About The Initiative

In the preface to his recent book, America: An Owner’s Manual, former Governor and Senator Bob Graham of Florida notes “American democracy suffers from a pervasive lack of active participation among our citizens.” For a variety of reasons, according to the Senator “many of our fellow Americans view civics as a kind of spectator sport—something to be viewed from afar through the filters of media outlets and personalities.” The purpose of the Initiative for Engaged Citizenship is simple: to equip citizens of Massachusetts and elsewhere, through a variety of educational activities with the knowledge and skills for thoughtful and effective participation in the democratic governance of their community, state, and nation. The Initiative is non-partisan and seeks to educate citizens, representative of the diversity of our communities in the rights and responsibilities of engaged, participatory citizenship. Its vision is an engaged citizenry of the full spectrum of our pluralistic society participating fully and enthusiastically in government at the community, local, state, and national levels.

The Initiative targets voting age individuals regardless of setting or enrollment in school or college or university. By partnering with colleges and schools as well as community and faith organizations, the Initiative identifies individuals with an interest in government and public policy or in working for the betterment of their communities and offers a series of interactive seminars and workshops focusing on the local, state and national government. The program employs a mixed learning strategy composed of lecture, case study, and a capstone project, in which citizens identify and develop a plan to address a local issue using the tools, skills, and strategies developed in the program.

At least twice a year, the Initiative accepts a class from among nominations offered by community, faith, and advocacy organization as well as enrollees from schools and colleges. The goal is to convene a group of citizens that is broadly representative of our pluralism—multi-ethnic, intergenerational, cross socioeconomic-class. A complementary goal is to achieve a dynamic in which participates are able to see issues and concerns from multiple perspectives and to consider actions that accrue to the common good and not to the specific and exclusive benefit of any one person or group. The presentations are offered by civic leaders and elected and appointed officials who serve as faculty. Discussions are facilitated by trained college students with interest and background in government and public policy.

Participants also have the opportunity to meet and network with senior leaders at the local and state level. The program considers and offers the opportunity for participants to interact with the range of players shaping public opinion and public policy including lobbying and advocacy organizations and media.

The recent presidential election has revitalized a citizenry that had for more than forty years seen declining levels of civic engagement on all measures from voter participation to volunteerism. Concomitant with that decline has been a growing cynicism about the purpose and efficacy of government and particularly among younger citizens, a sense of nihilism and belief that their views are unimportant and their work to effect government, meaningless. The Initiative capitalizes on the wave of enthusiasm generated by the recent national elections and the dramatic increase in registered voters. Importantly, the Initiative considers civic participation as more than just voting to elect government officials, but the ongoing work of citizens to monitor and influence policy at the local, state, and national levels.