Loving Your Community Through Civic Engagement

This episode was recorded on a national election day. Even during years when the referendums and candidates are limited to local landscapes, Lynn and I share a longstanding commitment to exercising our right to vote.

Lynn exclaims, “I love getting my I VOTED  sticker!”

We both remember our 18th birthday and the priority given to registering to vote. Lynn recounts doing the same with their youngest. “Registering to vote for the first time was an event. On his birthday, we went to the County Clerk’s office to make it official.”

As young moms, we seized the opportunity to get the kids involved, pulling strollers behind the curtain of older voting machines so they could witness what it means to “cast your vote.” Our parents and grandparents set examples for us, too. Lynn remembers grandparents getting involved in the local township assessor's office.

Make it personal 

Lynn asked about my recent experience as a poll worker in downtown Indianapolis. I was motivated to get involved after increased chatter around the legitimacy of our voting processes.

“Bryan Stevenson, Founder of Equal Justice Initiative, often suggests that when issues become hard to understand or especially controversial, getting close to the issue in a meaningful way will help bring clarity. So, I signed up to be a poll worker. And I’m happy to report that everything about the process was well done, starting with training.”

“On election day, we all reported at 5:30 am, Procedures were followed, with equal representation from the two parties. Until we were officially ordered to close down the operation, we served the people, doing everything in our power to ensure eligible voters were given the right to vote.”

Lynn asked if my expectations matched the experience. 

“Exceeded. I was struck by the group’s collegiality and professionalism. We were a diverse group united by our commitment to run a fair, legitimate voting process.” 

“Think about it  - you have volunteers representing diverse backgrounds, showing up to manage fairly sophisticated equipment in a specified time frame. Then you introduce the public, also diverse with opinions about exercising their right to vote. On one hand, you imagine, ‘What could possibly go wrong? but yet, people can surprise you and rise to the occasion.”

“I give the volunteer experience 5-stars.” 

Go local

While national elections garner the buzz, we both agree that local races, especially those involving smaller governing boards (i.e. water conservation district), offer meaningful opportunities for impact. Why not be the source in your network on local issues and candidates? Especially in our school districts, do we know who we are empowering with our vote?

Another way Lynn and I express local love in our communities is through our churches. I asked her to share about a current project in her church that is applying a new paradigm to service. 

“Our church is leading the renovation of a large, empty downtown building, seeking to create a facility that brings vitality and purpose to the community throughout the week, not just on a Sunday.” 

Conversations with neighbors and business and nonprofit partners are helping to cast the vision for a shared space where neighbors of all ages and backgrounds have an opportunity to flourish. 

Lynn continued. “Watching this experience, I am again reminded that one of the key aspects of service is doing the advanced homework and not assuming you have understanding around an issue. You need to recognize the people who are experts in the area. Be curious and open to learning. Ask questions. Be clear about what is needed. Allow space to contemplate whether or not I am the person to help.” 

Lynn also shared another example of a faith community that went beyond traditional outreach efforts. They cancelled all onsite programming for a weekend and sent the people out into the community to serve through area nonprofits.  “Other groups have done this, too. I think we called it something like, The Church Has Left the Building.” 

“I really admire leaders that take risks to help their neighbors.” 

A continuing theme in this conversation about civic engagement is the need for curiosity, recognizing that there is always something to learn. Too often, service can appear to be a one way exchange, which does little for building relationships. 

Resources to help 

One of the stops in my husband’s career was employment as a district representative for a Florida Congressman. These offices offer a wealth of resources for matters related to the federal government, including veteran’s affairs and immigration. Staff members can also provide background on pending legislation. 

While there are federal election laws, states often have different approaches to administering voter registration and local elections. Do you know how your state and city are organized? If you’re a little “curious,” the National Conference of State Legislatures offers this general overview.

Closing question: Parade or Protest?

As active voters and special event planners, it’s no surprise that we have participated in both exercises! However, though Lynn’s memory of her father helping her children create a custom root beer “float” for a local parade wins the day!

A POINT OF GRATITUDE

We will never take for granted the freedom to participate in local, state and federal elections.

Wear it proudly!

I don’t remember the first year I started receiving and wearing my I VOTED sticker. I do remember the first year I participated in early voting, though. I saved it to wear on the actual election day!

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

What would motivate you to join a parade? A protest?

Are you more inclined to be engaged on the local, state or national level? What motivates you?

Have you ever contacted your congressional office to share your opinion on federal legislation? Do you think you have that right to be heard?