In this paper, the author aims to bring individuals together and engage in a meaningful, critical examination of selected topics that concern teacher educators and practitioners. The author focuses on the imperative of civic engagement--fostering democratic minds among a citizenry motivated and capable in civic engagement--which is evermore important. At the heart of a democratic society is the need for civic engagement to realize democracy. The realization of democracy is achieved when the function of education in a democratic society and the function of democracy in education are fully embraced and understood by a public and its educational system. Therein lies the import of the imperative for civic engagement in teacher education.