From @WSJopinion: How do you serve your country if you aren’t in the military? In this week’s Future View column, students discuss the different ways Americans can give back.https://t.co/wWdxtAuGA5 ...

I learned two things during the 2024 presidential elections. College students will stop for free food and if you want to register voters, bring cookies. I'm here to talk about Oklahoma Votes, a student-run nonpartisan organization here on campus.That year, I had the privilege of serving as one of their two civic engagement fellows. And dare I say, our sweet treat budget was probably the highest it's ever been. We developed a pretty close working relationship with the employees of Baked Bear, Insomnia Cookie ...

So, first off, before we start, I want to build some context for my talk. Can you please raise your hand if you can name all three branches of US government. Cool.Take a look around, see whose hands are raised. No shame if they're not. No problem at all.Uh, but real quick, for those whose hands are not raised, I would be remiss if I don't take the opportunity to remind you all what the bridges are real quick. legislative, executive, judicial. Keep that in your mind.Uh anyway, back to the main point. If your ...

administration's immigratioenforcement crack. ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HUA JUNG KIM HAS FOUND A NEW WAY TO SERVE HER COMMUNITY.SHE VOLUNTEERS AS A RAPID RESPONDER, THAT'S A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY GROUP THAT KEEPS AN EYE OUT FOR ICE. MEMBERS LOOK OUT FOR VEHICLES THAT THEY SUSPECT ARE BEING USED BY FEDERAL agents. A reporter from Axios who wrote along with Kim on a rapid response shift observed this, quote, Kim drove laps around her council ward on St.Paul's North End looking for vehicles bearing the hall ...

Civic Engagement & Leadership - Accidental leadership is possible; individuals can discover unexpected capabilities and excel in roles they never anticipated [1] - Engineers can challenge the status quo and contribute to problem-solving in local government [4] - City council decisions have significant impact on residents, influencing development, fees, public safety, and community events [6] - Electing problem solvers is crucial to avoid illogical policies and ensure effective use of tax dollars [7][8] - Building a "civic roadmap" alongside a professional one is encouraged, dedicating even a small percentage (5%) of time to civic engagement [12][13] AI & Technology in Governance - AI can be used in policy making to analyze budget documents, generate charts, propose solutions, and provide legal analysis [8][9] - AI tools can assist in creating presentations and graphics for policy proposals [9] - Despite AI's capabilities, human empathy and connection remain essential in addressing community concerns and fostering trust [10][11] Community & Social Capital - Building social capital is as important as financial capital, fostering trust, connection, and people power [12] - Community integration can be achieved through art, dance, and storytelling, creating a dataset of local stories for future use [11] - Small acts of helping others can create a positive ripple effect, leading to increased social capital and community involvement [11][13]

Civic Engagement & Leadership - Advocates for bridging divides and building common ground in a polarized political climate [1] - Focuses on promoting civic engagement opportunities [1] - Aims to provide a platform for effective disagreement by debating ideas, not character [1] Speaker's Background - Speaker is experienced in politics and government from a young age [1] - Speaker served as a state representative for the inaugural National Student Council [1] - Speaker was elected as one of the youngest national delegates to the Democratic National Convention [1]

Community & Civic Engagement - Local newspapers play a crucial role in defining community culture and introducing residents to their neighbors [13] - Reading local news is associated with increased trust in neighbors, fostering social capital and community connection [7][16] - Social capital is built through various community engagements, including reading newspapers, volunteering, and joining clubs [16][17] - Civic engagement can be measured by activities such as signing petitions, writing to representatives, attending public meetings, and expressing opinions [20][21][22] Media & Trust - People generally distinguish between local newspapers and other media, with higher trust in local news [18] - A Pew Research Center study indicated that 70% of people trust their local media to report news accurately [18] - Two-thirds of individuals who feel strongly connected to their communities consider local news very or extremely important [18] - 87% of newspaper readers feel a responsibility to shape the future of their communities [19] Challenges & Opportunities - Since 2000, local newspapers have lost half of their reporting and editing jobs, reducing opportunities for community engagement and local storytelling [19][20] - Newspapers are actively working to improve inclusivity and diversity, aiming to provide a more accurate reflection of society [25] - Engaging with local papers, especially for underrepresented individuals, can contribute to a more accurate and representative record of the community [26] - Younger generations increasingly rely on online platforms like Snapchat and TikTok for news, which can make it difficult to discern truth [28]