West Side Democratic & Civic Club

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

How Sovereign Citizens Helped Swindle $1 Billion From the Government They Disavow

Tens of thousands of far-right extremists subscribe to a paranoid ideology that lends itself seamlessly to financial crime.

Devin Nunes' Salary At Truth Social Revealed

Devin Nunes of California resigned from Congress just before Truth Social was launched to serve as the CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group.

Dear Abby: I’m shocked by what happened at my fiancee’s bachelorette party

A reader is fretting over photos from his soon-to-be wife’s raunchy celebration.

A new kind of grass-roots political organization?

College-educated suburban women are taking political action.

Key to motivating young voters? Young political candidates

Is It Even Legal for a Pastor to Endorse a Political Candidate? If So, Should You?

This is the long-game we're in and it's not about pushing the easy button, pointing to a candidate or checking a box—it's about discipleship.

Can political candidates speak at churches? Yes, if they follow these five rules

Churches and other religious communities can invite candidates to speak, but they need to follow these rules.

Explainer: Can a priest or a member of a religious order publicly endorse a political candidate?

Should Catholic priests or members of religious orders be endorsing political candidates? If it is allowed, is it prudent?

Some states pay for political candidates. Is it worth it?

Public financing gets people to run for office who would otherwise have declined the opportunity, according to a recent study.

Column: If the public doesn't finance political candidates, special interests will happily step in

Voters always complain about politicians being beholden to special interests. If they want to change that, they can support public financing for campaigns.

Why Grassroots Political Organizations Rely on Facebook

The social network is a vital part of their operations.

VERIFY: Yes, Facebook will show you which political candidate your friends ‘like’

A Facebook post illustrates how easy it is to see how many friends like a page on the social media site. But it's just a normal aspect of a public page.

Towards Deeper Civic Learning

Improving civics learning takes active engagement with pressing issues, not a multiple-choice citizenship test.

What our Fractured Civic Spaces Teach

How will you treat the hangover of this presidential election? What is it teaching us? Is it about changing the landscape, which seems daunting, but so necessary, or is it also about changing how we all see things? In the downward spiral of this election cycle and the cacophony of shrill voices from the religious …

Why Do We Excuse the Extremes of Capitalism?

Turns out, we’re hardwired to conform—no matter how self-defeating the belief system.

Charitable organizations: how to check them out

Tax law guidelines are readily available online, and very helpful

Rubrics for Civic Knowledge & Civic Values

What Is the Civic University For? (SSIR)

Embedding action through research by placing the Sustainable Development Goals at the center of university planning. Part of the Innovating Higher Education series.

5 Steps To Cultivating A Civic Startup Ecosystem, According To Civic Entrepreneurs

Institutions that serve the public good need hackers and startups just as much as the tech sector.