The Goodnewspaper The 2024 Civic Engagement Edition

HELLO HELLO! I grew up with a mom who, before having kids, was a devoted U.S. history and civics educator in the Bronx, New York. She taught at an all-girls private school and even introduced the first class about women’s history to the school. After a decade in this role, she pivoted to full-time motherhood — and my fate was solidified as a baby who would be lulled to sleep with her rendition of the “Schoolhouse Rock!” song “I’m Just A Bill.” Of course, having been a high school teacher, she knew that nothing would put me into a “la la la I’m not listening ” trance quite like an educational song from 1996 about how a bill becomes law. And she was right. It was a snooze fest. It…

Data Shows: An Active High School Civics Education Is Linked To Higher Voting Rates In May 2023, third graders in Massachusetts schools participated in mock elections led by the local election commission, in which they made important decisions (like what dog breed is their favorite), according to The Standard Times. The poll workers at the mock election were 18-year-old high school students who once had the same experience growing up. These small, local initiatives are intended to immerse young people in the democratic process from a young age; you might remember your own mock elections from grade school! And according to a new poll from Harvard’s Institute of Politics, these civics foundations are as important as they are adorable. In fact, the Institute’s latest Youth Poll, which was released in the…

GOOD Check out iCivics, an interactive gaming platform created by the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to help young people learn civics education. The website has loads of resources for teachers, too! Visit icivics.org. BETTER Donate to youth-led groups building political power, including Alliance for Youth Action (allianceforyouth-action.org), The Sunrise Movement (sunrisemovement.org), and March for Our Lives (marchforourlives.org). BEST Chances are, you are a young person or you know a young person who is passionate about an issue in the world. Use that energy to take action. Volunteer, plan an event, study politics, or even run for office!…

GOOD Know your rights. One of the most accessible methods of voting involves mail-in ballots, but voting laws vary. Look up where your state stands on absentee voting and learn how the process works. Then spread the word. BETTER Donate to nonprofit organizations like REV UP and Nonprofit Vote, which work to improve the accessibility of polling places across the country, many of which still lack ramps, aids, and assisted-listening devices. BEST Organize a carpool and volunteer to drive friends and neighbors, especially those who lack transportation or face physical barriers getting to the polls. Voting should be a communal experience open to all.…

GOOD The first step in improving elections is participating in them! Visit 866ourvote.org to learn everything you need to know about voting in your state, volunteer to be an election protector, and more. BETTER Donate to organizations like Fair Fight (fairfight.org) or the Brennan Center for Justice (brennancenter.org) to support those who protect and ensure every American’s right to vote. BEST Advocate against policies that attempt to make voting even harder, like redistricting, gerrymandering, and voter ID laws — and advocate for policies that improve voting accessibility and voter rights restoration.…

LISTEN As hard as it may be, engage in active listening and try to hear what someone else is saying, without forming an argument in your head. This is key to building empathy and reciprocity in a conversation. ASK BEFORE ASSUMING If you’re struggling to understand someone’s perspective or stance on an issue, ask how they reached their conclusion or what informs their experiences — before making an assumption. KNOW WHEN TO STEP BACK No matter how hard we try, some people stand firm in beliefs that invalidate the humanity of others. In this case, you may respectfully end a conversation to prevent it from escalating into conflict.…