President Jan called the Seattle #4 Rotary Club to order on Wednesday, August 6, at 12:30 p.m. at the Washington Athletic Club in downtown Seattle. She said that her major goal during her term as president, is to increase Rotary Club membership.
Jon Bridge introduced Jodi Sandfort, Dean of the Evans School of Public Policy and Government. Jon said it was a real pleasure to welcome a new voice to our Rotary gathering today, as we continue our efforts to bring in fresh members and reconnect with some of our younger and long-standing ones. Jon said that he was honored to introduce Dean Jodi Sandfort. He observed that she is doing critical work to strengthen democracy and lead innovation in public service.
Dean Jodi Sandfort
Jodi Sandfort said there is an urgent need to strengthen civic engagement and rebuild the foundations of American democracy. Speaking at a time of national uncertainty and political polarization in 2025, she emphasized that public policy and governance shape our everyday lives—from weather alerts and national parks, to immigration and education. As debates rage over the role of government and civic trust erodes, Sandfort framed the current moment as an opportunity not for despair, but for patriotic renewal.
Drawing on the metaphor of a “democratic house,” she warned that the nation’s civic structure is under threat—from executive overreach, misinformation, and a loss of trust in institutions. She also believes this moment can lead to significant renovation if citizens commit to strengthening civic health, fostering respectful dialogue, and investing in the public sphere. Her message is rooted in both historical awareness and hope for the future. Quoting figures like Senator Margaret Chase Smith and contemporary leaders such as Senator Angus King, Sandfort noted the country has faced ideological divisions before—and overcome them through collective resolve.
Sandfort described the Evans School’s evolving role in addressing civic challenges. Historically focused on data and analysis, the school is now prioritizing human-centered design, public values, and civic trust. She detailed initiatives like the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute, which brings together city officials to share motivations and collaborate across party lines. Another effort teaches human-centered design to state agency employees, empowering them to improve public services, such as reducing red tape for Medicaid recipients.
She also highlighted the importance of structural reform, noting outdated systems and limited authority in state institutions. To respond, the Evans School created a design-build team that partners with agencies to implement policy effectively—such as streamlining Washington’s Paid Family Leave program. Collaboration with public leaders, including the lieutenant governor and secretary of state, has been instrumental in driving these reforms.
Turning to the next generation, Sandfort stressed the urgency of civic education. Today’s college students—born in 2007, shaped by COVID and January 6—need active exposure to democracy in action. The school launched undergraduate programs and policy camps that bring students face-to-face with public leaders, teaching them to listen, engage across differences, and see compromise as essential to democracy.
In closing, Sandfort cited the late Governor Dan Evans, the school’s namesake, who believed citizenship meant more than voting—it meant active civic participation. She shared an image of a renovated campus window as a symbol of hope: preserving the grace of what’s old while building something functional and new. That, she said, is the essence of this moment. Public institutions, though battered, remain powerful spaces for civic renewal. To thrive, America must invest in people, retrofit outdated systems, and recommit to the values that have always driven democratic progress. The time for action is now—and it must involve all of us.
The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Please consult the Rotary Club newsletter that comes out on Thursday, regarding location and speakers for future meetings, Rotary Club social gatherings, and announcements.
