PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project seeks to understand peoples’ perceptions of the language associated with civic engagement and democracy work.

At best, are we talking past each other? At worst, are we furthering divisions, disillusionment, or disengagement?

In 2019, PACE took its first steps of exploration on this topic. Since then, the world has changed, the need to understand has grown, and the questions about what we do have become more urgent. 

PACE seeks to advance liberal democracy’s ideals and our vision is one in which all Americans are informed and empowered to contribute to civic life. To do so, we need to understand what perceptions and associations exist related to “civic and democracy work,” and how these terms and concepts resonate (or don’t), so that we can work more inclusively, effectively, and constructively. 

That’s why we conducted an updated, nationally representative survey of 5,000 Americans as step 1 into a larger process of inquiry and discovery. Our exploration of this data– and what it means for our collective work– is only just beginning. And we can’t (and shouldn’t) do it alone. We invite others who are working to advance the principles, values, and norms of liberal democracy to see the data as theirs to explore, to probe, to ask questions, to make meaning, and ultimately, to improve our shared efforts of increasing civic engagement and strengthening democracy.

Below you will find ways to engage with the data, with PACE, and with each other.

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Read why this inquiry matters to us, our intent with it, what we see as the next steps, and some of what we’re learning so far.