Awakening Souls for Civic Leadership

What if the future of civic education looked more like Soul Work than seat work?

In the American South, a region that holds both the wounds and wisdom of our nation’s democratic journey, systemic disparities in education, income, and civic infrastructure have left many communities civically underprepared and spiritually unseen. But these communities are not void of leadership. They are rich in cultural capital, faith traditions, and intergenerational resilience. What they lack is a civic model that speaks to their lived experiences. A model that meets people at the intersection of soul, story, and strategy. That is the opportunity the Smiley Institute was born to address.