(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)
Keeping up on the Civic Geekery here – or what I’m doing to be more of a citizen. Posting this, of course, to inspire people.
One thing I found is that you can get “Samey” with what you do – I noted last time I got a bit disconnected. So what I’ve done here is take a look at one group I’m helping and say “we’re kinda in a rut, what can I do?” To get a meeting together. Remember when being active, you can engage and improve – it is being civicly engaged, it’s being activist.
I also mentioned my disengagement and I found some of that is me. Do not automate your political involvement and take your heart out of it, learn to connect with people. I was feeling poorly but dragged myself to a political meeting, and it felt great. To stay civic stay in touch with people.
Another thing I’ve done is worked to deliver news to my different political organizations – which is a bit challenging as you don’t want to be “that person” who just posts stuff. So I set a limit of one a day or so maximum, if it promotes activism.
Finally, one big thing I’ve done is follow the news of activism more closely – don’t just do your thing, see what others are doing. Post-Trump I’m amazed to see how many people got active but also how many people were active – you really never see the huge network that supports our society until you look.
I have fell off of my news following and really need to fix that – focused more nationally and missed a lot of local stuff. It’s always important to stay local.
Still don’t quite feel I’ve got my civic mojo working, but I think it’s because I’m being pulled in many directions – and doing a lot. Is my convention speaking civic engagement? My work to have cross-club dinners? It is, but I think figuring what’s important is hard. However as I’m big on building community these things do matter.
Now a few resources to help you:
– Steve