Saint Louis University’s William L. Clay Sr. Institute of Civic Engagement and Economic Justice will host a public event, “Every Voice, Every Vote: Exploring Civic Life Across Missouri,” on April 27. The event aims to bring together community members, students, and civic leaders to discuss how Missourians experience democracy and the factors that shape civic engagement.
The discussion is intended to address trust in elections, barriers to participation, and shared values within Missouri’s civic life. The panel will be moderated by Sarah Fenske, executive editor of St. Louis Magazine. Questions for the conversation will be drawn from the February 2026 SLU/YouGov Poll that surveyed 900 likely Missouri voters about their views on key state and national issues as well as upcoming elections.
Panelists include Christopher Duncan, professor of political science at Saint Louis University; Jerry Hunter, chair of the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners; Travis Krum, professor of law at Washington University School of Law; and Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel for the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.
The Clay Institute was launched in 2025 within SLU’s Center for Social Action and offers programming focused on civic engagement for all students interested in democratic participation. According to the official website, Saint Louis University supports community engagement through service programs addressing social needs and maintains a tradition rooted in Jesuit education emphasizing care for the whole person.
The university extends its educational reach internationally with a campus in Madrid, Spain according to its official website. It also offers more than 100 undergraduate programs along with over 100 graduate and professional ones according to its official website.
Admission to the April 27 event is free with registration. Funding comes from a grant provided by the Missouri Humanities Council (MHC), which has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.
