The Culture and Civil Society Initiative (CCSI) seeks to deepen understanding of the ways culture, broadly defined, shapes national narrative, fosters social cohesion, and lays a foundation for democratic societies to flourish.

Led by Professor Anthony Foxx, the Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership and Director of the Center for Public Leadership, CCSI enables students across the Kennedy School and beyond to connect individual experiences of culture with classroom education and their future work as public leaders. In an age of significant polarization, CCSI envisions a future in which public leaders across the spectrum better understand ways culture can help nourish thriving democratic societies.

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"Behind the storm of daily conflict and crisis, the dramatic confrontations, the tumult of political struggle, the poet, the artist, the musician, continues the quiet work of centuries, building bridges of experience between peoples, reminding man of the universality of his feelings and desires and despairs, and reminding him that the forces that unite are deeper than those that divide." — President John F. Kennedy (1962)

Background

Culture lies at the heart of a well-functioning civil society—one in which people are willing to connect, strive to understand differing perspectives, and collaborate to address shared challenges. From block party to blockbuster hit, culture in all its forms has the power to bring people together around common purpose. It can foster the civic connections that are indispensable to a healthy democracy. Housed at the Center for Public Leadership, CCSI brings together students and cross-sector public leaders who share a belief in the roles of culture in healthy democracies. 

While CCSI is a nascent initiative, this work is not new. Countless scholars, artists, and institutions have contributed to the study and practice of culture in civil society. CCSI aims to bolster ongoing aligned work, building on what exists while injecting fresh thinking and capabilities. To be in touch, please fill out our interest form. 

A Message From Our Faculty Director 

We started the Culture and Civil Society Initiative at HKS with the belief that American democracy is confronting an existential crisis from within. The level of civic fracturing may have already reached an inflection point beyond Anthony Foxxthe capacity of our political system to self-correct. While this fragmentation is often framed as a political or policy challenge, we believe future public leaders will need to understand and practice the art of bringing people together, establishing common ground and working across differences. Politics and policy reflect the prevailing culture—culture that can drive us away from each other or bring us together. This initiative is ultimately about identifying, researching, and recommending actions that have unifying power. 

The solutions to our biggest challenges are upstream of politics and by placing more research energy, pedagogical focus and public attention on culture, broadly defined, we can identify and promote sources of healing our civil society.

— Anthony Foxx
Director, Center for Public Leadership
Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership

Get Involved
We would love to hear from you. Fill out our interest form for more information.
CCSI Interest Form

Jenn Chang

Jenn Chang

Program Director
jennchang@hks.harvard.edu

Anthony Foxx

Director, Culture and Civil Society Initiative
Director, Center for Public Leadership
Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership

At CCSI, we believe culture-based experiential learning and classroom education should reinforce each other. That’s why we create opportunities connecting cultural practice to frameworks for understanding civil society. 

Co-Curriculars

Engaging in dialogue with local nonprofit leaders about the role of culture in social change and civic practice. Open to all HKS students.

Speaker Series

Bringing together students from across campuses to learn from national arts advocates. Open to undergraduates and HKS students.

Public Events, Performances, & Conversations

Sharing stories from leaders across politics, sports, religion, arts, and more. Open to the public, via multiple channels and in collaboration with student groups.

Research

Engaging with scholars and practitioners around key issues facing cultural ecosystems in the United States and beyond.