In an era marked by deep differences and complex challenges, civic virtues equip us to productively engage across disagreement, navigate contentious disputes and contribute to shaping communities where diversity is celebrated.
Cultivating Civic Virtues through Action
Nurturing civility and understanding in our communities.
Why virtues?
Democratic societies flourish when citizens are committed to advancing the common good while respecting freedom and equality. CCVA focuses on five civic virtues that are essential to this work:
Civility
Treating others with dignity and seriousness, even in disagreement
Openness to Ideas
Engaging new perspectives with curiosity and discernment, not blind acceptance
Empathy
Understanding others’ feelings and perspectives with balanced concern
Civic Grace
Extending goodwill and unearned kindness, even to opponents
Epistemic Humility
Recognizing the limits of one’s knowledge and remaining open to correction
Together, these virtues form the habits of mind and heart that sustain democratic life.
We provide conceptual grounding, practical tools and a growing library of classroom-ready resources that help individuals cultivate civic character and practice these virtues in the classroom and in everyday life.
Click each virtue below to learn more.
How to join
Students
Interested in having a positive impact on your community?
- Apply for our student fellowship. This fellowship supports students in cultivating civic virtues through convening a community of students who share the goal of bringing about a future where people with different beliefs can work together and deliberate about issues on which they disagree. Lincoln Center Cultivating Civic Virtue Fellows (collectively called virtuous devils) will practice the art of talking across differences — listening to and engaging with people who have different beliefs — and organize a series of public “Discussion Across Difference” events in the spring. Learn more and apply.
Enroll in a CCVA course. These courses combine the collaborative, problem-focused approach of the Humanities Lab with an intentional focus on civic character development. These team-taught, interdisciplinary courses invite you to grapple with pressing social challenges while exploring the virtues essential for engaged citizenship and democratic life. View upcoming courses.
Faculty
Our fourth community of practice (COP) will expand our network of educators to the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop.