The Task Force's Center for Democracy and Civic Leadership at

American University
Washington, D.C.

Crafting a home for the student democracy movement at AU, where students, scholars, and voting rights advocates can unite.

Spring 2025 Internship Applications Open Soon

Learn about the democracy movement and work alongside student organizers to resist authoritarianism and truly representative & inclusive democracy of tomorrow!

Our internship program includes bi-monthly trainings in the subject areas on the left. During that time you’ll also gain experience working with the Task Force for Democracy as we fight autocracy and defend voting rights!

After the internship’s conclusion, we’ll help you get started in the democracy field of your choice or you can opt to continue working alongside us!

Exposure to the diverse democracy movement and organizations in it
Threats to democracy in 2025, locally & nationally
Lessons from student democracy movements from around the globe
Building student-community mutual aid
Basics of grassroots advocacy at statehouses and federally
Principles of community organizing
Working in coalition spaces

Our Relationship With AU

As political violence is on the rise, and as democracy is at stake, the Task Force recognizes AU’s unique place as a center for civic leadership. We want the university to return to its roots and cultivate a generation of leaders characterized by a respect for democracy and a willingness to fight to defend it. The Task Force also believes that the American Pro-Democracy Movement (specifically the youth wing of this movement) should have a tangible home in Washington D.C. to advocate for and defend democracy.

Ideally this “home” for the movement should be at the intersection of professors/scholars, government officials, the nonprofits coordinating the movement, one of the strongest networks of advocates/elected officials/policy-makers, and politically-engaged students passionate about organizing for democracy. American University meets these criteria as it has (according to the Princeton Review) the most politically active student body. Additionally, AU’s proximity to the leadership of most pro-democracy nonprofits makes it an ideal home for scholars, advocates, and students to come together and defend democracy.

Now to the different ways the Task Force envisions cultivating that “home” for the movement:

Fundraising Campaign for the Center

The Task Force wants to run a fundraising campaign to create a Center for Democracy and Civic Leadership at American University to produce research backing the pro-democracy movement’s work. The Task Force would require direct oversight over the Center, with Task Force branding being a core part of the Center to solidify the association between the Task Force and American University.

Revive Student Advocacy

The Task Force would work to revive the United States Student Association (USSA) which was founded in the 40’s but went insolvent in recent years according to tax records. USSA is the oldest and largest student organization connecting student governments from most U.S. universities. Reviving USSA and ingraining American University as the de-facto headquarters of the association would make AU a meeting place and coordination hub for America’s student leaders.

Organize Summits, Forums, and Conferences

The Task Force, the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement (aka, the “Center”), and a hopefully revived USSA would hold conferences and meetings between students, scholars, and advocates at AU to reinforce that AU serves as the hub for the pro-democracy movement.