7. Cultivate Leadership and Citizen Involvement

Local voices are getting more demanding, more organized, and are exercising more control. People are taking responsibility for their lives at the local level. People are deciding what the vision for their community should be. The role of citizens in creating great communities should be nurtured. “Citizenship” is a word that directs our focus and our attention to the community. After all, it is citizens who will determine the viability of all of our communities. Whether it is bipolar citizen groups arguing the merits of a debated community issue or a crowd of citizens gathered to show support for a successful community initiative, citizens are speaking out. This citizen leadership and involvement must be cultivated and embraced.

Principle In Action

Students through a community project collected money for three weeks to donate to the city to help pay for signs that will welcome people into the community.