Who We Are
MDI is the partnership of experts in education, journalism, political science, and public policy to form the leadership for university research, teaching and learning, and democracy-related programs. For three primary reasons, these disciplines are uniquely qualified and responsible for forming the foundation of efforts to address threats to democracy:
- The fields of education, journalism, political science, and public policy represent the universe of major disciplines that place the preservation and improvement of democracy at the center of their missions.
- A healthy democracy requires lifelong learning and participation from all community members. From educating children and adults to measuring the civic health of our democracy to helping elected officials and informing the public, our programs cover the lifespan of education for democracy and civic participation.
- Collectively, these four disciplines offer the most comprehensive coverage of the attitudes and behavior of the primary actors and institutions in society and government. That is, the actors we train, study, and interact with include the mass public, from pre-k students to retirees, community and elected leaders, and government officials at the local, state, and national levels. The institutions we study include schools, civic organizations, interest groups, the media (from local newspapers to international conglomerates), and legislative bodies and government agencies at all levels.
