Friday digest-open thread 11/09/07

This week, we learned of a new report showing that college students are tired of partisan bickering and divisive rhetoric. Many adults beyond college age are tired of it, too; in Michigan, some have decided that compromise isn't a four-letter word and are working to build a bipartisan, citizen-based agenda for their state's future. From the Lansing State Journal:

The Center for Michigan has begun convening "community conversations" around the state as part of its Michigan's Defining Moment campaign. The message: If leaders won't lead, then citizens must....

... (Former Lansing Mayor David Hollister said), "What I see happening here is the elders of the state trying to step forward in a bipartisan and nonpartisan way to say, 'Time out. Let's have a more thoughtful, deliberative, open and civil discussion.' " (Read more here.)

Also in the Midwest, two women who volunteer with Diversity Circles in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area were honored last week for their leadership. Anna Steinfest, who came to the U.S. from Bulgaria a decade ago, and Jeanne Agneesens of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce were recognized at the Women for Diversity luncheon hosted by the Girl Scouts of Lac Baie Council.

Here's another addition to the growing ranks of government officials who blog. Although his posts are infrequent, Dennis Vasquez, superintendent of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas, is blogging at the facility's official National Park Service website, in what is apparently a first among NPS superintendents. Vasquez recently called attention to the "Civics and Civility Summit: Voices of the Kansas People” event held last Friday at Kansas State University.

Can community organizing influence elections? In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a group that formed to support the community's consensus on preserving the local middle school chose to endorse candidates in this week's balloting - and every one of them won. "Friends of the Parrott Avenue Middle School was formed shortly following the Portsmouth Study Circles," organizers wrote to the local newspaper. "Our objective is to promote the renovation of the Parrott Avenue school and the preservation of the Sagamore Creek Conservation Land. Continuing our mission of renovation and preservation, we have endorsed the following candidates in the upcoming election. City Council: M. Christine Dwyer, Thomas G. Ferrini, Esther E. Kennedy, Edward Raynolds, Kenneth E. Smith and Eric Spear. School Board: Rebecca Emerson-Brown."

Speaking of Portsmouth, the impact of dialogue on its civic landscape was the topic of our October 11 water cooler session here at DemocracySpace. Join us again next Thursday, November 15, when youth-focused study circles will be this month's water cooler topic. Youth taking part in civic engagement within and outside school settings are especially invited to take part. The one-hour session starts at 3 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Central/1 p.m. Mountain/noon Pacific right here at DemocracySpace. Email organizer Julie Fanselow if you have any questions about how to take part in the live blogging session.