When we hear the words 'civic duty' we often think of either voting or jury duty—but it is so much more.
Civic duty, or civic responsibility can look like advocating for various causes—such as political, economic, civil, environmental or quality of life issues—or just taking care of the neighborhood you're in. In short, it is the responsibility of a person in the world.
No matter what your political leanings are, we can all agree that progress starts locally. Instead of a feeling of helplessness that can come when thinking too big, we're starting small—by sharing how you can make a difference in your local community starting today!
Where to start?
Start with you (and a list!)
I can be a bit of a big-picture thinker. I have tons of lofty goals without any thought about the follow-through. Instead of feeling frustrated, I've started to look at only two lofty goals at a time, and then listing out actionable things that can affect local change. While ending world hunger isn't something I alone can do, I can single-handedly work on how much personal food waste I have, or volunteer at a food bank dedicated to helping hungry people right here in Los Angeles.
The best way to build out these lists is by doing your research. Often there are organizations in your area already doing what you're interested in but don't have the money or the resources to advertise, so a Google deep-dive might be necessary. Helping organizations like these can also be completely scalable. You might be able to volunteer your time, donate your money, or simply sign and promote a petition.
Not only should you research local organizations, but research who your local representatives are. While all campaigns have catchy slogans and big dreams, it's always valuable to see what actions are actually being taken by the people in power. And never forget that there are real people enacting these policies—which means you can send them (or their office) an email, give them a ring, or pen a good 'ol fashioned letter. Having this knowledge at your fingertips can help steer you and your goals in a productive direction.
In addition to doing the research, show up! City council meetings are where members of your community discuss changes and concerns. You'll hear from passionate neighbors, understand what the council's priorities are, and maybe even make a friend or two. These council meetings are always posted on your city's website. (I have L.A.'s bookmarked so whenever I get a free moment I can take a gander.)
Why it Matters to the community at large?
Living in a big city can sometimes make you feel disconnected from your community's decision-making. There can seem like a canyon between you and the policymakers. This might be part of the multitude of reasons why there tends to be lower voter turnout for elections in large cities. "Residents of most major American cities typically vote at rates 5 to 15 percent lower than their suburban neighbors."
But large urban areas often act as a case study for smaller cities—which makes sense. If a large city advocates for something like added green space in a high trafficked area, and takes it from initiative-to vote-to enactment, it acts as a scalable blueprint for smaller or suburban areas.
No matter if your city is big or small, the actions you do effect your neighbors—so be thoughtful and ask around. When was the last time you got to know the people on your street to see what matters to them? Maybe you've never thought about crossing guards, but your neighbor has kids and it is becoming an increasingly important issue for them. Once you know what matters to the folks around you, start to buddy up and go to community events together so you can advocate for each other.
Want to do more?
If you're reading this and thinking "Elyse! I already do all of this!" then: 1. you're doing amazing things (high five!) 2. I've got you covered. Civic duty participation is not one-size-fits-all, and it can be highly dependent on the amount of free time you have, your income, if you have access to transportation, your skillsets, etc. Below are a couple of ways you can do more while doing things you actually like to do!
- Writing: Participate in a local campaign by writing copy for their websites, or write about issues you care about and pitch your work to organizations you believe in.
- Public Speaking: Be loud about the things that matter to you! Look into speaking opportunities at local peaceful protests or volunteer time at organizations or political campaigns that matter to you in a capacity that helps get the word out about all the amazing work being done. If you're looking for more of a relaxed speaking role, I can almost guarantee that your city needs more poll workers.
- Researching: Subscribe to publications and papers you want to support. This little act can go a long way in keeping the lights on at these places. If you want a bigger challenge, join a local campaign as a fact-checker.
- Leadership: This can feel like a big leap, but leading in your community can be as small as joining a committee. If you've joined a council only to realize that you really enjoy leading and want to have a greater impact, it might be time to think about running for local office! There are tons of resources out there to help you navigate an office run from start to finish (see below.)
Books on running for office
If this year is the year you prep for a political campaign, these books are a great place to start. I am (definitely) not a political expert, but these fine folks have done the leg work for us! A lot of the books below even have built-in checklists and workbooks so you fill out the right forms, never miss a deadline, and feel confident about the changes you can make in your community!
- Represent: The Woman's Guide to Running for Office and Changing the World
- Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself
- The Campaign Manager: Running and Winning Local Elections
- How to Run for Political Office and Win: Everything You Need to Know to Get Elected
- How to Get Elected to State and Local Office: A beginners guide
