Post on 16-Jan-2015
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Talking with officials
Let public officials and decision makers know what you think about an issue, policy or decision that is important to you. Ways to do this include:
• Sending an email or talking to them on the phone • Connecting on Facebook or Twitter • Meeting with public officials and policy makers • Speaking at a public hearing • Inviting public officials and decision makers to your school or organization
Things to keep in mind
• Know your target – do your homework to find out which level of government, which department, which policy or decision maker you need to talk with
• Remember that you provide a valuable perspective that officials need to hear
• Listen – to everyone in the room, especially people you disagree with
• Be open‐minded, respectful and polite – treat people as potential allies, not enemies
• Build relationships – don’t only communicate to complain.
• Think critically – connect what you hear with what you know
• Think like a leader – how does this issue impact others? The future? What can I do to make things better for the most people?
• Look for facts and figures – passion helps, but facts win and change opinions
• Identify the intent – don’t like a policy? try to see where the official was going with the idea
Communicating
• Mention that you are a student – you can use this to your advantage
• Ask questions and/or state your opinion
• Get your facts straight
• Make your comments short and to the point…focus on what’s important first
• Offer suggestions and solutions
• Ask for specific action
• Relate to your personal experience
• Use your own words
• Don’t waste time on the obvious
• Ask if you can help be a part of the solution
• If you are speaking, be confident and clear…and smile
• If you are writing, spell and punctuate correctly
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT: WHO DOES WHAT Government Services City of Charlotte #cltcc City Council (includes Mayor) City Manager ‐ Ron Carlee rcarlee@ci.charlotte.nc.us www.charlottenc.gov www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_City.pdf
Community Health and Safety Police, Fire/Emergency Services, Animal Control, Water/Sewer, Garbage, Yard Waste, Recycling
Transportation CATS, LYNX, Airport
Infrastructure Build/maintain city streets, streetlights, sidewalks
Planning and Development Land use, Zoning, Neighborhood Development, Economic Development/Jobs
Towns: Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville
Town Councils include mayors and town boards Each town has a manager
www.cornelius.org www.ci.davidson.nc.us www.huntersville.org www.matthewsnc.govwww.minthill.com www.townofpineville.com Town presentations at http://generationnation.org/index.php/CLC/entry/local‐government‐who‐does‐what
Services include Police, planning/zoning, garbage pickup, Fire/EMS, Parks/Rec/Cultural Arts, streets, sidewalks, stormwater
Mecklenburg County #meckbocc Board of County Commissioners Interim County Manager – Bobbie Shields bobbie.shields@mecklenburgcountync.gov www.mecklenburgcountync.gov www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Mecklenburg_Cty.pdf
Community Health and Safety Health, Mental Health, Social Services, Courts, Jails, Child Support Enforcement
Education and Economic Development Job training, Libraries, Funding for CMS, CPCC
Growth and Environmental Parks, greenways, Historic preservation, air, water and land quality
County Government Operations Property, county taxes, Budgeting, Elections, Communications
Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) #cmsbd Board of Education Superintendent Heath Morrison superintendent@cms.k12.nc.us www.cms.k12.nc.us www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_CMS.pdf
Education Public instruction and programs School operations School construction and buildings
North Carolina General Assembly #ncga http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/counties/counties.pl?County=Mecklenburg
Local impacts: Laws, school funding, policies, other
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Charlotte City Council
#cltcc Interim Mayor Patsy Kinsey pkinsey@charlottenc.gov704‐336‐2241
Mayor Pro‐Tem At‐Large Patrick Cannon mayorprotemcannon@gmail.com704‐336‐7400 Mayor Pro‐Tem=leads council if Mayor’s away At‐Large=represents entire city
At‐Large Claire Fallon cfallon@charlottenc.gov 704‐336‐6105 At‐Large=represents entire city
At‐Large David Howard info@davidhowardclt.com 704‐336‐4099 At‐Large=represents entire city
At‐Large Beth Pickering bpickering@charlottenc.gov 704‐336‐5285 At‐Large=represents entire city
More about City of Charlotte government: www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_City.pdf
Visit GenerationNation for activities and more: www.generationnation.org
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District 1 Billy Maddalon Filling the unexpired term of Patsy Kinsey Central, East and Northeast Charlotte areas
District 2 James Mitchell JamesDistrict2@aol.com704‐509‐9593 NW and North Charlotte areas
District 3 LaWana Mayfield councilwomanmayfield@gmail.com 704‐890‐5449 West and SW Charlotte areas District 4 Michael Barnes barnesdistrict4@aol.com 704‐509‐6141 NE Charlotte, UNCC areas
District 5 John Autry jautry@charlottenc.gov 704‐336‐2777 East Charlotte areas District 6 Andy Dulin adulin@charlottenc.gov 704‐968‐8776 South Charlotte/Southpark areas District 7 Warren Cooksey warren@warrencooksey.com 704‐347‐0420 South Charlotte/1‐485 areas
Approximate representation areas listed. View map for more specific locations http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/CityCouncil/Districts/Documents/09AllDistricts.pdf
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Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
#meckbocc Pat Cotham Chair At‐Large 704‐336‐3866 patricia.cotham@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov At‐Large=represents entire county
Kim Ratliff Vice‐Chair At‐Large 704‐336‐2641 kim.ratliff@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov Vice‐Chair=leads BOCC if Chair is away At‐Large=represents entire county
Trevor Fuller At Large
704‐724‐5831 trevor.fuller@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
At‐Large=represents entire county
More about Mecklenburg County government: www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Mecklenburg_Cty.pdf
Visit www.GenerationNation.org for additional activities, curriculum and ways to put civics and
leadership into action!
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District 1 Karen Bentley 704‐432‐3997 karen.bentley@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov North Mecklenburg areas including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, University City and Mt Island
District 2 Vilma Leake 704‐336‐2088 vilma.leake@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg
District 3 George Dunlap 704‐336‐4419 george.dunlap@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte
District 4 Dumont Clarke 704‐331‐1051 dumontclarke@mvalaw.com East Charlotte
District 5 Matthew Ridenhour matthew.ridenhour@meckleburgcountync.gov South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including Southpark area
District 6 Bill James 704‐336‐2573 Wjames@carolina.rr.com South Charlotte/Mecklenburg (south of highway 51) including Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Ballantyne
Approximate representation areas listed. View map for more specific locations
http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/BOE/candidate/Documents/2012CountyCommission.pdf
Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (School Board)
#cmsbd Mary McCray Chair At‐Large 704‐281‐6074 maryt.mccray@cms.k12.nc.us At‐Large=represents entire county
Tim Morgan Vice‐Chair At Large
704‐577‐3102 tim.morgan@cms.k12.nc.us At‐Large=represents entire county Vice‐Chair=leads if Chair’s away
Ericka Ellis‐Stewart At‐Large 704‐412‐8565 ericka.ellis‐stewart@cms.k12.nc.us At‐Large=represents entire county
More about Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools and Board of Education www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_CMS.pdf Visit www.GenerationNation.org for curriculum, activities and more ways to put civics and leadership into action!
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District 1 Rhonda Lennon 704‐564‐3382 rhonda.lennon@cms.k12.nc.us North Mecklenburg including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Univ. City, Mt Island District 2 Richard McElrath 704‐488‐5360 richard.mcelrath@cms.k12.nc.us West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg
District 3 Joyce Waddell 704‐549‐4777 joyce.waddell@cms.k12.nc.us North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte
District 4 Tom Tate 704‐502‐3093 tom.tate@cms.k12.nc.us East Charlotte
District 5 Eric Davis 704‐651‐0217ericc.davis@cms.k12.nc.us South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including Southpark area
District 6 Amelia Stinson‐Wesley 704‐889‐1803 a.stinson‐wesley@cms.k12.nc.us South Charlotte/Mecklenburg (south of highway 51) including Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Ballantyne
Approximate representation areas listed. View list of schools by school board district (click on district #1-6)
http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/boe/Pages/District1.aspx View election district map: http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/BOE/candidate/Documents/2013SchoolBoard.pdf
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Mecklenburg Towns
Cornelius www.cornelius.org/index.aspx?NID=27 www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Cornelius.pdf
Davidson www.ci.davidson.nc.us/index.aspx?nid=75 www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Davidson.pdf
Huntersville http://www.huntersville.org/TownGovernment/ElectedOfficials.aspx www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Huntersville.pdf
Matthews www.matthewsnc.gov/TownGovernment/TownBoard.aspx www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Matthews.pdf Mint Hill www.minthill.com/index.aspx?nid=54 www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Mint%20Hill.pdf
Pineville www.townofpineville.com/town‐government/ www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Pineville.pdf
Visit www.GenerationNation.org for curriculum, activities and more ways to put civics and leadership into action!
www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation @GenNation