Aligned with our guiding principle, "Scholarship to Practice, and Practice to Scholarship," the Institute for Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy is a community seeking to:

• better understand civic society, civic culture, collective civic agency, and the civic capacities required for their enactment and advancement;

• develop our understanding of the principles for the design and creation of institutions that embody and thereby promote the development of civic capacities;

• enhance a form of civic life that centers around public problem solving, conflict clarification, recognition and clarification of legitimate interests, and the transformation of culture;

• advocate for and support lifelong civic education, recognizing that lifelong learning is fundamental to the enduring success of democracy. We endeavor to create opportunities for individuals of all ages to learn from and with each other, to question, relearn, and even potentially transform, by engaging in intellectual exchange and collaborative initiatives that transcend traditional institutional boundaries;

• encourage the co-creation of ideas and solutions for civic challenges, to have a tangible and positive impact on society by translating our research and insights into practical actions and policies that promote democratic values and strengthen civic engagement. Likewise, we believe that effective practices should actively inform and shape our research agendas.

To accomplish these purposes, the ICSLD facilitates civic learning educational programs, coordinates networking opportunities, and promotes scholarly investigation into civic life.