Redesigning Democracy Competition
The Redesigning Democracy Competition, launched in spring 2023, convenes students from across the political spectrum to wrestle with some of the most pressing issues related to our democracy. Each year, teams of four students plus their staff/faculty advisor are presented with a unique democratic challenge on the day of the competition. After student teams engage in dialogue, they must develop innovative ideas for how to address the year’s issue.
Student teams practice deliberation, civil discourse, critical thinking, and creativity while they compete to design the best path forward to redesign our democratic systems. To demonstrate that students have thought deeply and critically about the given topic, each team presents their solution to a panel of expert judges. The winning teams receive a cash prize for the campus civic engagement office as well as individual cash awards.
NCCE’s goal is to help students practice thinking beyond our current democratic systems to consider, more broadly, how the system itself could be altered, improved, and strengthened through the will of the people.
Do you want to help empower students to be public problem solvers? Consider sponsoring Redesigning Democracy! Contact Sam Delap for details.
Redesigning Democracy Competition 2024
Nine student teams participated in the second annual RDC hosted at Greensboro College. Students and their faculty/staff mentors heard from expert guest speakers in a series of “Democracy Talks” on topics relating to Fair Elections. Student teams participated in a Living Room Conversation and then developed and presented their idea for how to ensure more fair elections.
A panel of expert judges and volunteers from the Braver Angels Alliance of Central North Carolina scored to the presentation. The judges selected a UNC-Chapel Hill team as the first place winner ($500 cash prize to the campus to support future civic engagement initiatives plus $50 Amazon gift card to each team member) and a Warren Wilson College team as the runner-up ($250 cash prize to the campus to support future civic engagement initiatives plus $25 Amazon gift card to each team member). An NC Central University team received an honorary third place award ($25 Amazon gift card to each team member). Funding was provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.
Thank you to Greensboro College for hosting. Read full highlights and view the photo gallery here.
Redesigning Democracy Competition (RDC) Pilot – March 2023
Four student teams, representing William Peace University, NC Central University, and UNC-Chapel Hill (two teams), participated in the inaugural RDC hosted at William Peace University. NCCE partnered with the Braver Angels Alliance of Central North Carolina (BAACNC) who facilitated the Braver Angels Common Ground Workshop on Trustworthy Elections. Student teams participated in the workshop and then developed and presented their idea for how to ensure more trustworthy elections. A panel of judges from the BAACNC selected William Peace University and one of the UNC-Chapel Hill teams to receive the top prizes ($500 cash prize to the campus to support future civic engagement initiatives plus $100 Amazon gift card to each team member). The remaining two teams each received a $150 cash prize. Funding to develop and host this competition was provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.
Thanks to William Peace University for hosting. Read full highlights and view the photo gallery here.
