WELCOMING COMMUNITIES CONFERENCERick Russell, EsquireSenior AdvisorState Street Advisors

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/GOOD CITIZEN PRACTICES

• What do we owe this Democracy?

• What can we do as a collective community?

• Opportunities for individuals and groups

WHAT DO WE OWE THIS DEMOCRACY?

• American democracy makes a wager on its citizens.

• “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”

• Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbobNzY8vlA

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COLLECTIVE?

• Retain, reward and cultivate the intellectual curiosity to understand and appreciate another’s perspective. • Foster appreciation of cultural differences• Expose people to the world around them• Be brave enough to have an honest dialogue

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COLLECTIVE?• The Honest Exercise of Franchise• Cannot take our voting rights for granted• Must recognize our environment and the power of manipulation• Must dig below the campaigns• Self interest or sectional interest of the state, class, religion or

community cannot prejudice judgment

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COLLECTIVE?• Responsibility for Actions• “A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it

is personally responsible for his society." -- Thomas Jefferson• We are still a nation that rewards hard work, but we are increasingly a

nation that expects much, even if little is given.

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COLLECTIVE?• Empower and Encourage our Children• Citizenship is a learned behavior• Our children need to understand that the rights and freedoms they

enjoy came at a cost• Parents have the opportunity to break the isolation cycle• Early, meaningful participation in the community• Support a global viewpoint

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COLLECTIVE?• Defend Change and the Ability to Change• Founding fathers intentionally designed our Constitution to

accommodate change (even a strict constructionist would agree)• The responsible questioning of authority is the public check to our

democracy• Free speech, the right to petition and assemble and the freedom of

religion are the cornerstones of our nation. Our actions and governance should strive for a balance between protecting those rights and embracing the divergent points of view.

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COLLECTIVE?• Remember our History• Freedom was earned• My history is not the same as yours• Remember the role of immigration• Recognize that history is being made now• We do not exist in an isolationist vacuum. The world’s issues are our

issues

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COLLECTIVE?• Show Strength When Needed and Unexpected Humility• Like-minded groups are the strongest influence to a democracy of our

size• With this power comes obligation; an obligation to advocate and

legislate for community• “Our party is a big tent, we can house many views on many issues”• Lee Atwater, Chairman, RNC, 1989

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS

• Engage your legislative delegation• Meet your State House Member and Senator• Set up meetings even with no agenda• Voice your concerns to local government• Attend Planning Commission, BOS, ZHB meetings• Follow school board activities – their actions will affect you (even if you

have no kids)• They need to hear from you or you risk your story being told by

another or not told at all

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS

• Leverage your unique experiences • Tell your story to schools• Reach out to local Chambers, businesses to be a resource• Promote your heritage and culture

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS• Volunteer• It’s both meaningful for what it adds AND for what it demonstrates• Direct connection to both the recipient individual and organization and

civic-minded groups• Enhances visibility and community viability

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS• Political Engagement• Issue awareness• Campaign volunteering• Voting• Local Government Appointments

THANK YOUGRACIASCẢM ƠNXIE XIEGAMSAHAMNIDAME DAA SI

Rick Russell, EsquireSenior AdvisorState Street Advisors