Exploring Food Waste and Farming Policy: Professor Berry’s Dialogues in Environmental Studies
Professor Brieanne Berry, Civic Engagement Fellow at Ursinus College, integrated deliberative dialogues on food waste and the 2024 Farm Bill into her environmental studies courses. By assigning students stakeholder roles, she fostered critical discussions on tradeoffs, advocacy, and policymaking, showing how diverse perspectives strengthen civic engagement and environmental decision-making.
Project Pericles Welcomes nearly 50 New Civic Engagement Mini-Grant Recipients!
Project Pericles awarded 49 new Civic Engagement Mini-Grants to faculty and staff at 46 institutions across 21 states. Supported by the Mellon and Lang Foundations, projects span three tracks—Deliberative Dialogue, Beyond Media Literacy, and Voting Rights Expansion—equipping students with skills for civic leadership while contributing innovative strategies to our national resource database.
Digging into Nature: How Environmental Literature Can Reshape Our Understanding of Today’s Ecological Challenges
Professor Eric Dean Wilson’s U.S. Environmental Literature course at Wagner College, supported by the Periclean Faculty Leadership program, combined literature with experiential learning at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and The Alice Austen House. Students engaged in ecological restoration, explored queer ecology, and deepened their understanding of cultural narratives, environmental stewardship, and civic responsibility.
Webinar Recap: Technology Empowered Dialogue with Unify America and Dr. Emily Stacey
Project Pericles and Unify America co-hosted a webinar on Technology Empowered Dialogue, featuring Dr. Emily Stacey’s integration of deliberative dialogue modules and digital tools into political science courses that build empathy across divides. Unify America highlighted its College Bowl and Deep Dive programs connecting 20,000+ students nationwide.
History, Sovereignty, and Civic Engagement
Professor Joe Hall’s Wabanaki History in Maine course at Bates College partnered with Wabanaki educators, Auburn Middle School, and the MOOSE project to create lesson plans supporting schools’ efforts to teach Wabanaki history. Students deepened their understanding of sovereignty and civic responsibility while developing resources that advance equity, education, and civic engagement.
Fostering Civil Discourse: Dr. Emily Stacey’s Commitment to Deliberative Dialogue in Political Science
Dr. Emily Stacey, Periclean Fellow at Rose State College, integrated deliberative dialogues into political science courses on media, politics, and government. Students explored issues like hyperpartisanship, free speech, economic opportunity, and voting rights for incarcerated individuals, building confidence in civil discourse and preparing to engage thoughtfully as informed, empathetic citizens.
The March Periclean (2025)
This month’s Periclean highlights include Sanda Balaban’s visit to Elon University and the PACE Conference, Lou Martin’s oral history project at Chatham, and the release of new Deliberative Dialogue Modules. We’re gearing up for Periclean presentations at Compact25 and celebrating insights from our February Community Conversation with 36 campuses.
Breaking Stereotypes Through Storytelling: Lessons From Coalfield Communities
Professor Lou Martin’s Oral History and Coalfield Communities course at Chatham University partnered with the Center for Coalfield Justice and the West Virginia Regional History Center. Students interviewed coal industry workers, preserved their stories, and reflected on media portrayals, learning how oral history and empathetic listening can bridge divides and foster understanding.