Story by Jeff Dodge. Originally published on SOURCE.

 

Kalie McMonagle accepting award
McMonagle, right, accepted the honor for the CPD. At left is Brian Clancy, chief executive officer of Big Tent Nation.

The Center for Public Deliberation has received a national “Civvy” award for being an example of collaborative work that elevates democracy and civic engagement.

The Civvys, or American Civic Collaboration Awards, were presented to only six programs in the country on Oct. 18 at the National Conference on Citizenship in Washington, D.C.

“The organizations that developed the Civvy Awards are national leaders in the increasingly critical work of improving our democracy, and we are very honored that our work is being recognized by them in this way,” Center for Public Deliberation Director Martin Carcasson said.

‘Local Winner’

The CPD, based in CSU’s Department of Communication Studies, was one of two organizations honored in the “Local Winner” category, along with the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue at Interfaith Works in New York.

“As a pioneering model adopted by other universities, the Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation operates under the belief that universities play a key role in not just providing quality information or training informed citizens, but in elevating the quality of communication in their communities,” according to the award announcement. “They provide forums for citizen engagement, connection and empowerment – improving outcomes for the students involved, the local community, the faculty bringing together theory and practice, and the university as a convener.”

This is the first national award that the center has received. CPD Program Coordinator Kalie McMonagle accepted the honor on behalf of the center at the ceremony in Washington, D.C.

One of the center’s own

McMonagle is actually a product of the CPD: She was a student in the center’s undergraduate program eight years ago, and the experience made her switch her career path from radio journalism to earning a master’s degree with a specialization in deliberation and working for the CPD.

In its second year, the American Civic Collaboration Awards are hosted by the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, Big Tent Nation and the National Conference on Citizenship. Nominees are evaluated by a review committee composed of leaders in civic engagement, politics, research and community impact.

The other Civvy recipients were iCivics, First Vote NC, the Maine Rank Choice Voting Education Effort and the Montevallo Junior City Council.

 

The Department of Communication Studies is part of CSU’s College of Liberal Arts.