At a time when we should be uniting to improve our communities and tackle major challenges, we are becoming increasingly isolated. Across the country, trust in our neighbors and fellow citizens is eroding. Income inequality is rising alongside troubling disparities in health, life expectancy and education. Confidence in the accuracy of information and the effectiveness of public institutions is also declining.
Most concerning, many are losing faith that democracy’s promises of liberty and justice apply to everyone.
A healthy civil society is vital in a large, multiracial, multifaith nation like ours. Governments exist to help people solve shared problems, yet our collective trust and sense of common purpose are weakening. Still, research shows most Americans want to strengthen civic health: the values, relationships and actions that build trust, support institutions and enable collective progress.
The University of Washington shares this commitment. We aim to boost civic health starting in Washington and expanding nationally and globally. Public universities remain one of the few places where people can come together across differences to learn and solve problems, making this work essential in this pivotal moment.
