#civic-engagement

#civic-engagement

A group of students, eager to explore the halls of power in Washington, D.C., found their path blocked by closed doors. But instead of sending them home disappointed, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes parts of the Bronx, stepped in. She didn't just say hello to them she personally led them on a tour of the Capitol and turned what could have been a major letdown into a civics lesson they will never forget.

Then the Goethe Lakes, Goethe Peak and what's left of the Goethe Glacier. This is the Glacial Divide, beyond which lies Evolution Valley, where I hiked as a 20-something on the John Muir Trail - a blissful 26 days beyond the range of communication, during which we carried everything we needed on our backs, along with a few things we didn't really need but wanted anyway. No one had cellphones back then.

Style Across the Aisle In a city known for both its creative energy and its political passion, an event like Style Across the Aisle could only happen in New York. On Sept. 10, the grand hallways of the New York County Surrogate's Court will swap legal briefs for runway beats as over 30 bipartisan public officials model looks from local designers during New York Fashion Week.

Now, as the task force starts to weigh in on the remaining 118 advisory groups, councils, commissions and other bodies, pushback has arrived. Alongside the Treasury Oversight Committee and Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island Citizen Advisory Board, for instance, the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board was on Wednesday's chopping block, eliciting a bevy of soul-searching questions: Does the sheriff's department truly need its own oversight board? Can the board's work, perhaps, be folded into that of the Department of Police Accountability?

Joy is not a hallmark sentiment; it is a method. ACI reframed joy as praxis: an ethic of presence, a chromatic strategy for healing, reminding us that celebration becomes civic muscle.

The Turtle Island Monument Fountain was originally designed in 1992 to feature a bronze snapping turtle representing Native Peoples across the Americas, but plans have been abandoned due to conflicts over credit and respect.

In today's America, people leave their jobs because their boss hangs the wrong flag in the office. Long-standing friendships end because a vote was cast for that other guy.

"Everyone ought to read all this in high school." A student expressed frustration over students not being exposed to critical historical texts and principles that inform governance.

David Gergen, who served as a presidential adviser to four presidents of both parties, has died at 83 from Lewy body dementia, a brain disease causing Parkinson's-like symptoms.

"Across the board, our research showed that government actions to defund scientific work and conduct massive layoffs in science and health agencies are not being met with strong public support."

Despite the extreme heat, New Yorkers showed impressive turnout for the 2025 primary elections, proving the city's dedication to civic participation under challenging conditions.

"June 14th is also the U.S. Army's birthday—a day that marks when Americans first organized to stand up to a king. Trump isn't honoring that legacy. He's hijacking it to celebrate himself."

The 'No Kings' mobilization is a direct response to Donald Trump's self-aggrandizing $100 million military parade and birthday celebration, an event funded by taxpayers while millions are told there's no money for Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid, or public schools.

"Once unofficially dubbed The Mayor of Primrose Hill, many of us will feel we have indeed lost our Mayor. There was no one quite like Phil to defend the values of our community."

The Bath House stands as a living model of what's possible when local people are empowered to lead: a self-sustaining civic hub generating not just public benefit, but deep social wealth.

Seeing how loved and impactful Taylor was in his community, Buckley found some inspiration.

"The city is founded on bedrock," curator Marie-Anne McQuay explains, highlighting Liverpool's sandstone geology, which influences its architecture and historical significance.

What we're seeing right now is the government stepping over the line of what is permitted, and that is definitely creating a chilling effect.

‘People don't trust politicians. People don't trust the House of Lords. But we do trust each other to make fair decisions. That's why replacing the House of Lords with a permanent rolling citizens' assembly appeals to Reform, Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative voters alike.’

Despite being a significant economic force, nonprofits maintain a weak position in political advocacy, limiting their potential for meaningful social change, particularly as we approach the 2024 election.