David Mathews Center for Civic Life

David Mathews Center for Civic Life We are a non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt corporation. Simply put: we work to strengthen civic life in all 67 Alabama counties.

We build skills, habits, and capacities for more effective civic engagement and innovative decision making.

Teachers! 🍎 Join us at the Historic Blakeley State Park on June 2nd! Teachers will explore: ✔️ How to intergrate deliber...
05/27/2026

Teachers! 🍎 Join us at the Historic Blakeley State Park on June 2nd!

Teachers will explore:
✔️ How to intergrate deliberative techniques into the classroom
✔️How to moderate complex topics with students
✔️Tools to increase civic learning in the classroom and beyond
✔️Ways local historical content can help deepen student learning of American history

Teachers will recieve professional development credit, an excursion into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, and lunch will be provided.

It’s not to late to register! Contact [email protected] or for more information call 251-626-0798.

Hope to see you there!

Look at those smiles! 🩵We had a wonderful board retreat last week. The DMC board and staff warmly welcomed our two new b...
05/12/2026

Look at those smiles! 🩵We had a wonderful board retreat last week. The DMC board and staff warmly welcomed our two new board members, Jeremy Arthur and Dorothy Walker, and all shared meaningful stories about their journeys with DMC and their hopes for growth and intentional service in communities across Alabama.

We also enjoyed a special visit from Sherri Goudy of CCCD (Center for Citizenship Community and Democracy) who shared exciting new ventures from Dr. Mathews, Natalie Steed shared updates on celebrations happening across the state for America’s 250th, and Kristin Boggs shared some insights about the APSTI (Alabama Public Service Training Initiative) program and the great things ahead!

Thank you everyone for such a great day! Enjoy some awesome 📸

We’re still smiling from such an incredible celebration of 21 years! A HUGE thank you to everyone that came to join us....
05/05/2026

We’re still smiling from such an incredible celebration of 21 years! A HUGE thank you to everyone that came to join us. Your presence brought so much civic joy to this small but mighty team!

Enjoy some 📸 from this special day!

Thank you to for such a cool space and Thank you to for the delicious food and service!

Cheers to 21 years and many more to come! 🥂

Something special is coming up and YOU'RE INVITED ✨ Join us for an evening at Cahaba Brewing Company in Birmingham to re...
04/01/2026

Something special is coming up and YOU'RE INVITED ✨ Join us for an evening at Cahaba Brewing Company in Birmingham to reconnect with current and former JOIPs and DMC partners. RSVP with the link in our bio!

See you there!

🚨REMINDER!!! 🚨Teachers and Educators!!!Applications are now open for the DMC's 2026-2027 Civic Educators Fellowship!This...
03/18/2026

🚨REMINDER!!! 🚨Teachers and Educators!!!

Applications are now open for the DMC's 2026-2027 Civic Educators Fellowship!

This fellowship provides classroom and community-based educators with the resources and training they need to bring civics-forward education to the classroom. By completing the required daylong workshop at the American Village in July, accepted participants will receive a $600 stipend and professional development credit.

Please help us in sharing this opportunity with educators across the state! More information about the program and application can be found at the link in our bio, or you can email Education Manager Lauren Lockhart at [email protected]

Enjoy some 📸✨from the 2026 JOIP Retreat!🩵
03/02/2026

Enjoy some 📸✨from the 2026 JOIP Retreat!🩵

03/02/2026

Spreading civic joy with the DMC 🩵

The 2026 JOIP Retreat was such a special time spent with some of the most passionate and courageous people from across the state.

Students, faculty mentors, and DMC staff & board illuminated the esssence of civic joy and shared with those around them. ✨

Take a listen to some of the things that are bringing these extraordinary people civic joy!

Let us know what is bringing you civic joy! 🌺

The DMC welcomes Jeremy Arthur to our Board of Directors! Jeremy L. Arthur serves as the executive director of the Gover...
02/27/2026

The DMC welcomes Jeremy Arthur to our Board of Directors!

Jeremy L. Arthur serves as the executive director of the Government & Economic Development Institute at Auburn University, an organization that provides guidance, training, professional development, leadership, community development, research, and civic engagement endeavors across Alabama. He held previous positions with the Economic Development Institute at Auburn University, as president of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, and president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.

“I am truly honored to join the DMC Board of Directors,” Arthur said. “As a fifth-generation Alabamian, my love of and support for the great State of Alabama runs deep. When I first began my professional career, I had the privilege of working together with David Mathews at The Kettering Foundation on several community projects. That work sparked my desire to continue my efforts to improve Alabama, one community at a time. I look forward to working under the mission of the DMC to build capacity through civic engagement.”

Read all about Jeremy Arthur in our blog https://www.mathewscenter.org/blog/mathews-center-welcomes-two-new-board-members-1

The DMC welcomes Dorothy Walker to our Board of Directors! Dorothy Walker has nearly 30 years of experience working in h...
02/27/2026

The DMC welcomes Dorothy Walker to our Board of Directors!

Dorothy Walker has nearly 30 years of experience working in historic preservation, cultural resource advocacy, planning, outreach, research, grants and project management. She currently serves as a program officer for the U.S. Department of the Interior as the lead manager for Historically Black Colleges and Universities grants. She retired from state service in 2024, after a career at the Alabama Historical Commission that included nearly a decade as site director for the Freedom Rides Museum, where she planned the first permanent exhibition. Walker also secured donation of a 1950s-era Greyhound Bus of the same vintage as the bus in which the Freedom Riders rode. Walker also previously served as cultural heritage manager for Alabama State University’s National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture.

“I have spent my career supporting similar projects and look forward to this opportunity to help educate others about the important role our past has in the present and in the future, especially during this year which overlaps the 65th anniversary of the Freedom Rides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation.”

Read all about Dorothy Walker on our blog https://www.mathewscenter.org/blog/mathews-center-welcomes-two-new-board-members-1

January 28 is Global Community Engagement Day. It is a day to encourage organizations, individuals, and businesses to be...
01/28/2026

January 28 is Global Community Engagement Day. It is a day to encourage organizations, individuals, and businesses to better engage with their community. This sentiment is a cornerstone to the work of the DMC, as well as its statewide partners and colleagues across the world. So today, we offer these words from our namesake: "The direction of a community's movement, forward or backward, is determined by its patterns of interaction, by the habitual way that people respond to one another. Everyone, whether they want to be are not, is a player. Even choosing not to participate affects the game."

Address

3727 Highway 119
Montevallo, AL
35115

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12056659005

Website

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