Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends

How Brandeis Helps Students Across the Country ‘ENACT’ Legislative Change

Brandeis program that empowers students in all 50 states renamed in honor of key figure.

In January, a trio of Waltham politicians – including Mayor Jeanette McCarthy, State Representative Thomas Stanley, and City Councilor Paul Katz ’85 – met with Brandeis students to talk about the role and importance of local government. This spring, many students will congregate on campus to advocate for state bills relating to healthcare, immigration, juvenile justice, and homelessness. Both events are examples of ENACT in action. 

What is ENACT?

Short for the Abraham Feinberg Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation, the program was launched by Brandeis 10 years ago to engage students in the lawmaking process. Yet ENACT is so much more than a small campus program. 

It’s a national, nonpartisan initiative headquartered at Brandeis that has reached thousands of students nationwide, empowering them to think globally by acting locally. Participating students travel to their state capitals, meet with legislators, strategize with community organizations, and create outreach materials to advance issues that matter to them.

Historically known simply as ENACT, in late 2024, the university renamed the program, adding Abraham Feinberg HDL’61, G’85 to the beginning of the acronym. 

The program at a glance

Though it started on campus in 2009, Brandeis took ENACT national in 2015. Since then, it has established a foothold in all 50 states, partnering with a wide range of colleges and universities. Across the country, more than 3,000 undergraduates have enrolled in ENACT courses taught by ENACT faculty fellows. 

Looking ahead, ENACT is gearing up for its first-ever national student summit, which will bring together students from across the country to share insights and experiences from their civic engagement journeys. Upcoming ENACT campus programs include seminars on reproductive health issues and documentary film screenings.

A tribute to Abraham Feinberg

The university honors a key figure in its history by renaming the program for Abraham Feinberg. In fact, a generous gift from Feinberg established the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life in 1998, which launched ENACT. During his long relationship with Brandeis, Feinberg also served as a Brandeis fellow, member, and chair of the Board of Trustees. A 2015 gift by Feinberg’s daughter, Judith Schneider, and her husband, Norbert Weissberg, established ENACT as a national program.

A voice for change

ENACT has become a significant voice addressing challenges to American democracy by engaging young people in civic activism built on knowledge, cooperation, justice, and integrity.

ENACT students at participating schools are linked through an online network and in-person gatherings that enhance learning, connect them with people active in the field, and provide opportunities to share their work to inspire and instruct others who seek to impact civic life in the United States.