Below are a few testimonials of individuals who have found Civic engagement rewarding, empowering, even life-changing.  Basically, the bottom line is that civic involvement can be pretty awesome.

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Participatory Citizen Testimony:

 

I've always been very interested in sustainability and the different options we have to help make our environment a better place not only for us, but more importantly for future generations. One way I thought I could participate was by organizing a paper recycling drive in my community. It turned out to be much easier than I expected. Once I got the word out, people were eager to help me get started. Working together definitely proved to be the most important aspect of getting it all to come together! After gathering a group of friends, we decided we needed to find out more about different paper products and how to recycle them. A basic search on the internet gave me more than enough information. Then I created a planning calendar about 5 weeks prior to my event and marked important dates for getting the word out, collection and delivery days. My friends and I divided up different sections of our neighborhood to see which routes we would each be covering. First we went around and delivered a notice to each house about a month before collection day. Then, a week prior, we sent out a reminder. Getting the word out was essential to ensure an effective paper recycling drive. On collection day, we divided into 3 groups and went around our designated routes with large trucks that we rented for the drive. We were amazed by the large response we got from our community, almost every house had something to recycle!! Once we got the goods in the truck, we called our local recycling center to confirm the drop off arrangement. At the recycling center we were able to weigh the amount of paper recycled. Thanks to our efforts and to the active citizens of our community, we were able to collect over .7 tons (1400 lbs!) of paper to recycle! This experience really showed me how coming together to work towards a common goal can really help you achieve more than you could imagine or anticipate!

 

-David

Annapolis, Maryland

 

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Participatory Citizen Testimony:

 

There is no better feeling than the one you get after you've done something that affects the lives of others in a positive way. I got this feeling when I participated in the construction of a house for Habitat for Humanity. Knowing that you helped build a house that a family will call their home is a great feeling. There is no doubt I will be doing this again in the future!

 

-John

College Park, Maryland

 

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Participatory Citizen Testimony:

 

 

I cannot begin to describe the overwhelming appreciation for service I felt after organizing a blood drive with the help of the American Red Cross. In November 2012, our local elementary school experienced a horrific bus crash with over 60 students involved. Unbelievably, no students perished, though 10 had minor injuries and another 30 suffered critical injuries. I immediately contacted American Red Cross and together we held a blood drive for the children the very next day. All of the children survived their injuries and, with the support of the community, more than enough blood was donated to the local hospital where the children were staying. From this experience, I learned the importance of organizing efforts to help with the immediate needs of the community.

 

-Diana

San Diego, California

 

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Personally Responsible Citizen Testimony:

 

 

I studied abroad in Haifa, Israel during the spring semester of my junior year of college. I lived there for six months, and I attended the University of Haifa during that time. During the fall semester of my senior year, I received a notice from the international student office informing me about a volunteer opportunity at the international coffee hour at my home college. After I had spent so much time abroad interacting with people of such diverse cultures in Israel, I wanted to continue my experience by volunteering at the coffee hour back home. The coffee hour takes place on campus at Dorchester every Wednesday from 3-4:30pm and is open to international students and anyone else is welcome. I volunteered there from 2-5pm every Wednesday for an entire month. I helped set up, moved furniture, prepared beverages and snacks. During the coffee hour I would mingle with people. I met a large array of people from many diverse backgrounds. I spoke with people from Bangladesh, China, and Peru. Many of these students are learning English as their second language, so they look forward to conversing with people for practice. Every week there are guest speakers, such as the careers center, and even the campus Confucius Institute; not only was this a great way to volunteer but it was also a wonderful networking opportunity.

 

-Kahin

Derwood, Maryland

 

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Personally Responsible Citizen Testimony:

 

Hurricane Katrina was a horrible storm for the U.S., but the area where it first hit shore was devastated. In particular, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi was ravaged by the storm; the city was ground zero for the hurricane's approach onto land. Nearly all of its inhabitants were put out of home and did not have any means of rebuilding. I saw it as my civic duty to help out my fellow Americans. During the summer of the next three consecutive years, I traveled with a group from New Jersey down to Mississippi in order to help rebuild the homes of those people affected. Each summer I improved my ability in construction while rebuilding these homes. I put up dry wall, laid tiles, assembled siding, and numerous other tasks that were assigned to me each day at a house of those in need. I saw where volunteers were necessary, and found a way to help return fellow citizens to their normal lifestyle. In the second and third year of making the volunteer trip, I was able to see my projects come to fruition. Families were able to return to the homes, which I helped rebuild. No longer were people forced to live out of trailers, but instead, the families were happily living in their repaired homes. I was able to become one of the many dominoes necessary to fall in succession that allowed people to continue to live their lives as they did before Katrina hit.

 

-Joseph

North Caldwell, New Jersey