Daniel Stid, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, gave an address to the Pennsylvania Community Foundation Association, which he later shared online and which was also featured in an Opinion piece in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
In his remarks and the subsequent writings, Stid highlights the potential of community foundations and formative traditions to make changes at the local level that could address national challenges of increasing polarization and decreasing social trust.
Specific strategies mentioned in his address and Opinion piece include supporting local journalism, strengthening local civic associations, fostering dialogue, investing in civic infrastructure (such as libraries and parks), and also cultivating civic culture year-round.
On the subject of promoting civic engagement, Stid cites the Academy's Habits of Heart and Mind publication as an "excellent new report" and specifically uses the definition of civic culture set forth: “the set of norms, values, narratives, habits, and rituals that shape how we live together and govern ourselves in our diverse democracy.”
Learn more about his views at his Substack, the Art of Association.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy Opinion piece is online.