Democracy Day: Building Paths of Civic Engagement at Hopkins
By: Cameron Moore
This year’s Democracy Day gave incoming Johns Hopkins students meaningful opportunities to engage in dialogue, explore democratic principles, and take action on pressing civic challenges. Through a dynamic mix of seminars, workshops, and interactive programming, students gained tools to begin shaping their own paths of democratic and civic engagement at Hopkins.
“When the Center for Social Concern initially envisioned Democracy Day, our goal was to provide Hopkins students with educational resources, tools, and opportunities for critical reflection that support their direct service and community-engaged initiatives in Baltimore City and beyond. Over time, we have scaled this vision along with New Student Orientation and SNF Agora to all first-year and transfer students, building their capacity to create their own paths of democratic and civic learning throughout their journey at Hopkins,” says Dr. Jasmine Blanks Jones, Executive Director of the CSC.
Center for Social Concern Executive Director Jasmine Blanks Jones, PhD welcomes first-year and transfer students to Democracy Day with the question, “Is this an election year?” As students quietly discuss this among themselves, she encourages them to learn more about democratic participation through Hopkins Votes because as they would soon learn as Blue Jays, “we’ve got midterms!”
Dialogue, Reflection, and Learning
The day featured a variety of educational sessions centered on the values of freedom of thought and expression, civic responsibility, and openness to diverse perspectives. A highlight was the Center for Social Concern’s new Student Dialogue Corner—a dedicated space for open discussion and reflection. Here, students were encouraged to practice active listening and engage in dialogue across differences, skills that will serve them throughout their Hopkins journey.
“Through the various discussions and activities that were provided by Democracy Day, I was able to learn that I have the right to voice my opinions when I come across an idea I may not necessarily agree with. However, I also learned that while I am protected by the fortunate right to free speech, I have the duty as a student at Hopkins and a United States citizen to remain civil in my disagreements with others,” says Sophia Sim, a first-year student majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Psychology and Civic Life.
Community Engagement Fair
The energy and excitement at the annual Democracy Day Community Engagement Fair were palpable. In every direction, students could be seen enjoying treats from local vendors including Capitol Kettle Corn, Sakoon, Berries by Quicha, Midnite Confections, and Deddle’s Donuts while laughing with new friends and connecting with more than 15 student service organizations that are advised by the Center for Social Concern.
Hopkins Votes Ambassadors connected with students at the Community Engagement Fair, sharing ways to get involved and distributing Hopkins Votes merch.
These student-led groups showcased impactful initiatives spanning health, science, the arts, K–12 tutoring, and mentorship—all in partnership with Baltimore residents, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Students also explored Center for Social Concern programs such as Tutorial Project, Hopkins Votes, Baltimore First, and Hopkins Engage, along with JHU departments committed to community engagement.
“The Community Engagement Fair portion of Democracy Day continues to be an intentional way to ground the day’s goals in the context of our community. It was truly inspiring to witness the energy and genuine curiosity as students and community members engaged with one another throughout the tents,” emphasized Luis Sierra Moncion, Deputy Director of the CSC.
Looking Ahead
Democracy Day has inspired me to take a brave step forward in having open conversations with people from different cultures and backgrounds who bring personal insights to daily life. It has also helped me gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of our democracy and what they mean for me as both a student and a young citizen,” said Sim.
For many students, Democracy Day was just the beginning. The experiences, connections, and conversations sparked during the day are meant to fuel sustained engagement throughout their time at Hopkins.
To learn more about how you can get civically involved on campus, visit the Hopkins Votes website.