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O’CONNOR HOUSE

O’CONNOR HOUSE. Vision To create an Arizona where policy decisions are made through a process of civil discussion , critical analysis of facts and the informed participation of all citizens . Mission

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O’CONNOR HOUSE

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  1. O’CONNOR HOUSE Vision To create an Arizona where policy decisions are made through a process of civil discussion, critical analysis of facts and the informed participation of all citizens. Mission To continue Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s legacy of solving social, economic and political problems through civil talk that leads to civic action.

  2. O’CONNOR HOUSE Works to ensure good governance through its four pillars: • O’CONNOR HISTORY PROJECT • POLICY COMMITTEE • WOMEN’S JUSTICE ISSUES PROJECT • CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - SPEAKOUT AZ/iCivics

  3. Civic Engagement ProjectSpeakOut AZ Is dedicated to fostering a more robust level of civic and social engagement in communities throughout Arizona by: • Depolarizing our political and social climate • Advancing civic education in our schools • Increasing civic and social engagement

  4. Only 10% of Arizonans believe that elected officials represent their interests. • Only 25% of Arizonan’s vote in the primaries. • Only 12% of Arizonans believe the people in their communities care about them. The Problem…

  5. Depolarizing the political and social climate through: • Promoting civil dialogue at all levels. • Respecting other citizens’ views. • Working constructively across party lines. • Finding ways to provide local access training for facilitating civil conversations, forums and debates.

  6. Why Civic Education? • U.S. Department of Education National Center for Educational Statistics shows 12th grade civics proficiency levels* at: 27% 26% 24% 2006 2010 1998 * The Nation’s Report Card, Civics 2010

  7. Increasing Civic Educationby promoting: • Widespread use of iCivics, a web-based education project inspired by Justice O’Connor and designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. • Broader understanding of the U. S. and Arizona Constitutions. • Service learning among our youth to help develop life and leadership skills.

  8. Increasing Civic and Social Engagement by: • Increasing voter participation in all levels of government. • Working with local elected officials to develop community-based initiatives important to the vitality of the community. • Increasing citizen participation in order to develop a stronger sense of community by volunteering, helping neighbors and reaching out to invite others to participate. • Working collaboratively with elected officials to solve social and political problems.

  9. A challenge • Only 25% believe Arizona is a good place to meet people. • Only 37% believe they are treated with respect at all times in their community. * Arizona Civic Health Index (2010-2012)

  10. Actions that Stimulate SocialCohesion (Trust and Connectedness) • Eat dinner with family frequently. • Contact friends and family frequently. • Practice neighborliness: • Do favors for neighbors frequently. • Exhibit trust for all/most neighbors. • Reach out to others who aren’t involved in the community and invite them to become involved. • Invite people outside your group to join your club or activities.

  11. Actions that Build Community • Volunteer in the community. • Donate to a charity. • Attend public meetings. • Work with Neighbors. • Belong to an organization. • Serve as a leader in an organization.

  12. Actions that Influence Government • Vote in local (all) elections. • Contact public officials. • Discuss politics frequently. • Buy or boycott products. • Express opinions online frequently.

  13. SpeakOut AZ . . .Moving from Civil Talk to Civic Action How? • Continuing to enlarge our network of SpeakOut Partners. • Increasing opportunities for Partners to work together and share tools and resources.

  14. AND . . . • Expanding existing and creating local SpeakOut Teams comprised of people with divergent views throughout Arizona. )

  15. There’s a place for everyone in this movement. • Encourage your organization to become a partner. • Join or lead a team to: • Promote civic education through iCivics in every school. • Encourage all citizens to use iCivics as a refresher for our responsibility to our representative democracy. • Learn to teach iCivics. • Learn to teach how to facilitate civil dialogue. • Identify citizens not involved and invite them to join you in your community and social activities

  16. SpeakOutAz will… • Continue to capitalize on the legacy of Sandra Day O’Connor to convene, collaborate and catalyze citizens and organizations to work toward a common goal. • Work through Collective Impact techniques outlined in the Stanford Social Innovation Reviews “Collective Impact” 2011 Report. • Begin assuming the responsibilities of being a backbone organization as defined in the Stanford report.

  17. It will take all of us….. SpeakOut AZ Julie Gustavson, Project Coordinator Julie@oconnorhouse.org 602 682-2019 Elva Coor, Chair 602 682-2022 elva@oconnorhouse.org * Arizona Civic Health Index (010-2012)

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