Why is voting important to you?
Everytime I vote, I think about my grandfather who, before he was even 20, fought in Europe in WWII, earning a purple heart.
CNJG Response 7
CNJG Response 6
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?
Lack of peace of community, social responsibility, with a commitment to understanding, listening and cooperation vs. competition, division, and isolation. Civic engagement, community connection, and boundless generosity and grace are needed!
CNJG Response 5
What does it mean to be a good citizen?
It means to be respectful to everyone I encounter. Treat everyone, every place, and this world with respect, with fairness and love
CNJG Response 4
What does it mean to be a good citizen?
A good citizen is someone who lives to make a difference in their communities, engages in self care and is committed to supporting those who are under-represented.
CNJG Response 3
What does it mean to be a good citizen?
To be engaged in your community, politically aware, and an ally to the more vulnerable among us
CNJG Response 2
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?
1-Need for civic education + learning; 2-the proliferation of misinformation + disinformation + how to mitigate it; 3-the need for pluralism-that people who have disparate points of view be able to come together around common issues; 4-communities must organization around common issues so thtat members of the community have a greater stake in their community. The greater that stake the more likely that they will involve others + vote. That voting ultimately will empower individuals and communities to increase their ability to hold those in power accountable + affect the policies that impact their communities.
CNJG Response 1
Why is voting important to you?
It’s a way to use my voice; to publicly declare my investment in leadership and my continued commitment to the process by which all citizens should have to use their voices
DCP Response 188
What do you remember about the first time you voted?
My mother used to bring me into the voting booth with her and pull the curtain lever. She instilled in me the importance and privilege of voting (a first-generation American). My first vote was cast for George McGovern, and I remember the feeling of awe, solemnity, and excitement it occasioned, even though he lost the election.
DCP Response 189
What do you remember about the first time you voted?
I was 18 years old and going to school in Texas. That year was a presidential election. I voted with an absentee ballott because my home state was New York. I was happy to see that New York State had a Right to Life party since that right is still the most important.
DCP Response 190
What do you remember about the first time you voted?
The first time I voted was in 1960 – for John F. Kennedy, I was to a school on 20th Street in Manhattan, between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue, when I pulled the lever for Kennedy. It was almost melodramatic, a small gesture for a powerful gesture. I have voted in every election since then.
