Politics is everywhere. At work. In our neighborhoods. In our homes. For 33 years, Vote Smart has built the largest political database in America, helping ground democracy in facts. And while facts are essential to understanding our democracy, civic education isn’t only about what we know — it’s about how we live together.

That’s why we’re starting something new: Acts of Civic Courage.

Dr. E. Scott Geller calls it Active Caring—small, intentional acts that ripple outward. In today’s climate, these acts are not just kind. They go against the grain. They are courageous.

Kindness is courage. It takes nerve to be gentle when the world is not. It takes strength to open your hand when others clench a fist. Kindness makes room for talk. It builds trust. It ties people together. Civic life is richer with more kindness, more courage.

Some ways to practice Civic Courage this week:

• Hold the door.
• Say thank you.
• Let someone go ahead.
• Write a note.
• Listen. Really listen.

Community Examples:

“I let someone cut ahead of me in line because they were late to pick up their child.” — Alex, Iowa

“I wrote a note of gratitude to my kid’s teacher.” — Maria, Texas

“I checked in on an elderly neighbor who lives alone.” — Jordan, Ohio

Our Step with You

Your first step is small but powerful: act. Perform one small kindness, one act of courage. If you did something last week, that counts too! Then tell us what you did by Thursday at 5 p.m. using this form. With your consent, we’ll add your story to the Civic Courage Project — building a research collection of everyday acts across America that show how democracy is lived.

-The Vote Smart Team