Who We Are and What We Do

The Institute for Diversity and Civic Life was founded in 2015 to research, document, and foster conversations about the rich diversity of Texas. IDCL has a mission to advance more inclusive public spaces through storytelling, research, and education.

Our programs harness the power of stories to transform. We create platforms to amplify underrepresented voices, empower Texans to tell their stories on their own terms, and democratize the historical record. IDCL’s narrative and storytelling initiatives include:

• Religions Texas – A digital archive and oral history project that documents the religious diversity of Texas
• The Migration Narratives Project – An initiative supporting community-based narrative projects that document and explore experiences of migration in Texas and contribute to the public understanding of immigration and refugee experiences

Our work bridges academic and public conversations and cultivates dialogue about belonging and recognition. We develop resources, trainings, and community events to expand civic imaginations and build bridges across differences, including:

• The State of Us: a series of webinars, research, and reports that explore the issues shaping our communities, collective identities, and civic spaces in Texas
• Trainings: Oral History for Social Change certificate on ReligionAndPublicLife.org
• Resources: religious literacy guides and toolkits on storytelling for social change