Education To Action

The Institute for Common Power is a 501(c)3 educational branch of Common Power. We catalyze people to action through experiential learning opportunities such as workshops, lectures, courses, learning tours, national educational events and more designed to foster, sustain, and expand what should be the most common power in American democracy-the right to vote. Ensuring a vote for all is essential to dismantling systems of injustice and creating equitable healthcare, living wages, decent housing, affordable education, and so much more. Voting has always been contested in America, and today this foundational democratic power is under assault–especially for communities of color. The Institute for Common Power is devoted to education to action as a foundation to voting justice and inclusive democracy in the United States.

Our Daily Mission

Movement Learning. We focus on and learn about how common power has been forged in America despite overwhelming obstacles. Specifically, we are guided by the strategies, people, and institutions in movements for Emancipation, Citizenship, Suffrage, Civil Rights, and Justice to inform how we take action to foster a just and inclusive democracy today.

Immediate Application. We apply our learning to intertwined struggles today over civics education, voting rights, and a just democracy. Knowledge without application is the province of the privileged; in our programs we emphasize the links between voting justice and pathways to unlock systems of inequity and achieve genuine common power–right here, right now.

Purposeful Action. We commit to carrying our education into intentional action in support of voting justice and equity in America. This includes upholding accurate information about civil and voting rights, advocating for more inclusive enfranchisement policies, mobilizing people to cast votes, electing officials who are committed to voting for all, and implementing programs that demonstrate how we can create racial equity.

WE FOCUS ON FOUR CORE GROUPS FOR EDUCATION TO ACTION:

Community Partners

Youth and Family

Educators

General Public

The Institute for Common Power creates educational opportunities that are interactive, experiential, accessible, and unbound by traditional systemic and financial hurdles. We lead by example in our work and seek to empower everyone to make a difference. No one can do everything, but all of us can — and must — contribute to genuine progress in the struggles for voting and a just and inclusive democracy as we work to safeguard truth.

The Institute for Common Power Dr. Scott

Lectures, Courses, and Vision Conversations in the Institute for Common Power are powerful ways to uncover typically unknown aspects of history. Our in-person and virtual lectures and conversations are designed to educate and inspire! Renowned scholars, authors, and activists are featured in our lecture series.

Lectures, Courses, and Vision Conversations

The Institute for Common Power Truth & Purpose Learning Experiences are profound journeys through the American South and through self. We e are wholly dedicated to the essentiality of finding / renewing purpose. We explore aspects of our collective history that are too often dismissed, ignored, or denied. We aim to equip you with the knowledge and insights necessary to recognize and dismantle injustice as you drive lasting change.

Truth & Purpose Learning Experiences

The Institute is committed to teaching truth, to countering those who are trying to silence it, to supporting educators who stand for truth, and to partnering with organizations and leaders who are committed to combating efforts to erase truth from existence. To this end, we have created Resource Pages that illuminate the history and culture of historically marginalized people. We also have free K-12 lesson plans, and resources related to racial disparities in healthcare.

Educational Resources

Through Institute programs such as Scholars in Motion, Scholar-in-Residence, Educators for Democracy Initiatives, and Education to Action Grants, we aim to provide scholars of all ages and phases in their careers with support to create meaningful change.