In August, 167 sophomores, 30% of the class, returned to campus prior to the start of the fall semester to participate in the second annual Civic Action Lab. This three-day immersive experience on campus and in Boston is a foundational component of the Clinton Fellows sophomore experience, designed to foster constructive dialogue and enhance civic readiness skills.
As a critical piece of the newly launched Hillary Rodham Clinton Center for Citizenship, Leadership, and Democracy (HRC Center), the Civic Action Lab kicks off yearlong programming aimed at bringing the Wellesley community together with scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to equip students with vital skills for future civic engagement.
The need for this innovative approach to learning has never been more apparent, and the generous philanthropic support for the HRC Center in its inaugural year highlights a shared commitment to nurturing our future leaders. Lead gifts from Paula Phillips Bernstein ’58, Rick and Sally Ward Charpie ’78, and Hank and Wendy Judge Paulson ’69 are laying the groundwork for Wellesley students as they tackle the world’s most pressing issues related to justice, equity, and human rights.
“The establishment of this center could not have come at a more propitious time,” says Wendy Paulson. “While the intellectual caliber of students remains high, the familiarity with, and understanding of, democratic engagement has diminished. The center’s focus on citizenship, leadership, and democracy is exactly what is needed to combat this trend.”
Paulson and her husband made a significant gift to support the HRC Center earlier this year in honor of her classmate, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ’69, to recognize her remarkable service to the College, the nation, and the world. She says she is confident that the elements of the HRC Center will inspire students to participate intelligently and enthusiastically in public service.
This year, for the first time, the Civic Action Lab was open to all sophomores interested in joining as Clinton Fellows. After their initial summer experience, the cohort is continuing its journey with the Paula Phillips Bernstein ’58 Civic Innovator and Scholar Series, a series of intensive weekend workshops throughout the academic year, reflecting on their roles as citizens; and learning to communicate across difference. The sophomore experience is complemented by the Faculty Research Initiative and the annual Clinton Summit in April, to provide diverse forums to explore the challenges facing democracy and forge creative solutions.
“When President Paula Johnson shared her vision for the HRC Center, I immediately grasped its relevance to the situation we find ourselves in today, where democracy itself is under threat,” Bernstein says. “The world is in desperate need of women who can lead across difference.”
Inspiring alumnae to contribute to this vital initiative in its early stages is critical to its long-term success. The Charpies, whose transformative gift named the Charpie ’78 Faculty Co-Director of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center, felt it was crucial to support the center from its inception. They recognize that today’s world demands the ability to interact and connect with a diverse array of people—an essential skill for Wellesley students to master in order to bring about change.
With this strong philanthropic and programmatic foundation, students will be well prepared to tackle the pressing challenges of our time and contribute meaningfully to a more just and democratic world.
If you’d like to support the HRC Center at Wellesley, please reach out to Marisa Jaffe ’95, associate vice president for development, at mjaffe2@wellesley.edu.