Writer: Siena Iwasaki Milbauer
Civic Engagement: “Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern”
The 2020 election is over. Asian Americans showed up to the polls in record numbers. Despite a pandemic, our country’s democratic process proved strong and we ran a safe, secure, free, and fair election.
But what comes next? Is the work over just because Election Day is? Absolutely not. Civic engagement is a task we can and should engage in every day. There are so many ways to help strengthen and heal our communities. Here are just a few ideas for how you can stay active:
–Organize for voting rights: Getting voters registered and advocating for enfranchisement for all are crucial parts of keeping our democracy strong and equal. Some organizations doing this work include CAPI, Minnesota Voice/State Voices, Minnesota Youth Collective, and of course, AAOP. Join us!
–Get involved in local government: Follow the actions of your school boards, city councils, and other local government organizations. You can make your voice heard by testifying at city budget hearings, providing comments directly to your representatives, or working alongside elected officials to write a bill. Encourage other folks in your community to be active constituents too. The decisions made on a local level often have as much if not more impact than national policies.
–Volunteer: Find a cause or organization that you are passionate about and give your time and skills. If you’d like to work with AAOP (we’d love to have you!), visit http://aaopmn.org/volunteer/
–Donate: If you are able, support work that you believe in monetarily. Nonprofits like AAOP depend on funding from community members like you: http://aaopmn.org/support-building-young-asian-leaders/
–Protest: In the streets and on social media, make your voice heard. Stand up and speak up.
-Advocate for Change Within Your Own Life and Environments: Civic engagement isn’t just about politics and activism. Taking steps to make your home, work, and/or school environments more healthy and equal is also civic engagement. Every little bit counts.
–#StaySafeMN and #StayHomeMN: It can be strange when an act of civic engagement feels so, well, unengaging. But by following COVID-19 safety guidelines and staying home as much as possible, you are doing an invaluable service to your community. It is up to each of us to keep our state safe and healthy. We can do this!
Civic engagement can’t be limited to one-day events like an election. It is by continuously staying engaged in our communities that we can create sustained positive change. Together, we can build a brighter future, one step and one act of civic engagement at a time.
Sources:
Baik, Jennifer, “Community Leaders to Address Record Voter Turnout Among Asian American & Pacific Islanders in Press Briefing”, APIA Vote, 16 Nov. 2020. https://www.apiavote.org/press/Briefing-Record-AAPI-turnout. Accessed 19 Nov. 2020.
Carpini, Michael Delli, “Definition of Civic Engagement”, American Psychological Association, The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009. https://www.apa.org/education/undergrad/civic-engagement. Accessed 28 Oct. 2020.