Inspiring engagement in our democratic future

Dialogues in Democracy is an interdisciplinary collection of University of Michigan Press books that explore the core tensions in American political culture. The University of Michigan Press is one of the nation's top publishers in US politics and has worked with the MAM student group to curate a reading list that provides authoritative background on many of the issues in the news. With the support of the Provost's Office and libraries, all the books have been made open access, free to read and download for anyone with an Internet connection.

Promoting Democracy Teaching Series offers programs and resources designed to help instructors across academic disciplines harness the momentum of each election season to promote civic learning and democratic engagement while improving their teaching practice. A collaborative partnership between Ginsberg Center and Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, Promoting Democracy Teaching Series is offered during U.S. presidential and midterm election cycles.

At a time when our political landscape is becoming increasingly polarized, having a solid understanding of the democratic process can help you navigate difficult conversations. The Democracy Collection, a curated portfolio of clips, courses, and Teach-Outs™, provides you with a deeper understanding of democracy's role in our society. Explore the importance of civil engagement, the complexities of the democratic process, and how you can organize your community to rally around current policy and social issues.

Join us at the University of Michigan Museum of Art for lunch or dinner with a small group at the Common Sense Diner. Let’s get to know each other and talk about what it means to be an American right now. The purpose is not to persuade anyone from their position. Our goal is to break bread, ask questions, and listen to each other.

This toolkit is intended as a guide to help you develop your own self-care plan.

This conversation game is designed to help you explore the question: What does it mean to be an American? Mix and match images and prompts to spark new conversations around community, art, democracy, and more. Designed by the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) in collaboration with a group of university art museums from across the country.