About Us

In the fall of 2006, a group of three, and then seven, of the original organizers of TDI started meeting and exchanging ideas about some sticky problems in American public life: a disengaged citizenry; public dissatisfaction with partisan politics; an increasingly polarized public in which people move into ideological camps rather than seek common solutions; persistent disparities based on social identity and class; disturbing limitations to civil liberties, and, on campuses, academic freedom; and environmental sustainability. We each had a unique approach to this work, through education in: democracy’s foundational ideals, conflict resolution, communication, intergroup dialogue, deliberation, democratic leadership, diversity, and civic learning. Many of us were also involved with civic organizations that help ordinary people come together to study and discuss public problems and effectuate change. We agreed that colleges and universities could do more to advance the principles and practices of a just and deliberative democracy.

We decided to host an invitational gathering to widen the circle of people who share these concerns. In June 2007, nearly 50 multidisciplinary scholars, campus leaders, and civic leaders came together at the University of New Hampshire to consider the role colleges and universities should play to advance deliberative democracy in public life.

After four days of dialogue and planning, we created The Democracy Imperative, a national network of scholars, campus leaders, and civic leaders committed to strengthening democracy in and through higher education. We agreed that resources we produced would be open source, and that membership would be free. We continue to be sponsored by the University of New Hampshire, and our membership is national.

Since July 2007, we’ve grown to nearly 450 members, mostly civic leaders from the democracy-building field, faculty from all core disciplines and from interdisciplinary programs, center directors, and campus leaders from offices of diversity, civic engagement, first-year experience, leadership, and student affairs.