CMC’s civics initiative aims to reach entire community

Gianneschi: Democracy depends on engaged, informed citizenry

This story by Aspen Daily News' Kari Dequine was published on Sept. 19, 2026.

By Kari Dequine, Aspen Daily News

Democracy — and the American ideals and fundamentals laid out in the country’s founding documents — doesn’t mean anything unless “we all believe in it and agree on how to enact it,” said Matt Gianneschi, president of Colorado Mountain College.

That’s why Gianneschi helped launch a new civics initiative across the college’s 11 campuses serving about 14,000 students (including online).

But it isn’t just aimed at students, he said. It’s designed to engage the entire community.

To read the full story, visit civics initiative.