Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Part One: Choose Community
Reclaim We. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Do Small Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Connect with Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Give Up the Right to Remain Silent ......17
Conversation Starters: Community . . . . . 22
Part Two: Choose Learning
Be Political . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Read.....................................29
Empty Your Pockets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Argue Like an American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Supplant the Media Slant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Reject Untruth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Conversation Starters: Learning . . . . . . . . 53
Part Three: Choose Empowerment
Claim & Spread Civic Power. . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Be a Citizen, Not a Consumer . . . . . . . . . . 63
Focus Your Time, Talent & Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Raise All Voices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Conversation Starters: Empowerment ..........................76
Part Four: Choose Optimism
Envision a More Perfect Union . . . . . . . . .79
Spread the Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Be Patriotic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Show Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Fight for Voting Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Balance Hope and Conviction.......... 98
Conversation Starters: Optimism. . . . . . 101
Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Further Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
