Introduction to How to be an Involved Citizen

In America, being a citizen is often taken for granted. Unlike many other countries, America grants citizenship by default to anyone who is born within its borders (birthright citizenship, AKA jus soli). This makes it easy to enjoy all the benefits that come with citizenship without really thinking about what it means to be a citizen or how that status can be used. And while it is true that you have a right to your citizenship from birth, there is still much that can be done if you want to be a good citizen - that is, a valuable member of the political and social community to which you belong. In this map, we’ll provide suggestions on how one can be a good citizen: voting in elections, volunteering in the community, and even simply keeping up with the news. Getting involved in one’s own community, through voting or volunteering or other efforts, can be an immensely rewarding experience. You can meet new people with similar interests, support causes you believe in, make small changes that have big impacts, and learn much along the way. We’ll discuss how these things can be done (and done well) and provide resources on getting involved in all these different aspects that come along with citizenship.

map from Wikipedia