Washington State Department of Social and Health Services的动态

Today! Make time for this and learn more about how advocacy for and policy decisions affecting frontline communities can happen.

For six months, I’ve been crisscrossing the country to deliver a message about how we can forge a new civic path. ? At a time when people are fed up with our politics, this?civic?campaign is spreading across the nation. The question is why? Three quick thoughts: 1) When traditional candidates only go where their voters are,?this campaign?is embraced by communities across the political spectrum. 2) When people feel immense fear and anxiety over the direction of the country,?this campaign?is providing comfort and hope. 3) When everything seems stuck,?this campaign?is showing people a practical path forward that starts in their local communities. It’s clear to me. More politics won’t solve the challenges facing our communities today. But we can forge a civic path that creates real change. Let’s go together. I welcome your thoughts.

"The decline and sorting of our civic life has left today’s Americans less connected to one another and their communities than at any point in the last century. Regenerating connection within communities will demand civic, cultural, and policy change, but this is an emergent area of policymaking, and government leaders often don’t know where to begin." My colleague and friend Sam Pressler, a research affiliate with the Harvard University Human Flourishing Program, friends at Connective Tissue and a network of community builders and policy experts created a policy framework to provide policymakers with an organized, actionable starting point for connection-focused policymaking. "With 150+ specific policy opportunities featured across 13 policy priorities, Connective Tissue provides both a holistic policy vision for regenerating connection within communities and tangible entry points for taking action." Bravo Sam! I know you and your team put a ton of excellent work in this product. I know it will be valuable for a lot of people and communities. Check out their great work and some upcoming events to discuss these policies in application with RSA US, Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute, Main Street America, Reimagining the Civic Commons and more here: https://lnkd.in/e7atRW3R

Check out this thought provoking and insightful article about trust in government and civic engagement. One of its key conclusions is that the return of civic hope—and with it, the future of our democracy—depends on the return of the citizen: the conceptual and practical restoration of everyday Americans to the center of self-government. #SpeakUp #goodgovernment #goodgov https://lnkd.in/eBDRMfmB

Empowering the Next Generation - We are currently experiencing many serious issues across the country. Polarization, misinformation, mistrust, and apathy are ongoing concerns. By empowering the next generation with expanded opportunities to engage civically, we have an opportunity to reverse many of these issues. https://lnkd.in/gfbKmtg2 Generation Citizen, FIX DEMOCRACY FIRST

Today in America, we are separating and segregating from one another. Politicians and news media are stoking divisions for profit and personal gain. Social media has become an echo chamber and a rabbit hole. In light of this, most people say we are polarized. But I have come to believe that we are actually stuck in a fight-or-flight mode. So many of us feel disoriented and isolated, as if we are trapped in a house of mirrors with no way out. The community leaders I talk to are looking for a productive response, a safe passage to hope. I believe it starts with the message of our civic campaign: “Enough. Time to build.” Enough divisive politics. We need a civic path forward. We can’t rebuild our communities and restore a sense of civic confidence with harsh political messages. But we can build together by starting locally and focusing on our shared aspirations for what kind of community we want to live in.

Shrinking civic spaces globally is an extreme alaram of shrinking democracy. With the increasing regulatory frameworks for youth led organization, the governments globally are trying to silence youth and activists critical voices. We must create a framework of accountability and transparency that no ways impact and shrink democracy.

Partners In Democracy is reimagining civic life, democratic institutions,?and reconnecting citizens with the tools they need to be responsible and effective participants. "At Partners in Democracy, we do democracy renovation, which we think of as two main pieces. One is structural change to our democratic systems. The second is reconnecting people to their civic power, all in service of creating a 360-degree democracy where everyone has the right to vote, the right to run for office, and the right to see and shape their community within a culture of democratic commitment." — Kelly Chase, Chief of Staff, Partners in Democracy Learn more about Partners in Democracy and other organizations in our fourth Civic Lab Cohort ?? https://lnkd.in/ekw2Uk-E #CivicLab4 #CivicInnovation #Democracy

After a momentous week, starting the process for building my son's self-owned (dis)ability-enabling house and 2 days of tending to a sick cow, I am settled in for the day participating in the Community Independents Project virtual conference. Hearing from current and future Teals and many other forward thinkers. Right now hearing about the enormous levels of grass roots support across the nation. #Change is in the air. #PeoplePoweredPolitics.

?? Democracy isn't a spectator sport! It's something we practice every day. Make 2024 your year for civic action with these 7 steps from The Civic Circle's Eliza Newlin Carney: 1. Listen: Seek out diverse perspectives. 2. Learn: Find reliable news sources. 3. Choose: Vote in every election. 4. Join: Volunteer in your community. 5. Speak: Engage with your elected officials. 6. Act: Support causes you believe in. 7. Lead: Inspire others by example. #CivicLearning #Civics #Democracy #CivicEducation