The Penn Project for Civic Engagement

A cross-University project that collaborates with media, business and community agencies to identify and address projects on emerging issues, the Penn Project for Civic Engagement links citizen concerns to expert knowledge and media coverage, to develop real-world solutions that might not emerge otherwise.  

Moving from talk to action is an enduring challenge of public deliberation. One of the process contributions of our work together has been our focus on the products of civic engagement, that public deliberation should have tangible output to guide the work of citizens and of policy makers. That output takes several forms.  One can be in the form of "values-based principles" to guide decision makers and decision making. Such principles can inform public policy decisions, frame public discourse and provide a link between policy makers and citizens.  More recently we produced the Citizens Agenda - a twelve point civic "to do" list for the current administration in Philadelphia.  It is designed to both affect policy and have impact on the behavior of city government, as well as of citizens.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Harris Sokoloff, Executive Director
Center for School Study Councils
University of Pennsylvania
215-898-7371