The Trust for Civic Life announced new funding to support 26 local groups that are revitalizing underfunded rural regions. Since its inception in 2024, the Trust for Civic Life has invested $17 million into rural regions through grants to over 150 groups. An article published by Inside Philanthropy describes how these efforts are curbing polarization in rural America. 

Service Year Alliance CEO Kristen Bennett released a statement explaining what the government shutdown means for the national service community and calling on Congress to work toward a resolution that ensures service year members can continue their critical efforts.

On October 1, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute hosted Populism, Conservatism, and Civility, a conversation with Mike Pence and Meghan McCain that explored the importance of civility in political discourse. Watch the full conversation here.

The Jack Miller Center announced 33 new partnerships with university and college campuses in celebration of America’s 250th. The partnerships aim to empower students to explore key themes in the Declaration of Independence and rekindle an appreciation for the ideas that shaped the United States. 

Shawn Healy, Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer at iCivics, reflects on both signs of hope – civic knowledge is on the rise – and concern – distrust of American institutions remains high – ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in July.

Ahead of the November election season, Nonprofit Vote published a blog post with eight simple tips to help our communities become more civically engaged.

The U.S. Department of Education announced $153 million in new grant awards through the American History and Civics Seminars Program to fund important scholarship and teaching about the American Founding. In an interview with NPR, OCP Cochair Danielle Allen, along with Paul Carrese (Arizona State University) and Scott Paul (Utah Valley University) discuss what nonpartisan civic education looks like today.

Citing OCP Champions Future Caucus and the National Institute for Civil Discourse, the Wall Street Journal profiled state legislators in Minnesota, Arkansas, and Kansas who are trying to bridge the partisan divide. 

The Walt Disney Company announced “Disney Celebrates America,” a new initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Beginning on Veterans Day 2025 and culminating on the July 4, 2026 weekend, Disney will feature special programming, storytelling, and experiences commemorating the occasion.

Eva Witesman, Professor of public management at Brigham Young University, writes in Deseret News that citizens have an important role in upholding the informal norms of American democracy. “The more we uphold our essential and daily role in upholding the norms of American democracy as citizens, the stronger the institution of our American democracy will remain”, Professor Witesman writes.