Trust can be built when people come together to listen, find common ground, build bridges across differences and practice democratic ways of solving problems. The UW has a track record of establishing such settings and solving problems across differences: we have a respectful, collaborative relationship with our state and local governments as well as long-term partnerships with community and social service organizations throughout and beyond Washington.
It’s time for us to apply our resources and our public-serving role to ensuring that everyone can participate in democratic decision-making—not just people at the UW. We want to open Democracy Test Kitchens: nonpartisan, accessible spaces where community-based organizations, civic groups, elected officials, public agencies, students, faculty and others can access the tools they need to participate in developing solutions to their communities’ needs. By creating spaces for brave conversations and creative problem-solving, we will help people across Washington and beyond build trust, respect and an experience of solving pressing challenges together.
Impact in action
The University of Washington has a number of current programs that are expanding opportunities for participation in community-based decision-making and problem-solving. These programs include, but are not limited to, the following:
Democracy Test Kitchen
Partnering with community and policy leaders to advance solutions to pressing problems.
Project for Civic Health
Pursuing sustained action to improve civic health in the State of Washington.
Urban@UW
Supporting cross-sectoral collaboration that tackles complex urban challenges.