Benjamin Fong: Seattle-based Teaching Professor and Honors Faculty Fellow, Arizona State University, discusses the role of a professional editor in amplifying and clarifying the message of others, especially at a time when public and political discourse seems to value bad-faith interpretations of others’ communication. Fong discusses this in the context of his work curating a set of historical articles and contemporary commentary by and about Bayard Ruston, a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
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Matt Dehr: Lead Meteorologist, Department of Natural Resources, shares his passionate belief in the importance of science in civic life. Dehr uses the revitalization of the Indigenous practice of proscribed burns for wildfire prevention as one example of how people with a diverse range of expertise collaborate to care for the people of the state. He goes on to advocate for the importance of belief in incremental progress in both scientific advancement and social change.
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Tana Senn: Secretary, Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), explains how passing legislation is an important civic skill. She showcases how impactful passing legislation can be on the entire state, acknowledging that getting support from multiple types of stakeholders can be challenging but also really important. Being engaged in the legislative process can demonstrate how impactful civics really are to the community.
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Derek Bradfield Nguyen: Director of Marketing & Communications, Washington State Historical Society, explains that visual storytelling allows people to see how connected communities are. By using examples from the Washington State History Museum, Nguyen shows how different perspectives and visual representations are used to tell a complete story; video allows people to have a voice.
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James Nau: History Teacher, Lakeside School, speaks to the ways in which teaching demands an ability to foster connections with others. As one of the organizers of this project, Nau comments on the connections between teaching, civic life, and collaboration in community. In particular, he emphasizes the ways that teaching provides opportunities to introduce students to both the systems of our society and the tools that enable them to connect and contribute.
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Riley Irish: Health Equity Lead Organizer, WSU Medical School, points to how civic action begins with people seeing something around them that they want to change. They share their passion for community organizing, from building leadership from within communities, developing interventions, moving into action by partnering with the people who can collaborate to get things done, and finally reflecting on the efficacy of the process.
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Daniel Garcia: Community Programs Specialist, City of Tacoma, explains how his work in the arts and culture vitality division of the City of Tacoma requires collaboration and person to person communication. This civic engagement skill allows Garcia to strengthen connections between different community members. Using an example of how he brought people together to increase arts in Tacoma, Garcia showcases how being curious and listening to others can be powerful tools in creating community.
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Melissa Davis: Deputy Opinion Editor, Seattle Times, explains the importance not only of a free press, but also of providing a platform for a structured sharing and exchange of diverse points of view on public life. She goes on to illustrate the role that Op-Eds in The Seattle Times have had on policy and lawmaking, citing recent examples. Lastly, she advocates for reading persuasive pieces, especially those you may not agree with, as a way to grow and better understand your community.
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Tony Angell: Former State Supervisor of Environmental Education, OSPI, explains the importance of getting young people outside of the classroom and having direct experiences in the natural world. In his work at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, he created pathways of learning, convened panels to explore environmental issues, and created meaningful outdoor experiences for students to develop a clearer sense of who they are in this place to inform their engagement in public policy.
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Todd Clark: Tribal Liaison, Washington State Historical Society, discusses the importance of truth telling and allowing people of the present and the past to tell their own stories. Through his work at the Washington State History Museum, especially on the recently completed “This is Native Land” main exhibit, Clark prioritizes the voices and stories of people who are at the center of the work, while minimizing the curatorial voice. He also counsels students to take the long view and remain patient with change that is slow to come about.
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