Overview
Critical Topics

Action Now

We choose a set of actions and act from our “larger selves” starting now – honoring and modeling American Greatness

We honor and model American Greatness by calling on our courage, values, perseverance, and sense of personal responsibility to act as citizens – and by saying “no” to giving up and becoming subjects.

We are grounded in the principles and values of our founding and their evolution over the last 250 years along with our sense of personal significance and responsibility to the community.  We act as citizens from our “larger selves”:

We act from our best and act even if we are busy and tired and unsure of what actions to take.

  • We choose where to act
  • We choose how to act – understanding that starting small is fine
  • We take the first steps
  • We get and provide support to persevere and expand our influence
  • We transcend our differences to find the common ground on which to stand and act together
  • We take pride in acting from our larger selves and standing tall as Americans

“Courage is the commitment to begin without any guarantee of success.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Challenge #1 - Protect and Develop our Democratic Processes and Institutions

As noted earlier – our democracy won’t survive if we’re just going through the motions.  We can’t just ride on our history and the sacrifices of our predecessors.  We can’t be passive.  We have to take ownership – not only of our freedoms, but also of the responsibilities that come with them.

We can act on our own as individuals, we can act in groups, and we can act as part of organizations to deal with the larger systemic issues.

Individual Actions (examples)

  1. Stay Informed
  2. Vote Consistently
  3. Practice Civil Discourse
  4. Support Truth-Based Journalism
  5. Hold Public Officials Accountable
  6. Use Your Network
  7. Contribute financially

 

Group Focused Actions (examples)

  1. Be Active in Civic Organizations
  2. Host Community Conversations
  3. Volunteer

 

Actions Focused Directly on Systemic Issues (examples)

  1. Play an Intentional Specific Role(s) in the Advocacy Process
  2. Become a member and contribute financial support to organizations taking on systemic issues related to America’s democracy
  3. Volunteer with organizations

Challenge #2 - Take on the Big Tough Complex Intimidating Challenges We Face in our World

Once again, we can take individual actions, we can act in groups, and we can act collectively to deal with systemic issues.

Individual Actions (examples)

  1. Choose which big tough complex issues to take on
  2. Become informed to focus attention and build confidence
  3. Use Your Network
  4. Contribute financially to organizations taking on the challenges

 

Group Focused Actions (examples)

  1. Become a member of groups and organizations taking on your chosen challenges
  2. Host community conversations about your chosen challenges
  3. Volunteer with groups

 

Actions Focused on Systemic Issues (examples)

  1. Play an intentional specific role(s) in the advocacy process regarding your chosen challenge(s)
  2. Become a member and contribute financially to organizations taking on the big tough complex challenges we currently face
  3. Volunteer with organizations

"You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope."

Thomas Merton
Critical Topics – Actions
Critical Topics – Larger Selves
Critical Topics – Advocacy

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”

William James