30 Days of Good Citizenship

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 2, 2012 at 6:34pm

DAY ONE: Learn about the history of your neighborhood.

It can be fascinating to learn how history has played out on your very own streets. Get to know how and why things got to be the way they are. If you have a clearer picture of the people and places that shaped your community's past, you'll feel more connected to its present, and hopefully be inspired to get involved in creating its future.

Do some research: See what you can find online, in your neighborhood blog, your community paper or your neighborhood council. Public records can reveal interesting tidbits on past building projects, political campaigns, property sales and more. Who knows what you'll find, and who you can share it with!

Take a walk. You can go to Walkscore.com to quickly see the boundaries of your neighborhood, and then set out on an urban hike. Talk to neighbors and shop owners, ask them how long their families have lived in the area and if they have a story to tell. If you're into it, take a few photos and post them on our Facebook page.

Come back tomorrow for the next task in our GOOD citizenship challenge.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 3, 2012 at 12:19pm

DAY TWO: Read two opposing opinion pieces on the same topic.

 To be an informed citizen, you need access to truthful, balanced information. To be a more engaged citizen, you should form your own opinions on issues you care about.

Pick a topic or an issue that you want to know more about, and find two opposing views. You can look for articles or blogs online, in books or magazines at the library, or in your local newspaper. There's really no shortage of opinion pieces out there. You may want to stick with a source you know and trust like the The New York Times, which is more liberal, or The Wall Street Journal, which is more conservative.

After reading both pieces, look more closely at the ways each writer constructed her argument, see if either attempts to manipulate the facts or distort the truth, think critically about the pros and cons of each position, and formulate your own opinion.

If you really want to go deep, check out The Opposing Viewpoints Series published by Greenhaven Press, which has published books on every conceivable topic for the past forty years.

Come back tomorrow for the next task in our GOOD citizenship challenge.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 4, 2012 at 6:59pm

Learn about your local representatives and political issues.

All politics is local, right? If that's true, then knowing who makes the policy decisions that affect you is empowering. Get to know the boundaries of municipal government—i.e., the jurisdiction of city versus county government—so you know who is responsible for what. There are lots of ways to find out who represents you—all you need is your zip code. 

Do a search for your local government agency online to find your elected and appointed officials. Want to actually talk to someone? Your local librarians can find the answer to almost any question. Call the help desk, or drop in at your library and ask for the info you need. 

Reading your community blog or paper will get you caught up on local issues in a hurry, but don't stop there. Attend the next school board (even if you don't have kids), neighborhood organization, or city council meeting. 

Your representative represents you! That's right, you're their boss. Make an appointment to be heard, bring them a gift of thanks, and tell them what's on your mind! 

 

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 6, 2012 at 8:28am

DAY FOUR: Make a list of issues you're passionate about.

Like any good challenge, it's time to make a list! Sharpen your pencil, grab your favorite notebook (or a napkin), and start writing. But how do you choose among the many issues you care about—from microfinance to art, clean energy to education.

Here's an hint: Get specific and get local. In order to feel like you can actually do something about your issue, think about how you can "show up" for your cause in your everyday life. If you care about the environment, write "The amount of garbage in my neighborhood." If you care about poverty, write "Early childhood education." If you care about America's future, write "Income equality," or "Jobs."

Put your list where you can see it. Make changes if you need to to, draw on it, make a collage, or tape it to your window for everyone to see. Keep it handy, you're going to need it soon.

Come back tomorrow for the next task in our GOOD citizenship challenge.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 7, 2012 at 9:26am

DAY FIVE:  Research the people and organizations working on your issues.

 If you want to get involved, you have to act. Spend some time with a search engine, on Twitter, GOOD.is, and other online sources to find the organizations and people working on the issues you care about. Look for flyers on the bulletin board at your local co-op, coffee shop, community center, or college campus. Talk to your friends, neighbors and family—you might be surprised to learn about what they're doing.

Remember, no act is too small. Some people just need a ride to receive cancer treatment because they can't afford a taxi. Some kids need a little help after school to get up to reading level or to understand that one math problem that's holding them back. Someone in your neighborhood needs you.

Here are some websites to get you started.

Volunteering: Hands On Network, Look for a Meet Up, Get Involved

Voting and elections: Rock The Vote,  League of Women Voters

Families and Children: Momsrising.org

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 8, 2012 at 7:30pm

DAY SIX: Visit a political news source you don't agree with.

Mix it up! Go out on a blind date with a new news source and see what you learn (or don't learn).

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 9, 2012 at 9:16am

DAY SEVEN: Get a library card

Libraries in America are cornerstones of the communities they serve. Free access to the books, ideas, resources, and information in America’s libraries is imperative for education, employment, enjoyment, and self-government.

—The American Library Association.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 10, 2012 at 9:39am

DAY EIGHT:  Help someone today.

Too often we race through life at breakneck speed, ignoring the people that fill our days. Cities like New York and Los Angeles in particular can make you feel like you're alone in a crowd. But you hold the power to change all that. Being a citizen entails social contributions as well political ones. Every little social transaction, positive or negative, carries over to the next; eventually coloring all of society. Help spread good not only within your friends and family, but among neighbors and strangers as well.

Pay it forward by holding open a door. Say please and thank you to your waiter, your barista, and your garbage man; simple courtesies are so often overlooked. Start up a conversation in the checkout line.

More ideas to kick-start your kindness:
- Praise someone where others can hear it.
- Treat a homeless person with dignity. Make eye contact, say hello.
- Offer someone a ride.
- Give an elderly neighbor your phone number so they can call you in an emergency.

It doesn't take much to reach out to neighbors and strangers. Little actions help create a community that nurtures human connections and interdependence. And who knows? That smile you passed on the other day may come back to you.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 11, 2012 at 1:29pm

DAY NINE: Register to vote.

If you’ve moved, it's time to update your voter registration. (Out of date registration is the same thing as not being registered.) Students can register at their school address. There really isn't any good reason not to register. Of course, registration is only the first step. Luckily, becoming an informed voter is incredibly easy with the wealth of free, easily accessible resources available. Learn about the election process at usa.gov. And check out Project Vote Smart, which offers nonpartisan information on candidates and elected officials. Rock the Vote is another great voter resource. So many nations are struggling for the democratic freedoms we take for granted. Apathy can't change the world; register to vote and take a step towards creating the society you are proud to be a citizen in.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 12, 2012 at 6:06pm

DAY TEN:  Contact a local elected leader on an issue of interest to you.

Your voice matters exactly to the extent you think it does. If you want to be heard by your elected representatives, speak to them. As a citizen, it is your privilege to ask a question or voice a complaint, whether by making an appointment, showing up at a public meeting or writing an email or letter. Think hard about how you frame your question so that it connects to what s/he is working on, present some context in case s/he doesn't know the issue, and make sure the payoff of your question is specific and actionable.

You can be a lobby of one! If you decide to call, there's a good chance you'll talk to a staff member. It's this person's job to keep a record of your call and your opinion on an issue, but not to make decisions. Be polite and considerate.

If you decide to write a letter or email, use respectful forms of address.

Forms of Address Examples
To a Mayor:
Honorable…
Mayor of the City of (City and State)
Dear Sir or Madam, or My dear Mayor…

To a State Senator or Representative
Honorable…
The State Senate (Name of State Capital City)
Dear Sir or Madam

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 13, 2012 at 9:01am

DAY ELEVEN: Become a PCO (Okay, find out what a PCO is and how to become one). (Precinct Committee Officer)

The Constitution begins with "We, the people"; this means all of us, and this means you. We are a part of our government and we must all be responsible for it. The more "we" get involved, the more "we" have a say. All local politics is run through precincts or election districts. In states like Washington, the two major parties ask citizens to be a precinct captain or precinct committee officer (PCO) to represent the households in your precinct for party business. If you've already learned what state legislative district you live in (Task 3), you can now ask your district organization how to become a precinct officer. These jobs often go unfilled, mainly because people don't know they exist. Show up and round up your neighbors and participate in this form of local party politics.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Stolz on February 14, 2012 at 3:58pm

DAY TWELVE: Register to volunteer.

Being a volunteer in the community is rewarding and beneficial for everyone. But registering to volunteer is what converts good intentions to a commitment. Pledge yourself, and then don't disappoint. You can sign up to volunteer for an event, to help a new American learn English, for a campaign or to pick up trash in a vacant lot. There are opportunities to volunteer all around you in schools, playgrounds, libraries, food banks, arts organizations, health clinics, community gardens, animal shelters, immigrant services centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, mentoring groups, public radio stations, and many more. Take out that list of issues you created in Challenge #4 and then go to Serve.gov, Hands On Network, or your local United Way to find volunteer opportunities to fit your interests and skills. Let us know what you sign up to do!

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