The Art of Association

AEI Podcasts
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The Art of Association is a monthly podcast on big themes spanning philanthropy, civil society, and democracy in America – and the interplay between and among these areas. Following Tocqueville, the podcast presumes that the health of democracy depends far more than we realize on our ability to associate with each other in constructive ways. Doing this helps us solve problems we face together and, at the same time, become citizens more capable of self-government.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Charlie Brown on Supporting Civic Life in Rural and Small Town America

    Charlie Brown, Executive Director of the Trust for Civic Life, joins The Art of Association podcast to talk with host Daniel Stid about the Trust’s work. Three years into this initiative, the Trust is off to a great start in pooling funds from national philanthropic funders and in turn regranting them to support bottom up civic renewal efforts, with a special emphasis on rural and small town America. The Trust’s support for “civic hubs” in communities across the country in the form of flexible, multiyear grants makes a point of keeping the initiative with local leaders. These leaders and their organizations are uniquely positioned to use their local knowledge, networks, and accountability to determine priorities, expand participation, and help solve problems in their communities in ways that national funders cannot. The Trust holds that durable civic renewal grows through collaborative action, focusing on small practical wins while avoiding national controversies that have limited local salience. This approach holds great promise for improving our communities and ultimately, as progress accumulates, the civic life of the nation as a whole. Chapters(00:35): The Trust for Civic Life’s mission, origins, funders, and initial development (11:00): Why the Trust focuses on rural and small town America (15:20): How the Trust goes about its work (21:19): The aspirations and career path that brought Charlie to the Trust (23:47): The Trust’s work to navigate divisions and address shared priorities (26:30): What the Trust is learning from its work to date (32:00): How the Trust shares promising ideas and approaches across its network (34:49): How the Trust is fine-tuning its efforts (40:37): Charlie’s vision for the Trust’s impact over the long run (42:56): Who Charlie learns from Resources“Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century” (American Academy of Arts and Sciences) Trust for Civic Life website Investing in America’s Civic Hubs (Trust for Civic Life’s 2025 Annual Report)

    45 min
  • 1 Episode

About

The Art of Association is a monthly podcast on big themes spanning philanthropy, civil society, and democracy in America – and the interplay between and among these areas. Following Tocqueville, the podcast presumes that the health of democracy depends far more than we realize on our ability to associate with each other in constructive ways. Doing this helps us solve problems we face together and, at the same time, become citizens more capable of self-government.

Information

  • Creator
    AEI Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 AEI Podcasts
  • Show Website
    The Art of Association