The Civitas Lab is a research incubator at the Henry Institute. Every year, 8-12 students known as the Civitas Scholars partner with Calvin professors to explore the public role of faith through discipline-based research. The students also build a research community by meeting together regularly to discuss their work, share project insights and challenges, and divide labor when necessary.
The 2018-19 Civitas Lab
Re-examining Evangelical Populism and Evangelical Internationalism: Annaka Ediger is working with Kevin den Dulk to compile an annotated bibliography of materials for use in the research of exploring evangelical Protestant Christianity and its role in American global engagement generally and U.S. foreign policy specifically.
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| Annaka Ediger Sophomore, majoring in International Relations and French, minor in Business from Hudsonville, MI |
Kevin R. den Dulk Calvin College Political Science Department; Henry Institute Executive Director |
Racial Reconciliation in Foster Care: Critically Examining Selves to Better Serve Others: Selena Walters is working with Professors Kristen Alford and Stacia Hoeksema as they explore the effectiveness of the CORR Understanding Racism workshop on foster care worker decision-making and the operation of foster care deliver systems.
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| Selena Walters Junior, majoring in Social Work, minor in Spanish from Hudsonville, MI |
Kristen Alford Calvin College Sociology Department |
Stacia Hoeksema Calvin College Sociology Department |
Masculinity and Militarism in American Evangelicalism: Kelly Looman is assisting Calvin History Professor Kristin DuMez with research on evangelical constructions of militant masculinity from 1980 to the present.
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| Kelly Looman Senior, majoring in International Relations, minor in Geography and History from Newaygo, MI |
Kristin Kobes DuMez Calvin College History Department |
Rustbelt Religion: Eleanor Vander Ark is working with Professor Mark Mulder to explore fieldwork and interviews in central Wisconsin to explain how religion shapes the politics of rural white voters.
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| Eleanor Vander Ark Senior, majoring in Sociology, minors in Gender Studies, and Philosophy from Madison, WI |
Mark Mulder Calvin College Sociology Department |
Politics of Water: Kevin den Dulk is working with Jonathan Winkle and Olivia den Dulk to explore the appropriate role of government in addressing problems involving availability, stewardship and economic justice issues that surround distribution of water as a matter of public justice.
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| Olivia den Dulk Junior, majoring in International Relations and Environmental Studies, minor in French and Data Science from Grand Rapids, MI |
Jonathan Winkle Junior, majoring in Political Science from Grand Rapids, MI |
Kevin R. den Dulk Calvin College Political Science Department; Henry Institute Executive Director |
Mapping Applications for Re-entry: Liam Farraby, Annalane Miller, and Skyler Rich are working with Jason VanHorn and Kevin den Dulk to expand the user-friendly intuitive map created earlier for Kent County to two additional Michigan counties, again providing information about facilities and organizations that would be indispensable to new parolees and those returning as citizens from incarceration. (See an article about the Restorative Justice project work)
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| Liam Ferraby Junior, majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies from Hiram, OH |
Annalane Miller Senior, majoring in Political Science, minors in International Development and Data Science from Dexter, MI |
Skyler Rich Senior, majoring in Business Marketing, minors in Political Science from Lake Tapps, WA |
Kevin R. den Dulk Calvin College Political Science Department Henry Institute Executive Director |
Jason Van Horn Calvin College Geology, Geography, and Environmental Studies Departments |
Interfaith Photovoice: Elena Van Stee and Calvin Sociology Professor Roman Williams are exploring the effectiveness of an arts-based research technique called photovoice as a strategy for interfaith engagement, using four projects led by team members in cities across North America; Van Stee and Williams will be interviewing Christians and Muslims from the Grand Rapids area and assisting with the final photovoice project in New York City.
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| Elena Van Stee Senior, majoring in Religion and Sociology, minor in French from Western Springs, IL |
Roman Williams Calvin College Sociology Department |
Restorative Justice Conference: Sarah Bass is working with Matt Walhout and other students and faculty in the Calvin Prison Initiative to coordinate and administer an October 2018 conference on restorative justice.
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| Sarah Bass Senior, majoring in English Literature, minor in Gender Studies from Holland, MI |
Matt Walhout Calvin College Physics Department |
Communicating Virtuously across Division in the Church: Karolyn DeKam and Professor Stacey Wieland are considering how Christians who disagree about significant social issues can engage in productive dialogue. This project considers how dialogue might be enacted in contexts where participants share a deep commitment to core Christian beliefs, yet diverge in their understanding of the implications of those beliefs for a modern social issue.
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| Karolyn DeKam Sophomore, majoring in Sociology, minor in Women and Gender Studies from Muskegon, MI |
Stacey Wieland Calvin College Communication, Arts and Sciences Department |
The Moral Power of Stories: A Meta-Analysis: Allyson Fea is assisting Peter Meindl as they explore the power of stories in developing a readers's moral character, as the themes and narratives often inspire moral change and influence moral beliefs and values, moral motivation,and even mortal behavior such as volunteerism and charitable giving. Psychologists have begun to look into whether stories shape morality, but the findings are inconsistent This research seeks to meta-analyze these results to get a better sense of the moral power of stories.
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| Allyson Fea Sophomore, majoring in Psychology and History from Mechanicsburg, PA |
Peter Meindl Calvin College Psychology Department |
Converted Structures: Working with Roman Williams, Taylor Hartson is exploring the prevalence, causes, and meanings of converted buildings from sacred to secular uses and vice versa, as churches across the U.S. and Canada have been adapted to other uses, including restaurants, condos, houses, indoor climbing gyms, libraries, concert venues, playhouses, community centers, and more. The two are developing a strategy for mapping structures and taking a closer look at the phenomenon through a case study.
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| Taylor Hartson Senior, majoring in Sociology, minors in Psychology and Writing from Pella, IA |
Roman Williams Calvin College Sociology Department |