We need to defend, celebrate, and extend our "public"!

The very notion of "public" has been under assault in America for at least fifty years. Government has been cast as a villain and trust of government has been intentionally eroded and big business has placed itself at the center of American civic life. Civic ignorance is at an all-time high. While just some 42% of American adults can name the three branches of federal government, over 72% can name the Three Stooges. Current civic leaders and political party leaders have spurred Insurrection and serious talk of open warfare to further their hateful ideas of what America should be. We offer a two-hour workshop on "Public 101" that uses a number of real-life case stories to surface attendees values and beliefs about what "public" means to them. This session can be deliverd in person or online. For details, please email info@civiclab.us. If we don't make a concerted effort to rescue and revitalize our understanding of - our love for - PUBLIC - then we will surely lose it.

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“As a Lecturer of Political Science at Saint Xavier University, I am always looking for new ways to get students excited about politics and participation…Tom came up with “Civic Engagement 101” to challenge participants to think about civics as action involving knowledge, passion, and courage. The workshop got participants excited about the taking the next steps – towards action. I would encourage anyone interested in increasing civic engagement in their community to partner with Tom and the CivicLab.” – Elizabeth Alejo, Lecturer, Political Science, St. Xavier University