{"id":89627,"date":"2025-09-16T13:52:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T18:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=89627"},"modified":"2025-09-17T08:23:51","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T13:23:51","slug":"american-democracy-projects-hosts-kick-off-event-first-speaker-is-wednesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=89627","title":{"rendered":"American Democracy Projects hosts kick-off event; first speaker is Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By KELSEY WICK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier this month, the American Democracy Project began its fall semester with a kickoff meeting in the Memorial Union. The event brought together students, faculty, and staff to hear from university leaders and project coordinators. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cIntroducing the Creative Citizen\u201d, designed to promote civic engagement, public dialogue, and democratic responsibility among students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-89632\" data-id=\"89632\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff2-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-89631\" data-id=\"89631\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff3-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-89630\" data-id=\"89630\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff4-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-89629\" data-id=\"89629\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff5-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-89628\" data-id=\"89628\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Jill Arensdorf, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, opened the event by sharing her experience at FHSU and her early involvement with the Center for Civic Leadership. She noted that FHSU joined ADP in 2003 through a partnership with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arensdorf outlined four academic priorities that align with ADP\u2019s goals: Engaging with the region, Supporting student success, Encouraging global citizenship, and Promoting experiential learning. She emphasized that student success includes preparing students to be active members of their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>David Macey, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, spoke about the current state of public discourse. He noted that civic spaces are becoming more divided and that ADP provides a space for respectful conversation. He quoted Alexis de Tocqueville and William Ellery Channing to support the importance of protecting individual rights and encouraging open dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lori Kniffin, director of Civic Learning and Engagement, described her experience volunteering at a shelter during an alternative spring break trip to Fort Worth, Texas. She explained how the experience altered her understanding of leadership and emphasized the importance of reflection and collaboration with community partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amber Nickell, assistant professor of History and internationalization coordinator, spoke about growing up in rural Colorado and how international travel helped her overcome her fear of unfamiliar places. She said that learning about other cultures helped her develop empathy and a broader view of citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead, the American Democracy Project at FHSU will offer lectures, service projects, and events throughout the year. The goal is to help students become informed and engaged participants in civic life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arensdorf closed with a reminder: \u201cOur heart is to serve our region\u2014and our region expands across the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ADP\u2019s first event is on Wednesday. Associate Professor of Political Science Jay Steinmetz will discuss the US Constitution and the ideological motivations and influences of its framing. The presentation will take place at 12 p.m. on Wednesday in the Memorial Union Stouffer Lounge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By KELSEY WICK Tiger Media Network Earlier this month, the American Democracy Project began its fall semester with a kickoff meeting in the Memorial Union.&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":89628,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3397,3398,11,3570],"tags":[274,226,16389,16365],"class_list":["post-89627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-area-news","category-campus-news","category-news","category-politics-news","tag-adp","tag-american-democracy-project","tag-fhsu-adp","tag-kelsey-wick"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adpkickoff1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=89627"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89627\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89641,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89627\/revisions\/89641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/89628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=89627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=89627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=89627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}