it is a tremendous honor to be here at the historic Florida theatre especially
the historic Florida theatre especially
the historic Florida theatre especially when you think about who has previously
when you think about who has previously
when you think about who has previously walked on this stage Ray Charles
walked on this stage Ray Charles
walked on this stage Ray Charles Johnny Cash Elvis Presley BB King now we
Johnny Cash Elvis Presley BB King now we
Johnny Cash Elvis Presley BB King now we may not be the king of rock and roll or
may not be the king of rock and roll or
may not be the king of rock and roll or the king of the blues but each of us
the king of the blues but each of us
the king of the blues but each of us holds the most important title in
holds the most important title in
holds the most important title in American democracy well hang on a second
American democracy well hang on a second
American democracy well hang on a second you might be saying I’m not a president
you might be saying I’m not a president
you might be saying I’m not a president or a governor or a senator or a
or a governor or a senator or a
or a governor or a senator or a congressperson or a mayor well you don’t
congressperson or a mayor well you don’t
congressperson or a mayor well you don’t have to be because in our democracy the
have to be because in our democracy the
have to be because in our democracy the most important title is that of citizen
most important title is that of citizen
most important title is that of citizen former Illinois governor two-time
former Illinois governor two-time
former Illinois governor two-time presidential candidate and United
presidential candidate and United
presidential candidate and United Nations ambassador Adlai Stevenson said
Nations ambassador Adlai Stevenson said
Nations ambassador Adlai Stevenson said it best as citizens in a democracy you
it best as citizens in a democracy you
it best as citizens in a democracy you are the rulers and the ruled the law
are the rulers and the ruled the law
are the rulers and the ruled the law givers and the law abiders the beginning
givers and the law abiders the beginning
givers and the law abiders the beginning and the end but it’s not enough to hold
and the end but it’s not enough to hold
and the end but it’s not enough to hold the title remember the first three words
the title remember the first three words
the title remember the first three words of our United States Constitution We the
of our United States Constitution We the
of our United States Constitution We the People We are fortunate enough to live
People We are fortunate enough to live
People We are fortunate enough to live in a country that is supposed to be led
in a country that is supposed to be led
in a country that is supposed to be led by four and of the people but to make
by four and of the people but to make
by four and of the people but to make that work we have to build and flex our
that work we have to build and flex our
that work we have to build and flex our citizenship muscles to make government
citizenship muscles to make government
citizenship muscles to make government respond and therein lies the challenge
respond and therein lies the challenge
respond and therein lies the challenge most Americans don’t think we can make
most Americans don’t think we can make
most Americans don’t think we can make government respond back in 2015 the Pew
government respond back in 2015 the Pew
government respond back in 2015 the Pew Research Center did a study of Americans
Research Center did a study of Americans
Research Center did a study of Americans attitudes toward government they found
attitudes toward government they found
attitudes toward government they found that 74% three-quarters of Americans no
that 74% three-quarters of Americans no
that 74% three-quarters of Americans no longer believed that elected officials
longer believed that elected officials
longer believed that elected officials care what we think
care what we think
care what we think well those feelings of frustration and
well those feelings of frustration and
well those feelings of frustration and alienation are perfectly understandable
alienation are perfectly understandable
alienation are perfectly understandable when you consider what’s going on in the
when you consider what’s going on in the
when you consider what’s going on in the nation’s capital in all 50 state
nation’s capital in all 50 state
nation’s capital in all 50 state capitals but it’s also understandable
capitals but it’s also understandable
capitals but it’s also understandable when you think about that we realized
when you think about that we realized
when you think about that we realized that we haven’t been trained in the
that we haven’t been trained in the
that we haven’t been trained in the skills needed to make elected officials
skills needed to make elected officials
skills needed to make elected officials care what we think over the last several
care what we think over the last several
care what we think over the last several decades civics and citizenship have
decades civics and citizenship have
decades civics and citizenship have largely gone missing from the American
largely gone missing from the American
largely gone missing from the American curriculum and when they have been
curriculum and when they have been
curriculum and when they have been taught they’ve been taught as
taught they’ve been taught as
taught they’ve been taught as civics in other words what are the three
civics in other words what are the three
civics in other words what are the three branches of government who are the
branches of government who are the
branches of government who are the members of the cabinet how does a bill
members of the cabinet how does a bill
members of the cabinet how does a bill become a law not as participatory civics
become a law not as participatory civics
become a law not as participatory civics in other words how do we use our
in other words how do we use our
in other words how do we use our citizenship rights and responsibilities
citizenship rights and responsibilities
citizenship rights and responsibilities to move government in our direction
to move government in our direction
to move government in our direction imagine you were teaching someone the
imagine you were teaching someone the
imagine you were teaching someone the game of basketball would you teach them
game of basketball would you teach them
game of basketball would you teach them by taking them into the locker room and
by taking them into the locker room and
by taking them into the locker room and having them read books about the history
having them read books about the history
having them read books about the history of basketball maybe have them watch some
of basketball maybe have them watch some
of basketball maybe have them watch some videos of basketball or would you take
videos of basketball or would you take
videos of basketball or would you take them out in the court and have them
them out in the court and have them
them out in the court and have them practice passing and jump shots and
practice passing and jump shots and
practice passing and jump shots and dribbling well in our democracy right
dribbling well in our democracy right
dribbling well in our democracy right now that locker room style is the way
now that locker room style is the way
now that locker room style is the way we’re teaching civics and it’s wrong
we’re teaching civics and it’s wrong
we’re teaching civics and it’s wrong because we don’t want to be in the
because we don’t want to be in the
because we don’t want to be in the stands of democracy watching it happen
stands of democracy watching it happen
stands of democracy watching it happen we want to be on the court of democracy
we want to be on the court of democracy
we want to be on the court of democracy making it happen well today I’d like to
making it happen well today I’d like to
making it happen well today I’d like to share with you the stories of some
share with you the stories of some
share with you the stories of some Americans who have been on the court
Americans who have been on the court
Americans who have been on the court making it happen and have won and in
making it happen and have won and in
making it happen and have won and in that process I want to help dispel some
that process I want to help dispel some
that process I want to help dispel some myths and provide some truths about
myths and provide some truths about
myths and provide some truths about effective citizenship so the first myth
effective citizenship so the first myth
effective citizenship so the first myth not a surprising one in this hyper
not a surprising one in this hyper
not a surprising one in this hyper partisan and polarized world in which we
partisan and polarized world in which we
partisan and polarized world in which we live is that people can no longer work
live is that people can no longer work
live is that people can no longer work together across partisan and ideological
together across partisan and ideological
together across partisan and ideological lines to make a difference the truth is
lines to make a difference the truth is
lines to make a difference the truth is that people can work together to achieve
that people can work together to achieve
that people can work together to achieve common goals and to illustrate that
common goals and to illustrate that
common goals and to illustrate that truth I’d like to take you from here in
truth I’d like to take you from here in
truth I’d like to take you from here in Jacksonville to Atlanta Georgia and
Jacksonville to Atlanta Georgia and
Jacksonville to Atlanta Georgia and introduce you to two remarkable women
introduce you to two remarkable women
introduce you to two remarkable women Debbie Dooley and Colleen Kiernan Debbie
Debbie Dooley and Colleen Kiernan Debbie
Debbie Dooley and Colleen Kiernan Debbie on your left was one of the founders of
on your left was one of the founders of
on your left was one of the founders of the National Tea Party Colleen on your
the National Tea Party Colleen on your
the National Tea Party Colleen on your right was the executive director of the
right was the executive director of the
right was the executive director of the Georgia Sierra Club now let’s think
Georgia Sierra Club now let’s think
Georgia Sierra Club now let’s think about that for just a second
about that for just a second
about that for just a second Tea Party and Sierra Club not two groups
Tea Party and Sierra Club not two groups
Tea Party and Sierra Club not two groups we would ever think would work together
we would ever think would work together
we would ever think would work together on anything but when Debbie and Colleen
on anything but when Debbie and Colleen
on anything but when Debbie and Colleen met in 2012 and got to know each other
met in 2012 and got to know each other
met in 2012 and got to know each other they realized they had a shared passion
they realized they had a shared passion
they realized they had a shared passion for making their home state of Georgia a
for making their home state of Georgia a
for making their home state of Georgia a more solar energy friendly state so
more solar energy friendly state so
more solar energy friendly state so working together and with some solar
working together and with some solar
working together and with some solar energy advocates they formed the very
energy advocates they formed the very
energy advocates they formed the very aptly named green tea coalition great
aptly named green tea coalition great
aptly named green tea coalition great name right well that Coalition had a
name right well that Coalition had a
name right well that Coalition had a major obstacle it was the large
major obstacle it was the large
major obstacle it was the large politically influential investor owned
politically influential investor owned
politically influential investor owned utility in Georgia Georgia power one of
utility in Georgia Georgia power one of
utility in Georgia Georgia power one of the most powerful special interests in
the most powerful special interests in
the most powerful special interests in the state but despite that opposition
the state but despite that opposition
the state but despite that opposition Debbie and Colleen and their team helped
Debbie and Colleen and their team helped
Debbie and Colleen and their team helped to persuade Georgia regulators to
to persuade Georgia regulators to
to persuade Georgia regulators to require that Georgia Power includes
require that Georgia Power includes
require that Georgia Power includes solar energy as part of their
solar energy as part of their
solar energy as part of their electricity mix they helped to persuade
electricity mix they helped to persuade
electricity mix they helped to persuade the Georgia Legislature to make it
the Georgia Legislature to make it
the Georgia Legislature to make it easier for homeowners to put solar
easier for homeowners to put solar
easier for homeowners to put solar devices on their homes they even changed
devices on their homes they even changed
devices on their homes they even changed the culture in Georgia so much that
the culture in Georgia so much that
the culture in Georgia so much that today Georgia Power has embraced solar
today Georgia Power has embraced solar
today Georgia Power has embraced solar energy and is building solar generation
energy and is building solar generation
energy and is building solar generation facilities all over the state of Florida
facilities all over the state of Florida
facilities all over the state of Florida Debbie and Colleen were so successful
Debbie and Colleen were so successful
Debbie and Colleen were so successful that today while Florida is the Sunshine
that today while Florida is the Sunshine
that today while Florida is the Sunshine State in name Georgia is the Sunshine
State in name Georgia is the Sunshine
State in name Georgia is the Sunshine State in fact and that’s because these
State in fact and that’s because these
State in fact and that’s because these two women defied conventional wisdom and
two women defied conventional wisdom and
two women defied conventional wisdom and work together across partisan and
work together across partisan and
work together across partisan and ideological lines we can do that too so
ideological lines we can do that too so
ideological lines we can do that too so that was our first myth that I hope
that was our first myth that I hope
that was our first myth that I hope we’ve dispelled and I now wanted to
we’ve dispelled and I now wanted to
we’ve dispelled and I now wanted to spell a second one and for that I’d like
spell a second one and for that I’d like
spell a second one and for that I’d like to travel from Atlanta Georgia to Miami
to travel from Atlanta Georgia to Miami
to travel from Atlanta Georgia to Miami Beach Florida and that myth is the myth
Beach Florida and that myth is the myth
Beach Florida and that myth is the myth that one person can’t make a difference
that one person can’t make a difference
that one person can’t make a difference we ever said that to yourself hey I’m
we ever said that to yourself hey I’m
we ever said that to yourself hey I’m just one person what can I do well as
just one person what can I do well as
just one person what can I do well as you’ll see from the case of Miami
you’ll see from the case of Miami
you’ll see from the case of Miami Florida you can do a lot and perhaps
Florida you can do a lot and perhaps
Florida you can do a lot and perhaps you’re more familiar with Miami Beach by
you’re more familiar with Miami Beach by
you’re more familiar with Miami Beach by its other name South Beach maybe you
its other name South Beach maybe you
its other name South Beach maybe you watched Miami Vice in the 1980s
watched Miami Vice in the 1980s
watched Miami Vice in the 1980s maybe you’ve eaten a Joe’s stone crab
maybe you’ve eaten a Joe’s stone crab
maybe you’ve eaten a Joe’s stone crab maybe you’ve tried the South Beach diet
maybe you’ve tried the South Beach diet
maybe you’ve tried the South Beach diet I know I have or maybe you know South
I know I have or maybe you know South
I know I have or maybe you know South Beach because of its very visually
Beach because of its very visually
Beach because of its very visually distinctive Art Deco buildings
distinctive Art Deco buildings
distinctive Art Deco buildings well those Art Deco buildings are still
well those Art Deco buildings are still
well those Art Deco buildings are still there today because one person stood up
there today because one person stood up
there today because one person stood up and made a difference so let me set the
and made a difference so let me set the
and made a difference so let me set the scene for you
scene for you
scene for you it’s the mid to late 1970s and Disney
it’s the mid to late 1970s and Disney
it’s the mid to late 1970s and Disney World has just moved to Florida several
World has just moved to Florida several
World has just moved to Florida several years ago communities like Miami Beach
years ago communities like Miami Beach
years ago communities like Miami Beach are trying to amp up their own tourism
are trying to amp up their own tourism
are trying to amp up their own tourism economies and so developers and some
economies and so developers and some
economies and so developers and some other leaders in Miami Beach have
other leaders in Miami Beach have
other leaders in Miami Beach have decided that the way for them to do that
decided that the way for them to do that
decided that the way for them to do that is to redevelop parts of South Beach and
is to redevelop parts of South Beach and
is to redevelop parts of South Beach and dismantle some of those historic Art
dismantle some of those historic Art
dismantle some of those historic Art Deco buildings well one person was
Deco buildings well one person was
Deco buildings well one person was having none of that and her name was
having none of that and her name was
having none of that and her name was Barbara kappahd man Barbara was a
Barbara kappahd man Barbara was a
Barbara kappahd man Barbara was a recently widowed historic
recently widowed historic
recently widowed historic preservationist who was passionate about
preservationist who was passionate about
preservationist who was passionate about these Art Deco structures well Barbara
these Art Deco structures well Barbara
these Art Deco structures well Barbara worked skillfully and ingeniously at
worked skillfully and ingeniously at
worked skillfully and ingeniously at every level of government to protect
every level of government to protect
every level of government to protect these buildings she helped to elect pro
these buildings she helped to elect pro
these buildings she helped to elect pro preservation elected officials at the
preservation elected officials at the
preservation elected officials at the city of Miami Beach she worked with the
city of Miami Beach she worked with the
city of Miami Beach she worked with the state of Florida historic preservation
state of Florida historic preservation
state of Florida historic preservation officer to gain their support for her
officer to gain their support for her
officer to gain their support for her efforts and most notably
efforts and most notably
efforts and most notably she got South Beach listed on the
she got South Beach listed on the
she got South Beach listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places Barbara was so successful that today 40
Barbara was so successful that today 40
Barbara was so successful that today 40 years later those historic buildings
years later those historic buildings
years later those historic buildings still stand now lovingly watched over by
still stand now lovingly watched over by
still stand now lovingly watched over by Barbara’s monument and protected by the
Barbara’s monument and protected by the
Barbara’s monument and protected by the organization that she worked hard to
organization that she worked hard to
organization that she worked hard to create the Miami design preservation
create the Miami design preservation
create the Miami design preservation league those buildings are there today
league those buildings are there today
league those buildings are there today because one person stood up and made a
because one person stood up and made a
because one person stood up and made a difference and all of us can do that as
difference and all of us can do that as
difference and all of us can do that as well so the last point I’d like to make
well so the last point I’d like to make
well so the last point I’d like to make now that we’ve hopefully dispelled those
now that we’ve hopefully dispelled those
now that we’ve hopefully dispelled those two myths is to talk about one important
two myths is to talk about one important
two myths is to talk about one important truth of citizen engagement and that’s
truth of citizen engagement and that’s
truth of citizen engagement and that’s this when our moment comes for effective
this when our moment comes for effective
this when our moment comes for effective citizenship we have to reach out and
citizenship we have to reach out and
citizenship we have to reach out and seize it
seize it
seize it to make government respond and to help
to make government respond and to help
to make government respond and to help show how possible that is I’d like to
show how possible that is I’d like to
show how possible that is I’d like to make one last Geographic
make one last Geographic
make one last Geographic shipped this time going from Miami Beach
shipped this time going from Miami Beach
shipped this time going from Miami Beach to Columbia Missouri to the campus of
to Columbia Missouri to the campus of
to Columbia Missouri to the campus of the University of Missouri let’s set the
the University of Missouri let’s set the
the University of Missouri let’s set the scene again it’s the fall of 2015
scene again it’s the fall of 2015
scene again it’s the fall of 2015 November 2015 to be precise and four
November 2015 to be precise and four
November 2015 to be precise and four weeks students have been expressing
weeks students have been expressing
weeks students have been expressing concerns about racism on campus and
concerns about racism on campus and
concerns about racism on campus and they’re frustrated because those
they’re frustrated because those
they’re frustrated because those concerns have not been addressed as
concerns have not been addressed as
concerns have not been addressed as quickly as the students felt like the
quickly as the students felt like the
quickly as the students felt like the administration should have well one
administration should have well one
administration should have well one group of students saw their moment and
group of students saw their moment and
group of students saw their moment and step forward to build and flex their
step forward to build and flex their
step forward to build and flex their citizenship muscles and that was the
citizenship muscles and that was the
citizenship muscles and that was the two-time defending FEC East football
two-time defending FEC East football
two-time defending FEC East football champion Missouri Tigers again it was
champion Missouri Tigers again it was
champion Missouri Tigers again it was November 2015 and at the end of that
November 2015 and at the end of that
November 2015 and at the end of that week they were scheduled to play in a
week they were scheduled to play in a
week they were scheduled to play in a very important neutral site game against
very important neutral site game against
very important neutral site game against Brigham Young University in Kansas City
Brigham Young University in Kansas City
Brigham Young University in Kansas City Missouri and that game wasn’t just
Missouri and that game wasn’t just
Missouri and that game wasn’t just important for their record it was also
important for their record it was also
important for their record it was also important because it was going to
important because it was going to
important because it was going to generate significant revenue for the
generate significant revenue for the
generate significant revenue for the University of Missouri 1 million dollars
University of Missouri 1 million dollars
University of Missouri 1 million dollars well several days before the game some
well several days before the game some
well several days before the game some of the University of Missouri players
of the University of Missouri players
of the University of Missouri players announced that unless those student
announced that unless those student
announced that unless those student concerns about racism were addressed and
concerns about racism were addressed and
concerns about racism were addressed and the university president resigned they
the university president resigned they
the university president resigned they were not going to play in that upcoming
were not going to play in that upcoming
were not going to play in that upcoming neutral site game their teammates back
neutral site game their teammates back
neutral site game their teammates back them up their coaches backed them up and
them up their coaches backed them up and
them up their coaches backed them up and shortly thereafter the University of
shortly thereafter the University of
shortly thereafter the University of Missouri president resigned
that is an example of what we’re capable
that is an example of what we’re capable of when we seize the moment for civic
of when we seize the moment for civic
of when we seize the moment for civic engagement all of us can do that and so
engagement all of us can do that and so
engagement all of us can do that and so when we leave here today we have a
when we leave here today we have a
when we leave here today we have a choice we can be one of the seventy four
choice we can be one of the seventy four
choice we can be one of the seventy four percent of Americans who believe that
percent of Americans who believe that
percent of Americans who believe that elected officials no longer care what we
elected officials no longer care what we
elected officials no longer care what we think and do nothing or or we can be a
think and do nothing or or we can be a
think and do nothing or or we can be a Debbie or a Colleen or a Barbara or a
Debbie or a Colleen or a Barbara or a
Debbie or a Colleen or a Barbara or a University of Missouri tiger and we can
University of Missouri tiger and we can
University of Missouri tiger and we can use the skills of effective citizenship
use the skills of effective citizenship
use the skills of effective citizenship to make them care well how do we start
to make them care well how do we start
to make them care well how do we start where does this process begin well first
where does this process begin well first
where does this process begin well first it begins with the realization that even
it begins with the realization that even
it begins with the realization that even one person can make a difference Barbara
one person can make a difference Barbara
one person can make a difference Barbara taught us that anyone can leave here
taught us that anyone can leave here
taught us that anyone can leave here today and be an effective citizen and to
today and be an effective citizen and to
today and be an effective citizen and to do that the first step is to identify or
do that the first step is to identify or
do that the first step is to identify or define a problem in your community or
define a problem in your community or
define a problem in your community or neighborhood challenges are all around
neighborhood challenges are all around
neighborhood challenges are all around us maybe you want to clean up your local
us maybe you want to clean up your local
us maybe you want to clean up your local park or increase funding for technology
park or increase funding for technology
park or increase funding for technology in your child’s school and once you’ve
in your child’s school and once you’ve
in your child’s school and once you’ve defined that problem set a meeting with
defined that problem set a meeting with
defined that problem set a meeting with the local official who can help you
the local official who can help you
the local official who can help you solve it perhaps that local officials a
solve it perhaps that local officials a
solve it perhaps that local officials a school board member a city council
school board member a city council
school board member a city council member a county commissioner a state
member a county commissioner a state
member a county commissioner a state legislature but meet with them and
legislature but meet with them and
legislature but meet with them and persuade them as to the rightness of
persuade them as to the rightness of
persuade them as to the rightness of your cause and if you can’t persuade
your cause and if you can’t persuade
your cause and if you can’t persuade them find allies who can remember the
them find allies who can remember the
them find allies who can remember the story of Debbie and Colleen allies can
story of Debbie and Colleen allies can
story of Debbie and Colleen allies can be found in the least likely of places
be found in the least likely of places
be found in the least likely of places and don’t forget throughout this process
and don’t forget throughout this process
and don’t forget throughout this process the most fundamental truth of American
the most fundamental truth of American
the most fundamental truth of American democracy in this country we the people
democracy in this country we the people
democracy in this country we the people rule we can and must build and flex our
rule we can and must build and flex our
rule we can and must build and flex our citizenship muscles to make government
citizenship muscles to make government
citizenship muscles to make government listen care and act thank you very much
listen care and act thank you very much
listen care and act thank you very much [Applause]
”
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