Newly formed collaborative builds on distinct strengths of three centers

Three Grand Valley centers have partnered under a new structure that draws on their distinctive strengths to create a holistic approach to civic participation, leadership and constructive dialogues.

The Collaborative for Leadership and Civic Life (CLCL) is a shared organizational structure among the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, Kaufman Interfaith Institute and Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse.

Those centers will retain their identities, missions, advisory boards and community/campus outreach. Laura Aikens, vice president for Institutional Advancement, said the collaborative, housed within Aikens' division, makes the sum of the parts more powerful.

"The initiative grew from our belief that we can preserve those strengths while also creating something more powerful: a platform connecting ethical leadership, constructive dialogue, interfaith understanding, civic engagement and our shared responsibility for advancing the common good," she said.