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Democracy Conversation Project

Empowering people and communities through the humanities

The New Jersey Council for the Humanities is collecting the thoughts of individuals throughout the state as part of our Democracy Conversation Project. Via both an online form and "ballot boxes" located at partner sites throughout the state, New Jerseyans have the opportunity to provide their thoughts in response to four questions about our democracy:

  • What are the main challenges facing democracy today?
  • What do you remember about the first time you voted?
  • What does it mean to be a good citizen?
  • Why is voting important to you?
Democracy Conversation Project logo

Responses are accepted in written, audio, video, and visual formats. They will be compiled and displayed in interactive format on this page, below, following onto responses collected during the 2022 iteration of this program. Responses can be filtered by age of the respondent (when provided), as well as keyword tag, question prompt, and response type.

Visualizing Democracy Commissions

In summer 2023, NJCH announced the opportunity for a commission for projects aiming to explore, analyze, and visualize responses collected in 2022 in new and interactive ways. The video below, by filmmaker April Merl of South Orange, brings to life various responses to the question "What does it mean to be a good citizen?"

What does it mean to be a good citizen?

New Jersey's Democracy Conversation

See what your neighbors are saying about democracy in our state.

Use the submission link below or visit a host site to add your own thoughts to the conversation. Responses from your fellow New Jerseyans can be viewed below. Use the various filters and click the "Submit" button to see only the responses that fit your selected criteria.

Host Sites

  • New Providence Memorial Library
  • Grunin Center for the Arts, Ocean County College, Toms River
  • Lawrence Headquarters Branch, Mercer County Library System, Lawrenceville
  • Princeton Public Library
  • Cherry Hill Public Library
  • Wanaque Public Library
  • Brookdale Community College, Lincroft
  • UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ, Cranford

 

Tell Your Story

What do you think about the state of our democracy? Add your personal reflection to the statewide conversation about democracy in America through a written statement, photograph, or audio/video submission.

Filters

The first time I voted I got to witness history being made

Anonymous
What do you remember about the first time you voted?

“To care for all citizens (and non-citizens)”

Anonymous
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“To be a good citizen means seeing the humanity in every human”

Monita , 49
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“The ability to agree on a set of facts.”

JJ , 46
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

“Being a good citizen is about thinking of others over yourself”

Sam , 35
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“Misinformation – echo chamber algorithms”

Lauren , 39
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

“Be involved/informed/ask questions, be open to new ideas”

Ellen , 63
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“Education – our citizens don’t understand what it means and how much it touches every aspect of our lives.”

Kerry , 67
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

“the main challenge facing democracy today is our inability to engage in civil discourse”

Julie , 53
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

“to be civically aware, engaged to vote, to speak up against ‘wrongs’, hate, bias”

Rene , 72
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“caring enough about your community to participate through service, philanthropy and civic duties”

Lauren , 60
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“the misinformation regarding the current issues that affect vulnerable communities.”

Gina , 40
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

“we are faced with a society that cannot listen to each other.”

Joy Kay , 63
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

“Caring about the well‑being of the entire community.”

Sam , 44
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“How exciting it was to pull the lever (old school) & feel I was participating in the future I wanted to see.”

Lori , 67
What do you remember about the first time you voted?

“30% of people don’t know who their state representatives are. “

Nancy , 60
What are the main challenges facing democracy today?

“Vote, speak TRUTH. Share your heart and concrete stories of injustice with neighbors, friends, colleagues”

Jennifer , 49
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

“I did my research about several candidates so that I would be prepared”

Serena , 25
What do you remember about the first time you voted?