National service and AmeriCorps are “perfectly positioned” to help tackle America’s toxic polarization crisis and our ability to solve shared challenges, according to No Greater Mission. No Greater Means, a new working paper from Converge CEO David Eisner and longtime civic leader John Gomperts.
[link removed]
** Bipartisan Leaders Propose Bridgebuilding Imperative For National Service
------------------------------------------------------------
National service and AmeriCorps are “perfectly positioned” to help tackle America’s toxic polarization crisis and our ability to solve shared challenges, according to No Greater Mission. No Greater Means ([link removed]) , a new working paper from Converge CEO David Eisner and longtime civic leader John Gomperts.
Eisner and Gomperts – bipartisan leaders of AmeriCorps under former Presidents Bush (‘43) and Obama, respectively – argue that connecting and collaborating across polarized divides, work known as bridgebuilding, would add an important dimension to national service and would make it a force in helping reduce the anger and mistrust that threaten to tear our country apart. Our Common Purpose recommendation 6.1 aims to establish a universal expectation of a year of national service.
** Stories From The Field
------------------------------------------------------------
** 2023 Civic Season propels movement to tell our nation's story.
------------------------------------------------------------
Between June 19 and July 4, 400 communities took part in Civic Season, an initiative created by Made by Us, an OCP Champion, that mobilizes citizens and cultural institutions to discover our shared history. Caroline Klibanoff, Executive Director of Made by Us, celebrated the program's growth ([link removed]) .
** FairVote: New Yorkers continue to embrace ranked choice voting.
------------------------------------------------------------
FairVote, an OCP Champion, called New York City’s second election cycle with ranked-choice voting ([link removed]) a success. OCP recommendation 1.2 would expand ranked-choice voting.
** Congressional Management Foundation names eight members of Congress democracy award winners.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), an OCP Champion, named eight members of Congress ([link removed]) winners of its sixth annual democracy awards for extraordinary public service.
** American Exchange Project students bridge divides in Gloucester, MA.
------------------------------------------------------------
The American Exchange Project, an OCP champion, offers free domestic exchange trips to high school seniors to promote cross-partisan engagement. 350 students in 34 states participated this year, including a group that spent one week in Gloucester, MA ([link removed]) .
** In The News
------------------------------------------------------------
** Danielle Allen in WaPo: Is fixing democracy partisan?
------------------------------------------------------------
Why should we value constitutional democracy? What exactly is broken about American democracy today? What are the most important strategies for reconnecting people to their civic power? Danielle Allen answers these questions and more in her latest column ([link removed]) .
** Mississippi's lifetime voting ban ruled unconstitutional.
------------------------------------------------------------
A federal appeals court ruled that Mississippi’s lifetime voting ban violates the U.S. constitution ([link removed]) . OCP recommendation 2.7 would restore voting rights to citizens with felony convictions.
** New York City announces results from first-ever citywide participatory budgeting vote.
------------------------------------------------------------
New York City will fund 46 projects ([link removed]) to address community needs that were selected through the city’s first ever participatory budgeting vote. OCP recommendation 3.4 would expand participatory opportunities at the municipal and state levels.
** National Governors Association launches "Disagree Better".
------------------------------------------------------------
The National Governors Association launched a new initiative, Disagree Better ([link removed]) , to address political polarization by encouraging constructive dialogue and healthy conflict resolution. OCP Strategies 4-6 aim to bridge partisan divides.
** WaPo: American democracy is cracking. These forces help explain why.
------------------------------------------------------------
Citing the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Washington Post examined what is fueling ([link removed]) the visceral feeling many Americans have that their government does not represent them.
** Get Involved
------------------------------------------------------------
** Call for Submissions: New Profit's Civic Lab Cohort.
------------------------------------------------------------
Eight social entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions that build civic trust and inclusive democracy in the U.S. will receive $100k and coaching from New Profit, a venture philanthropy organization. Apply here ([link removed]) by September 6.
** Recruiting poll workers with Power the Polls.
------------------------------------------------------------
A More Perfect Union, an OCP Champion, and Power the Polls are hosting an information session to teach organizations how to recruit poll workers to address critical election staffing gaps.
DATE: September 7, 2023 | 2:00 PM EST | Register here ([link removed])
** Civics Across the Curriculum: Educating for Democracy.
------------------------------------------------------------
Creating Citizens, an education initiative at The Commonwealth Club, invites you to join a virtual panel event with educators across the nation to learn new possibilities for making civics education relevant and impactful.
DATE: September 7, 2023 | 6:00 PM EST | Register here ([link removed])
** Applications Open: Citizen University Youth Collaboratory.
------------------------------------------------------------
Citizen University, an OCP champion, is accepting applications for its Youth Collaboratory Winter 2024 and Spring 2024 cohorts. The Youth Collaboratory is a six-month experience for budding civic catalysts who want to learn how to build and circulate power. Apply here ([link removed]) by September 17.
** American Democracy Summit 2023.
------------------------------------------------------------
American Promise, an OCP Champion, is co-hosting the American Democracy Summit in Los Angeles on September 27-29.
Date: September 27-29, 2023 | Register here ([link removed])
** Read the Report
------------------------------------------------------------
Learn more about the Academy's current efforts to advance reforms to reinvent American democracy and read the Our Common Purpose report here ([link removed]) .
Read the Report ([link removed])
[link removed]
amacad.org: [link removed]
Members: [link removed]
Events: [link removed]
Facebook: [link removed]
Twitter: [link removed]
YouTube: [link removed]
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
136 Irving Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Update Email Preferences: [link removed]
