It’s been a difficult few weeks for our old American government. From the two-week shutdown to the continued debt ceiling brinksmanship to the disappointing rollout of the Obamacare website, it is hard to find anyone that is positive about the direction of our political system. The rest of the world vacillates between poking fun at,… Continue reading Is it Possible to Be Positive About our Government?
Category: Blog
Breakdance for Democracy: DC Alumni Profiles
Kids from urban neighborhoods in Boston don’t often find themselves at prestigious colleges such as Brown, but Aiyah Josiah-Faeduwor did. He was born in West Virginia, but spent most of his life in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, where almost half of all families earn less than $25,000 a year. When he got to Brown University,… Continue reading Breakdance for Democracy: DC Alumni Profiles
Reflections on Democracy Coach Training
On September 21-22nd, GC’s newest cohort of Democracy Coaches in four program sites participated in a training workshop to prepare for the start of the school year. Below, Director of Programming Meghan Trombly reflects on the experience in a letter to the Fall 2013 Generation Citizen Democracy Coaches. Dear Generation Citizen Democracy Coach, Dragging oneself… Continue reading Reflections on Democracy Coach Training
Humble Non-Profits?
This weekend, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni described the characteristic he most admires in Pope Francis: humility. Specifically, Bruni noted that Francis’ tone and demeanor often reveal a man who recognizes that he does not know everything, and cannot presume to preach that of which he is not certain. Bruni goes on to, somewhat… Continue reading Humble Non-Profits?
The Exceptional American Democracy?
This past Tuesday, New Yorkers took to the polls after a hotly contested primary race to determine the two standard-bearers in the upcoming general election. After a high drama campaign, infused with way too much sexual scandal and way too little substance, it was actually little surprise when Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio emerged as the… Continue reading The Exceptional American Democracy?
Walking the Walk
We profess to be a great many things. Our nation claims to be a beacon of representative democracy, a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Yet, Generation Citizen exists because sometimes what we say we value doesn’t always match reality. So then we either reconsider our values, though in this case… Continue reading Walking the Walk
Launch of National Action Civics Collaborative
National Action Civics Collaborative Launches Campaign to Energize and Improve Youth Civic Engagement Today, six organizations from around the country launched an effort to energize and improve youth civic engagement in America. Calling on Americans to reinvigorate civic education through “Action Civics,” they offered practical resources for educators interested in bringing action civics to their… Continue reading Launch of National Action Civics Collaborative
Incorporating Voices: A Modern Jeffersonian Meal
Last week, Generation Citizen Board Member Robert Flanders hosted a “Jeffersonian Breakfast” inspired by the dinners hosted by Thomas Jefferson back in the early days of our Republic. Jefferson would invite 10 friends to Monticello to discuss a set topic, which could range from politics to philosophy to archeology, to hear the personal experiences that… Continue reading Incorporating Voices: A Modern Jeffersonian Meal
Walking the Local Political Talk
At a conference a few weeks ago, one of the presenters asked all the participants to share a story of the first time they remember becoming politically engaged. The story I always tell people is that I first recognized the power of individuals engaging in the political process while working on anti-genocide efforts in college.… Continue reading Walking the Local Political Talk
Bridging The Gap: An Intern’s Perspective
Going to an independent, all-girls school in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I have been indoctrinated to believe that youth, specifically young women, play an integral role in the communities where we live and study. Ask any of my fellow seniors about their community involvement and they will retort with a lengthy enumeration of activities. It… Continue reading Bridging The Gap: An Intern’s Perspective