Applied Research Center for Civility

About the Center for Civility

The Applied Research Center for Civility (Center for Civility) is a joint initiative of UC San Diego and the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC), with a shared mission of overcoming hate, intolerance, and incivility.

Combining NCRC’s experience in conflict resolution and communication programming and UC San Diego’s experience in research, data collection, and quantitative analyses, the Center for Civility aims to address society’s most challenging social issues and support groups and individuals in finding solutions that foster connection in divisive times.

Research is shared through an annual report and featured at a national conference in San Diego, CA, featuring experts and participants from across the country.

Areas of Concentration

Juvenile justice reform
Combatting hate and intolerance
Preparing young people for civil discourse
Disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline
Restoring civility to democracy

Current Initiatives

2026 – Blueprint for Change: Build a National Model for Youth Justice Reform

For years, the National Conflict Resolution Center has been at the forefront of supporting young people through prevention, diversion, restoration, and responsive community-based programs. Building on this work, the Applied Research Center for Civility has spent the past two years studying NCRC’s interconnected efforts across schools, the justice system, and the broader community to develop a replicable Youth Justice Reform Framework. Releasing in October 2026, this research paper will offer schools, justice systems, community organizations, and civic leaders a roadmap for building coordinated approaches to avoid the school-to-prison pipeline and move toward greater belonging, resilience, justice, and healthy, productive futures.

Paper coming soon!

2027 – Restoring Civility to America’s Democracy

As the nation looks toward the 2028 election, the Applied Research Center for Civility is exploring how communities can strengthen the relationships, trust, and civic infrastructure needed to support a more civil and resilient democracy. Through national research, practical tools, and a gathering of leaders from across the country, this initiative will help communities identify their strengths and challenges, learn from one another, and turn promising ideas into meaningful action. This national initiative seeks to help communities meet one of the defining challenges of our time and lay the foundation for not only a more civil election, but a stronger shared democratic future.

Save the date to join our National Conference on June 13th & 14th 2027 in San Diego, CA.

Meet our Advisory Board