Notes on "Making Civics Sexy Again"

Introduction

• Speaker: Petey Deschamps, teacher and practitioner of civics in America.
• Civics often perceived as boring, yet it is essential and virtuous.
• Goal: Make civics engaging and relevant, akin to its significance during historical movements (American Revolution, Civil Rights Movement).

Defining Key Terms

Civics

• Definition: The art of being a pro-social, problem-solving contributor in a self-governing community.
• Components:
  • Foundation of values
  • Understanding of systems
  • Skills for pursuing goals collaboratively

Power

• Definition: The capacity to make others do what you want.
• Common perceptions: Viewed as menacing or evil, often avoided in discussions.
• Reality: Power is neutral; it exists in all forms of government, influencing how they operate.

The Problem of Power Illiteracy

• Many people lack understanding of power dynamics:
  • Who has power, how it operates, and its implications.
• Consequence: Those who understand power wield disproportionate influence, which leads to civic inequality.
• Need to democratize knowledge of power to engage more people in civic life.

Civic Engagement Issues

• Civic knowledge and engagement are low in America.
• Many professionals handle politics, leading to citizen disengagement.
• Consequences include a sense of fatalism regarding civic participation.

Reimagining Civics

• Civics should focus on teaching power as a means to engage citizens.
• Essential to awaken civic interests and participation.

Cities as Arenas for Power Practice

• Cities are crucial arenas where civic power can be practiced:
  • Examples of civic problems include local infrastructure, budget decisions, and policy issues.
  • Power Dynamics: Consider money, people, ideas, information, and norms in civic decision-making.

Case Studies

1. Boulder, Colorado:

   • Citizens pushed for a public utility to replace a private company focused on profit.
   • Citizens must fight back against efforts to undermine their initiative.

2. Tuscaloosa, Alabama:

   • A student organization, "The Machine," historically dominates local politics.
   • Recently involved in city politics, showing the interplay of civic power.

Localism and Globalization

• Despite globalization, local power dynamics are gaining importance.
• Civic innovations emerge from local ecosystems, often bypassing national governments.
• Examples include bike-friendly strategies and participatory budgeting initiatives spreading globally.

Citizen University and Civic Power Curriculum

• Project Goals:
  • Create a collective civic power curriculum.
  • Focus on values, systems, and skills necessary for civic engagement.

Action Exercise

• Write a narrative from the future of your city, reflecting on a change you want to see.
  • Date it for one year, five years, or a decade ahead.
  • Describe values activated, systems engaged, and skills deployed in achieving that change.

Conclusion

• Invite collaboration to share narratives and experiences through platforms like Facebook.
• Encourage discussions on civic engagement and power literacy to revitalize democracy.
• Vision: Create a powerful collective laboratory for self-governance at the local level.