Young Professionals of Knoxville

Active citizenship involves many steps. One of the most important is to develop your own opinions. Think about the most significant issues being discussed today. You probably hold opinions on some of these issues.

The next challenge is to evaluate your positions – both new and old – and to integrate those opinions into your role as an active citizen. But having an opinion is not enough: You should also get involved! Following is a list of some of the ways you can stay informed and participate in your community.

1. Register and vote: Call, visit or check the website of your county board of elections. Register to vote by filling out a voter registration card. Then, remember to vote.
2. Work on a political campaign. All campaigns depend on volunteers. ,most volunteers stuff envelopes, hand out leaflets, and answer phones. Working on a campaign is a great way to see politics behind the scenes.
3. Display campaign buttons, signs or stickers. Talk to your family and friends about political issues, candidates and causes. Encourage them to listen to your views.
4. Walk Run or Bike for a cause or charity.
5. Protest. Make you voice heard at a peaceful protest, march or demonstration.
6. ‘Boycott.’ When making a purchase, choose the product or service which is made by a company whose social or political values are ones with which you agree.
7. Join a special interest group. Numerous organizations exist to support a variety of causes. The web is a good place to look for information on organizations. But, as with all media, consider your source and evaluate its credibility.
8. Organize a discussion group or a club. Your club could meet to examine local, state, national or global concerns and try to develop ways to solve them. For example, your club might decide to initiate letter-writing campaigns or you could circulate petitions, conduct voter registration drives, or set up speaker forums.
9. Get involved. Look around your community. Are there ways to make it a better place?
10. Run for office – or help somebody else get elected – now. Campaign for a seat on the school board or county commission.
11. Join a political party. Democrats, Republicans and other parties maintain state organizations. Many states also have youth chapters.
12. Participate in local government. Most towns and counties have laws that require local governing boards to announce their meetings; you can find these announcements in you local newspaper or town’s website.
13. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Letters to the editor are an effective way to communicate your views to many people. Editors like to print letters that are timely, to the point, interesting, and of particular concern to their readership.
14. Write letters to elected locals, state or national officials. Elected officials pay attention to their mail. Many read their own mail, or if they cannot, ask staff member to read it and inform the official how the mail is ‘running.’
15. Become an intern for a government office or interest group. Contact your representative and senators to find out whether they accept interns and, if so, how you might apply. Some may have internships available in their state and local offices as well as in their Washington offices. Also, many political interest groups accept interns. If you have a specific group in mind, contact it.
16. Volunteer. Decide ho much time you can donate to an organization and give it a call.
17. Read the newspaper and stay informed.