A college junior had never heard of the Berlin Wall and that one detail tells a much bigger story about civic education in America. At the “America at a Crossroads” event in Arizona, Amy Shepard from Arizona State University’s Center for American Institutions talks about what happens when students get ideology instead of an education, and what it looks like to fight back with something more durable than outrage: real history, critical thinking, debate, and civil discourse.
Amy walks us through Don Critchlow’s long-range vision for strengthening American institutions by “stocking the pond” with trained students and teaching fellows. She gets specific about the Political History and Leadership program, how the Center identifies standout students, and how those graduates move into law, business, campaigns, government roles, and military service. If you care about leadership development, constitutional literacy, and building a healthier pipeline of civic-minded citizens, this is a practical look at how that work happens inside a major public university.
Amy also discusses the Center’s National Commission reports on culture-shaping issues, including DEI in classrooms and DEI in the military, plus a behind-the-scenes story of how one military civics report found its way into the broader public conversation. She closes with a clear “now what”: educate yourself, use resources, talk to your neighbors, and vote the entire ballot.
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