Free Speech

Junior Achievement

Preparing Young People Through Hands-On Learning

With support from the Frick Initiatives, Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis brought hands-on learning experiences to more than 2,000 students who otherwise may not have had access to its programs. Through real-world experiences in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, work readiness and citizenship, students learn to make decisions, take responsibility and understand how their choices can shape their futures and communities.

Frick Pillars: Civil Discourse • Personal Responsibility • Free Speech • Free & Open Markets

Markets and Morality

Exploring the Moral Complexity of Markets

With support from the Frick Initiatives, the Markets and Morality course brings business, literature and social science together to help students examine complex questions about markets, ethics and the meaning of success. After reaching hundreds of students in the classroom, the project has expanded beyond WashU through a Substack that has reached thousands more, with plans to extend the work through a future book.

Frick Pillars: Free & Open Markets • Civil Discourse • Free Speech • Personal Responsibility

WashU Purpose Pathway

Helping Students Find Purpose and Direction

With support from the Frick Initiatives, the WashU Purpose Pathway helps students reflect on how their experiences shape who they are and where they want to go. Through ongoing reflection and guidance from advisors and coaches, students are encouraged to explore their interests, embrace uncertainty and take greater ownership of their evolving sense of purpose.

Frick Pillars: Personal Responsibility