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Train & Empower
Students To Be Civic Leaders

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About Us

By, with, and through ACC students, The Center for Government and Civic Service (CGCS) builds and strengthens 21st-century civil society, community, and governance. The CGCS trains and empowers our students to be impactful civic leaders. The Center is a creator, catalyst, and nexus for civic action. CGCS initiatives enable our students to complete their programs by providing them with the skills, sense of belonging, and confidence required to succeed in meaningful careers, and bring positive change to our society.

The CGCS also serves as the steward of an exceptional event space available to external organizations at a reasonable cost, as well as to our ACC community free of charge. Click the "Reserve Event Space" tab to fill out a short intake form to begin the reservation process.

Leadership

Bryan Port

Bryan Port

Director, CGCS

Marisela Perez

Marisela Perez

Deputy Director

Strategic Planner in Civic Leadership

Staff

Austin Wells

Austin Wells

Strategic Planner for Community Relations and Environmental Affairs

Cate Thomason

Cate Thomason

Strategic Planner in Public Service

Stefano Casafranca

Stefano Casafranca

Strategic Planner in Citizenship & Tech (UX/AI Technologies)

Vanessa Trujano

Vanessa Trujano

Strategic Planner and Communicator

Eimanie Thomas

Eimanie Thomas

Strategic Planner, Business Operations

Kristen Nemain

Kristen Nemain

Strategic Planner, Community Relations

Abigail Zenko

Abigail Zenko

Strategic Planner in Business Operations

Student Fellows

Gordon Ray

Gordon Ray

Student Fellow

Ella Luce

Ella Luce

Student Fellow

Betsy Soberanes

Betsy Soberanes

Student Fellow

Initiatives

Public Service

Engage in acts of public service that contribute to addressing pressing real-world problems alongside your peers and members of the community and local government while developing professional skills.

Learn More

Civic Leadership

Participate in events designed to teach or enhance leadership skills in realistic environments applicable to professional life and democratic citizenship.

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Citizenship & Tech

Harness technology for the common good. Engage in collaborative problem-solving—no technical background required—to build the resilience and practical skills essential for active 21st-century citizenship.

Learn More

CGCS Initiatives & Events

Programs, workshops, dialogues, and service opportunities hosted by the Center for Government and Civic Service.

Anti-Human Trafficking Volunteer Opportunity: Skull Games Task Force

Anti-Human Trafficking Volunteer Opportunity: Skull Games Task Force

November 7-8, 2026 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
ACC student waitlist openRiverHacks × NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026

RiverHacks × NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026

November 14-15, 2026 @ 9:00 am start

Events of Interest

Events hosted by our partners across Central Texas that we recommend to the CGCS community.

ACM/IEEE Austin: Oct Tech Talks & Community Showcase

ACM/IEEE Austin: Oct Tech Talks & Community Showcase

October 28, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
AIMUG Monthly Mixer & Showcase

AIMUG Monthly Mixer & Showcase

November 2, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
AIMUG Monthly Mixer & Showcase

AIMUG Monthly Mixer & Showcase

November 4, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
ACM/IEEE Austin Novemeber Tech Talks & Community Showcase

ACM/IEEE Austin Novemeber Tech Talks & Community Showcase

November 9, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Spring 2027

CGCS Programs Coming This Spring

Two hands-on programs where students build and research alongside real partners.

Generative AI for Public Service

GAPS

One semester at ACC. Student teams design, build, and deploy an AI tool for a public institution — working with a real partner on a real problem.

Explore GAPS

Small Business Technology Transfer

STTR

Students join a federally funded research partnership, contributing research, design, and planning work toward drone systems for the Air Force.

Learn about STTR

Simulations

The CGCS develops simulations to train specific leadership skills and attributes and based on the specified skills and attributes develops learning and simulation objectives.

  • The CGCS is eager to work with Students, Staff, and Faculty to run existing simulations or to develop and run new simulations tailored to specific educational desires and needs. If interested, click the "Propose a Simulation" banner.
  • Each simulation is based on a scenario with roles developed for students to "play" in order to develop and practice leadership skills in a manner designed to provide specific, detailed feedback.
  • The CGCS offers Skill Building Workshops lasting two hours in length in advance of simulations to teach specific skill sets participants can apply during the simulation. Participation is optional and open regardless of whether scheduled to participate in a simulation or not.
  • The CGCS is in the process of developing a Civic Leadership Badge and eventually a micro-credential. Stay tuned for details.
86 Participants who completed simulations
344 Total leadership training hours delivered

Catalogue

Virescenia

Virescenia

Focus: Strategic Communication

An Austin based bio-technology company has inadvertently created a novel disease. The Mayor has called a public meeting to address concerns and solicit citizen cooperation. Assume a role on the Mayor's team to prevent panic and obtain support or assume the role of a member of the public trying to shape city policy, influence your fellow residents, or obtain specific information.

Virescenia

SCENARIO

Local biotech company GeneSys created Luxaflora – a genetically modified house plant. It appears that Luxaflora has led to a new disease. Take on the role of either a government official or a member of the public and attend a public meeting called by the mayor to discuss the crisis.

Age 14+ 20+ players 4+ Hours
Learning environment

Learning Objectives

You will learn to:

  • "Read a room" crafting and delivering messages to obtain information you need
  • Shape the behavior of either the government or the public
  • Obtain critical information or influence decision-making in high-pressure settings
GeneSys

GeneSys

Focus: Ethical Decision-Making in Crisis

The Austin based bio-tech company has called a meeting of its board to set priorities in dealing with the crisis (Virescenia). Attend the meeting as a member of the board and employ ethical decision-making frameworks as you attempt to convince the board to adopt your specific priorities.

GeneSys

SCENARIO

The Austin based bio-tech company has called a meeting of its board to set priorities regarding the crisis. Attend as a board member (Chief Science Officer, Legal Counsel, etc.) and employ ethical decision-making frameworks.

Age 14+ 5+ players 4+ Hours
Learning environment

Learning Objectives

You will learn to:

  • Apply ethical theories (utilitarian, deontological) to complex decisions
  • Negotiate competing interests and stakeholder priorities
  • Build consensus while balancing personal and institutional ethics
The Dysfunctional Family Dinner

The Dysfunctional Family Dinner

Focus: Conflict Management & Resolution

Join "your" dysfunctional family for a holiday dinner and navigate political debates, emotional dynamics, and hidden agendas. Shape and steer the conversation, manage and resolve conflict.

The Dysfunctional Family Dinner

SCENARIO

Navigate a family gathering with political debates and hidden agendas to manage conflict constructively during a holiday dinner.

Age 14+ 8+ players 3+ Hours
Learning environment

Learning Objectives

You will learn to:

  • Strengthen conflict resolution and de-escalation skills
  • Adapt communication styles to different personalities
  • Engineer off-ramps from heated discussions while preserving relationships

Badges

ACC Technology & Civic Leadership Badge

TECHNOLOGY & CIVIC LEADERSHIP BADGE

Earn a Technology & Civic Leadership badge by attending three qualifying events and completing a short reflection in Suitable. Be sure to check in with the CGCS! We are working to create more badging opportunities.

Qualifying Event Badges

Attend any 3 events from the options below to earn the Technology & Civic Leadership Badge

Austin AI Alliance Austin on Technology & Society Austin LangChain AIMUG

Our Impact in Numbers

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Participants Served

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Event Hours

Reports & Recaps

See what the CGCS has accomplished, semester by semester.

Spring 2026 Recap

A look back at CGCS programs, events, and student impact from the Spring 2026 semester.

View PDF

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The State of Civil Society

"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people"

~ John Adams

"The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous..."

~ Frederick Douglass
Civil Society