Building sustainable civic learning and democratic engagement goals for the future

This concluding chapter identifies the key shifts in CLDE by weaving together CLDE's roots, progress, and contemporary concerns. It becomes apparent that CLDE is in a time of transition; yet, the authors highlight two models that have balanced tradition and innovation. Additionally, there are three important orientations to CLDE work that will help in recalibrating how we think about, approach, and evaluate CLDE goals: (1) adaptive leadership for addressing the wicked problems of the 21st century, (2) boundary spanning for CLDE goal setting to create work that is both relevant and sustainable, and (3) critical theory and the necessity to embrace disciplinary viewpoints with the common goal of ensuring the viability of CLDE into a future yet to be imagined. The authors conclude by challenging CLDE professionals to consider setting goals for CLDE work through the prism of these three concepts to recalibrate CLDE for a stronger, sustainable future.