Partners
Across the globe, organizations and leaders
are adopting a "public work" approach.
Xolela Mangcu, PhD
Professor of Sociology and History, The George Washington University,
Author of Biko: A Life
A day does not go by without me thinking about how much Northern democracy can learn from the insights of Southern African countries, whether we are talking about the existential crises of racism, xenophobia, Covid-19, climate change, gun violence. Therein lies the global promise of public work, rediscovering our humanity against all the hate and violence that threaten to engulf all of us.
Bill Doherty, PhD
Co-Founder, Braver Angels
Director Citizen Professional Center, University of Minnesota
We need a breakthrough from left versus right in politics, from government-as-the-answer versus market-as-the-answer, and away from framing social change as rescuing helpless victims from selfish oppressors. The Public Work approach is perfect for our time because it transcends those stale categories and empowers ordinary citizens to take responsibility for solving problems and building a common life--a democratic, public life.
![Mathews, David 12-2009[1].jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1470a6_2c580d505a9c4a3cb2d901d11dd4a206~mv2.jpeg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_675,h_674/fill/w_200,h_200,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Mathews%2C%20David%2012-2009%5B1%5D.jpeg)
David Matthews
President, Kettering Foundation
Former US Secretary Health Education and Welfare
The theory and practice of "public work" are transforming civic and professional practice both in the United States and abroad.
Jeanne Ayers
Former Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health, Chief State Health Officer, Wisconsin
Despite knowing that our health is almost completely connected to the decisions we make collectively, we have neglected the practices necessary to build the political will for a common life where all can thrive. Public work offers a meaningful remedy to this neglect through concrete approaches to strengthening civic participation and a healthy inclusive democracy. Investing in these approaches through public work could serve as the vital key to advancing health equity and creating healthy communities.
Gary Cunningham
President and CEO, Prosperity Now
Public work has demonstrated through its efforts on the ground with neighbors, youth and businesses that by coming together, we can create a community that works for everyone. Public work moves us away from externalizing how we can create a better community, and moves us toward a common destiny. We need public work now more than ever to weave together the fabric of our democracy.
Shigeo Kodama
Dean of Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo
In an era of discrimination and division, politics that bridges it is required, and the education of thinking and judgment that enables such politics is now the focus of discussion. Public work is a condition for the emergence of such politics and is an important key to today's citizenship education.
Xolela Mangcu, PhD
Professor of Sociology and History, The George Washington University,
Author of Biko: A Life
A day does not go by without me thinking about how much Northern democracy can learn from the insights of Southern African countries, whether we are talking about the existential crises of racism, xenophobia, Covid-19, climate change, gun violence. Therein lies the global promise of public work, rediscovering our humanity against all the hate and violence that threaten to engulf all of us.
Bill Doherty, PhD
Co-Founder, Braver Angels
Director Citizen Professional Center, University of Minnesota
We need a breakthrough from left versus right in politics, from government-as-the-answer versus market-as-the-answer, and away from framing social change as rescuing helpless victims from selfish oppressors. The Public Work approach is perfect for our time because it transcends those stale categories and empowers ordinary citizens to take responsibility for solving problems and building a common life--a democratic, public life.
David Mathews
President, Kettering Foundation
Former US Secretary Health Education and Welfare
The theory and practice of "public work" are transforming civic and professional practice both in the United States and abroad.
Mike Huggins
Retired Eau Claire City Manager, National Civic League Senior Fellow
The public work model will offer a powerful lens for how future managers -- at all levels - can recast their leadership roles and identities as citizen professionals, expand the public spaces for collaborative work, and move towards the more citizen centered democratic government that will be essential for local communities and our country over the next quarter of century.
Ali Oosterhuis
Co-founder, Citizen Student Movement University of Minnesota
Young people are in desperate need of the language and spirit of public work. We want to make change in the world, and we want to see our country become a more just, equitable, and democratic place for all, but we have not been taught how to bring our vision to life. That's where public work comes in - a framework for seeing ourselves as collaborators, not adversaries, teaching young people to channel their passion and energy in ways that encourage finding common ground and working together to solve public problems.
Carolyn Evans, PhD
Graduate Education Program, Augsburg University
My students LOVED your session. We discussed what fuels meaningful, sustainable change: relationship building, finding cracks in what seems like an impenetrable system, and believing change is possible.