Americans are tuning out American politics. Only 4% think the system is working well, and 2/3ds say they feel “exhausted” when they even think about politics. They want change, but they aren’t sure change is even possible. “Politics” is being conflated with “democracy,” and young people especially question whether democracy is worth defending. Nearly half of Gen-Z-ers say it doesn’t matter whether they live in a democracy or a dictatorship.

American democracy has long fallen short of the ideal. Not everyone receives “equal protection under the law.” Too often, power aligns with advantages based on wealth, race, sex, age, ability, citizenship status, and sexual orientation. The nation is backsliding, moving away from hard-fought gains in civil and human rights. These conditions are being exacerbated by other threats like disinformation, the rise of extremism, threats to academic freedom, dysfunctional and unaccountable governing systems, and more. No wonder young people are tuning out.

In this session, we invite participants to discuss and collectively envision a more aspirational democracy. We’ll also share Democracy Re/Designed, a conceptual framework and tool for listening to student perspectives and fostering student agency and hope. Your campuses can join a national effort to redesign and protect democracy for a stronger, more inclusive, equitable, and just society.