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 www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation @GenNation
Transcript
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
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: WHO DOES WHAT Government Services City of Charlotte #cltcc City Council (includes Mayor) City Manager ‐ Ron Carlee [email protected] 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
Mecklenburg County #meckbocc Board of County Commissioners Interim County Manager – Bobbie Shields [email protected] 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
District 1 Billy Maddalon Filling the unexpired term of Patsy Kinsey Central, East and Northeast Charlotte areas
District 2 James Mitchell [email protected]‐509‐9593 NW and North Charlotte areas
District 3 LaWana Mayfield [email protected] 704‐890‐5449 West and SW Charlotte areas District 4 Michael Barnes [email protected] 704‐509‐6141 NE Charlotte, UNCC areas
District 5 John Autry [email protected] 704‐336‐2777 East Charlotte areas District 6 Andy Dulin [email protected] 704‐968‐8776 South Charlotte/Southpark areas District 7 Warren Cooksey [email protected] 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
District 1 Karen Bentley 704‐432‐3997 [email protected] North Mecklenburg areas including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, University City and Mt Island
District 2 Vilma Leake 704‐336‐2088 [email protected] West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg
District 3 George Dunlap 704‐336‐4419 [email protected] North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte
District 4 Dumont Clarke 704‐331‐1051 [email protected] East Charlotte
District 5 Matthew Ridenhour [email protected] South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including Southpark area
District 6 Bill James 704‐336‐2573 [email protected] South Charlotte/Mecklenburg (south of highway 51) including Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Ballantyne
Approximate representation areas listed. View map for more specific locations
Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (School Board)
#cmsbd Mary McCray Chair At‐Large 704‐281‐6074 [email protected] At‐Large=represents entire county
Tim Morgan Vice‐Chair At Large
704‐577‐3102 [email protected] At‐Large=represents entire county Vice‐Chair=leads if Chair’s away
Ericka Ellis‐Stewart At‐Large 704‐412‐8565 ericka.ellis‐[email protected] 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!
District 1 Rhonda Lennon 704‐564‐3382 [email protected] North Mecklenburg including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Univ. City, Mt Island District 2 Richard McElrath 704‐488‐5360 [email protected] West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg
District 3 Joyce Waddell 704‐549‐4777 [email protected] North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte
District 5 Eric Davis 704‐651‐[email protected] South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including Southpark area
District 6 Amelia Stinson‐Wesley 704‐889‐1803 a.stinson‐[email protected] 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
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
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