See America In Color

The Story of New Beginnings: Hey America, Who Are We as a People, and What Are We Made of as a Nation?

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

Did you catch recent news stories that hit like fireworks? In the sports world, we learned Lebron James opted out of his contract, but then signed a new contract not long after with a no-trade clause. Seems like he’s gonna be a Laker for the rest of his playing days. Add to that, word of his son (Junior) getting drafted by the Lakers, and then signed in a matter of days. This news was all over in pop culture.

Politics is right up there too, especially after the uproar and unease following the last presidential debate. There’re those who’re like sharks going for blood or like citizens wanting to see new blood in higher office. The life & times we see today in the summer of 2024 might take us back to the summer of 1787. As the founders met during the Constitutional Convention, they had to choose a leader at the proceedings. Then following that, they had to vote who would become the nation’s first president.

Be a fly on the wall then, a cricket on the floor now and a diviner of public sentiment, you’ll soon get some of what’s causing all this angst. These days America is trying to write the story of new beginnings, as well as to answer the question, “who are we as a people, what are we made of as a nation?” Some of the struggles among voters point to the fact that America still has a leaning to having two white men as the nominees from each party running for president. There’s also the factor of telling other countries when their leaders need to step aside to usher in new leadership, but we’re having a tough time doing that here as it relates to both candidates.

George Washington, who became the first President had some other concerns then that might even apply today. He was worried about factions driving policy and law. He was chosen during a time when the struggle was around the battlefield of war and democracy. These days, we’re on the battlefield of democracy as well as law/social order, especially with recent Supreme Court rulings. The person we choose to lead us in this next phase of America should have those points top-of-mind or close to heart. Back in 1787 they chose Washington based on four key criteria:

Little/no embarrassment to country.
Greater competence for duty.
Stronger character for synergy.
Better vision for democracy.

In sports, great athletes are often seen as making the right play at the right time. They’re good at ‘making the right read’ at pivotal moments in the game. Can that idea or the above 4-pronged criteria be helpful today with paving the way for the next chapter in America’s story? With all things being equal, one might choose a candidate based on party loyalty, personal liking or media savvy. But this time is different. Plus, the struggles seem to also be between regular voters vs big-money donors, left-wing vs right-wing, hope vs hubris, age vs autocratic-leaning. So, we gotta look at what else the founders had in mind when they rolled out the red carpet to America’s Independence. They wanted life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through the inner workings of:

1. People

A key phrase in the Constitution reminds us that the nation was founded around new beginnings in self-determination as ‘we the people’. The challenge in America is making sure the will of the many isn’t trampled on by the wishes of the fewer or the civil rights of the fewer isn’t squashed by the many. The challenge we have is that politics and sports play a significant role in culture, with civics having a smaller lane. In the same way that the founders came together and laid out plans for our democratic republic, we gotta revisit that period to highlight ideals that will get us through this moment of Civic Revolution.

2. Power

As States came on-board in the Union, folks did more to have ‘we the people’ be a bedrock at other levels of government. Across the country there was the founding of local municipalities/townships that officially recognized everyday citizens who were committed to handling their civic affairs. We know them today as legislatures, mayors, council members, etc. It wasn’t just about serving in high office but also formalizing other parts of self-government. These days we need a kinda regeneration in civic engagement and public good, where folks aren’t in it just for public grandstanding, but for better policy making.

3. Promise

What might regeneration look like? Consider injuries to the body and how it’s designed to heal itself by growing new cells, new flesh, new skin. We even see this in nature when branches get pruned and shaped, there’s a regrowth that occurs. The promise of America can serve as that regenerative force. But we gotta cut back from our body politic the things that are like dead weight that serve as a resource drain in the system. We gotta prune and shape some leaves/branches to give birth to new ideas. We gotta ‘set off’ the ideal of turning promise into dreams, like canisters into fireworks.

4. Process

America has gone through 7 phases in its history: Settlement, Slavery, Independence, Civil War, Reconstruction, Segregation, Civil Rights. Now we’re in the throes of a new phase, let’s call it Reinvention. When seen like the caterpillar/butterfly metamorphosis, we can move forward and become a butterfly of our better angels or revert to a cold nature and become ‘dead shell’ as a country. Metamorphosis is a transition from an immature form to an adult form. So, for this next phase, SAIC has crafted a Public Interest Proposal across country, community and culture as a public/private initiative.

Whoever is chosen at the Conventions will be one step closer to pulling the levers of America’s power. Right now, a battle for the soul of America is among gatekeepers, content producers, culture makers and power brokers. In getting to ‘Union Station’, there’s track 1 based on alliance in truth & civility. Then there’s track 2 based on alliance in grim and grievance. But we can’t wait for ‘Project 2025’ as roadmap. We gotta set-it-off now with ‘Project 2024’. The path we take to Reinvention will depend on the degree of ‘esprit de corps’ (good vibes, swag & bag) we muster for a more perfect union, to level-up as a nation.

Chime-in on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus,you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Mickey Guyton – All American – https://youtu.be/0AtnvO2_Ijc?si=1y0O3gHbQ8UND3Bb

YG Marley – Praise Jah in the Moonlight – https://youtu.be/Kgh9TVm4X8s?si=69ztLk9Azt6zv3rh

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The New Social Puzzle in America: How an Updated Version of the Lost Cause Wants to Take Us from Jim Crow to Joe Tribe

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

The summer season is here with lots of ways to get out and enjoy the outdoors. For many, it’s a time for beach life, family reunions, group conventions and vacation travel. With the happenings on the beach or the block, there’re events that bring us together around good times, good life or social impact.

Meantime, the NBA season’s gonna wrap with the naming of a champion after a hard-fought series and long season. As the baseball pastime settles in, the WNBA season finds its groove around rookies and veterans. Whether Caitlin Clark buzz dies-down or not, the lead-up to the summer Olympics in Paris is already having stories of triumph and heartbreak. Ever wondered with all these sports events, you never hear athletes saying they’ll protest if they lose or that they’re being set up to fail by league/sports officials?

Well, the same can’t be said about some in the political world. Since the last presidential election, there’s been a puzzling aspect to how things played out. One way to help solve this puzzle which has become the new social enigma in America, is to take a step back and review the record. As many folks know, that’s how See America In Color (SAIC) came to be. After a series of national news story, a deep dive began into American history, the ‘Black to America’ story, and #HometownStrong comebacks. This led to creating a social-edge campaign/platform that’s about having a better handle of hot-button issues, by how we see America in color, not just black & white.

What’s happening today is an updated version of the Lost Cause trying to take us back. Remember after the civil war, the Lost Cause mindset tried to explain-away why the Confederates lost to the Union. That message grew into a force that contributed to the Reconstruction backlash, since some weren’t happy as Blacks made headway. The disruptive Lost Cause voice grew louder into what later became known as Jim Crow, a period of restrictive and destructive policies/laws. So, when some (who should know better) say that the Jim Crow period was a boom for Blacks, they’re clearly lost or loose with the facts because of what they overlook. It’s as if they wanna take us back, by going from Jim Crow to Joe Tribe.

History reveals many were caught-up in the Lost Cause as a response to losing the civil war’s fight over slavery. In a sense, they wanted to re-insert practices of white supremacy. Furthermore, there were splinter efforts that might be thought of as ‘loose cause’, which like a loose tooth, weren’t fully rooted in substance, but were often conspiracy-based. The enigma we see today mirrors that period. In today’s version, the context involves a switch from slave plantation to duped-tribe plantation. But for SAIC, what we’re trying to do during this period is go from ‘beloved community’ (as Dr. King often described the civil rights movement), to ‘mojo posse’ in efforts to make our journeys one (mojo). To do that we gotta understand current times with the backdrop of:

1. Hate

Nine years ago, a South Carolina community was rocked by tragedy at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. The victims were all church members at Bible Study. The person who carried out this heinous act was someone consumed by hate. This corrosive mindset has different degrees of victimhood, sometimes due to lack of self-love. But it also shows up in those who’re indoctrinated and radicalized by messages that sell ‘whiteness in the context of darkness’, thus being duped. That happened after the civil war as the Lost Cause mindset infected others who got caught up in KKK-thinking, like seen with the church shooter.

2. Harm

The Lost Cause wasn’t the only form of victimhood and hate. As Blacks made gains in public service and personal achievement, there was a backlash which led to a growing acceptance of and occurrences in lynchings. This intimidation became a kinda spectator sport as ‘loose cause’ not rooted in substance, but in conspiracies about Blacks. We’ve heard about the Imposter Syndrome where folks feel like they don’t belong. Well, what we see in ‘duped-tribe circles’ across some sectors of society is the ‘Nobody Syndrome’, where due to poor sense of self, folks offer their less-self instead of their best self.

3. Stigma

Hate and harm during Jim Crow caused social stigma, like signs that said, ‘whites only’. Even in Hollywood back then, some black artists couldn’t stay in the same hotel after performing in the hotel’s ballroom. Think about the days of black & white tv, sometimes the picture would be a bit fuzzy. You couldn’t enjoy the program as much. These days some argue the fuzziness will be made better by being colorblind, by not seeing others in color. SAIC is less about colorblind and more about having a color-mind by not being stuck on black & white tv. But to see things better in color of ‘no hate’ for a fuller life.

4. Dogma

The Civil Rights Movement helped bring an end to Jim Crow. Folks were tired of the hate, harm and stigma that prevailed. A major turning point was the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was inspired by Rosa Park’s courage to no longer ride at the back of the bus. She and others had had enough of the dogma tied to second-class status. Being told you don’t belong or that you gotta take a backseat could have caused some to experience low/lost hope. But instead of those emotions being turned into ‘lost cause’, the people rallied and turned them into one of the greatest modern-day movements in social change.

To close, the Lost Cause was about explaining away the Confederates losing the civil war. These days folks try to explain away a candidate having lost the 2020 Presidential elections. The ‘loose cause’ back then led to a backlash due to conspiracy theories around Blacks. The ‘loose cause’ today is seen in a backlash to DEI and other efforts in social progress. We’ve gone from fighting to protest and eliminate the slave plantation to fighting to inform and elucidate the ‘duped-tribe plantation’. There’s even a ‘loose cause’ in how some rap artists and public figures explain their political views. So, making social change happen means scrapping the ‘fake stage show’, if folks only wanna sell their less-self, not their best self.

Chime-in on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus, you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Lil Duval – Smile (Living My Best Life) – https://youtu.be/BekGQqRJfWo?si=qXesN9McYv73l6Ej

Alicia Keys & Maleah Joi Moon – Kaleidoscope – https://youtu.be/uOaMqC8ymig?si=RJR5GTxa8yWRsDUa

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The American Project on Impacting Change: A People’s History of Calling-out What is and Calling-in What Can Be

Doc Cunningham
Da Island Guy
Sounding Off Social

A debate has been brewing in America on two battle fronts. While not everyone has the same level of interest or intensity, the battles have caught the attention of die-hard fans and rabble-rousers. Some have been following the ‘diss track battle’ between Drake and Kendrick. The rap feud has got raw overtones with some fans scratching their heads while others treat it like solving a puzzle.

Then there’s a battle on the other front that has dominated the evening news. It’s been a tense few weeks across college campuses at home and abroad. The ongoing middle east turmoil between Israel and Hamas has the ‘now generation’ in a tizzy. Some wanna know why one side seems ‘favored’ over the other side, when famine and unnecessary destruction are the stories of disaster. The other side is fed-up about feeling as if they shouldn’t exist. For either side it’s kinda the same message, just different context.

In a sense, current social protests are like what happened in the 60s and 70s. Back then folks were fighting to dismantle ‘Jim Crow’, advocating for civil rights and warning about nuclear war and the dragged-out Vietnam war. These days the burning consequential issues revolve around the culture wars and the ‘isms and schisms’ that have plagued us throughout history. Back then we dealt with sit-ins at lunch counters. Nowadays it’s encampments on college plazas. Are we missing something?

As SAIC draws-on its research in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks, you’ll find some common elements to the success of efforts that moved us from protest towards perfecting our Union. They include:

“Calling-out what is, calling-in what can be”.
Change as part of a social framework within an intellectual setting or with spiritual fervor.
People finding their voice and taking a stand.
A new ‘order of things’ from having rattled the conscience of America.

Folks would call out what’s wrong, or not working or weakening our values or just plain old wicked. The movements that helped bring change did so within an enlightenment push. Plus, a key lesson for today’s activists and agitators is in knowing that a ’poverty of vision’ results in making noise without making moves. Moreover, remember that “an overdone steak is burnt, while a well-done steak is flavorful”. In other words, we’ve gotta go from encampment to empowerment and ensure that the energy and passion displayed doesn’t dissipate like smoke after a fire.

If we look back to events of the past that made a difference with living in America, you’ll find a shift occurred in the culture. For example, a shift from spreading racial animosity to pursuing racial equity, from political maneuvering to vision building, from being limited to seeing America in black & white to seeing America in color. So, if we’re gonna go from encampment to empowerment, here’s what might help turn the mess into a message across campus, main street and country with the help of:

1. Administration (upset or explain)

There’re times when a child misses the mark. How we handle the situation might vary on a case-by-case basis. Off-the-charts behavior might call for some serious punishment. A few choice words or slap might even show up out of nowhere. But sometimes, the situation requires that we do less to be upset by how we holla and scream and instead do more to explain how they live and learn. We’ve all had our own growing pains but eventually made a shift for the better. As the saying goes, “you live life forward and understand it backward”. At the end of the day, it’s about turning the situation into a teachable moment.

2. Media (inflame or inform)

For media outlets, it’s often about ratings. What’s the number of eyeballs they can attract/keep with their programming. But there’re other forces at work since the shift from free-tv to pay-tv. With free-tv the competition was based on how well they informed the public. The more in-touch folks felt about the happenings at home and abroad, the more loyalty to a station. Plus, there were fewer channels then. Since pay-tv, the competition seems to be about how some inflame the public. It doesn’t take much to inflame (doesn’t take much to cause upset). But SAIC’s vision to inform and explain helps impact change.

3. Business (tune-out or level-up)

They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. For some when it comes to social issues, the sense is “what happens out there, stays out there”. That mindset bleeds into disinformation or decisions that lack foresight. After events of the past few years, some businesses made a shift to help employees level-up in civic engagement and social impact. Recent protests are reminders that issues hit close to home. Sports leagues have gone on record about doing more with players and fans so that it’s not just about the game but also about us as a nation. SAIC’s take is that it’s gotta be about bringing more #MojoInAmerica.

4. Community (exhale or engage)

There’s a time to complain and be upset. But we can’t simply exhale without thinking about how we engage. That’s one reason for SAIC’s efforts at developing Campus Solidarity Day (aka Breakout Day). It takes a page from what we see in sports where Draft Day for athletes and execs is an exciting time for the brand and love of the game as an athlete/league (breakout the champagne, breakout the dreams). Well, Breakout Day for students and administrators will be an exciting time for social impact and love of the culture as a citizen/country (breakout the fun, breakout the teams).

Throughout history, the American project of impacting change has been about how we “call-out what is and call-in what can be.” That’s no different in these days of street protests and college encampments. It can ruffle feathers to call out what’s wrong or not working or weakening our values or just wicked. But to make shifts happen we’ve gotta look at how we explain vs exclaim, inform vs inflame, level-up vs tune-out and engage vs exhale. In the words of James Brown on ‘Living in America’, we gotta work “hand in hand, across the nation…yeah we got to have a celebration.” It’s a matter of truth or dare.

Chime-in on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus, you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: James Brown – Living in America – https://youtu.be/c5BL4RNFr58?si=CRKp1i5pno1HF9UV

Tyla – Truth or Dare – https://youtu.be/boOWyGnGYxs?si=_iO9CKygHUIyo0ZC

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A ‘Stroke of Genius’ in Civic Life: What America’s Story says About the ‘Movement of a People’ in Advancing our Nation’s Standing

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

If you’ve been watching the March Madness championships, there’ve been a bunch of exciting games. The finals results are in, not just in overall winners, but also in TV viewership. Outside of politics, it’s clear that sports events get lots of attention in the grand scheme of things as a nation. We all like to feel like winners in some aspect of daily life.

While that’s been a Spring Break activity feeding our fun, we reached the six-month mark since the start of the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Efforts at tamping down violence and freeing hostages have been ongoing. Folks are frustrated about the recent loss of life with food workers, and how things are playing out. On the homeland, it’s been just about two months since the tragedy at the Chiefs’ Superbowl Parade. Equally so are those who’re saddened by how a fun post-Superbowl event ended with loss of life too.

In an interview with USA Today, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says the organization and the nation gotta do better, “Which has nothing to do with chasing a threepeat, but so much to do with a deeper purpose: the children”. In a sense, it’s as if our nation needs to experience a ‘Stroke of Genius in Civic Life’. We might start with a lookback in history for some clues on what America’s story says about the ‘movement of a people’ in advancing our nation’s standing. Think on how America’s founding got its footing and later free enterprise goodness. The nation came to be through movements of:

Merchants seeking expanded profit in commerce (quantity of life).
Pilgrims seeking greater purpose in community (quality of life).
Citizens seeking deeper patriotism in country (solidarity of life).

These aspects continue to influence, inspire and sometimes inflame the issues of our time. What we see from March Madness is there’re more folks riding on the fun of sports. But it seems the recent World Happiness Report suggests that even with high numbers in sports viewership, more younger generation folks aren’t quite feeling America’s life situations. Clearly, there’s a difference between fun and happiness.

Closer to home, many residents made plans to view the solar eclipse. Some folks travelled long distances by air and highway to get the best view. Retail and restaurant venues offered ‘Eclipse Day’ specials to attract customers who’d be looking to the sky. Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but what if we could put a similar level of energy and dollars into civic life as we did with the eclipse? If we consider that America’s story is the combination of quantity of life, quality of life as well as solidarity of life, the common thread across all three is getting to the point of taking a stand for:

1. Self

An age-old question in human interest terms is ‘WIIFM – what’s in it for me’. With any effort for profit, purpose or patriotism, it’s an underlying question, oftentimes silently kept. There’s usually a ‘self’ aspect that gets our attention and motivates participation. In the case of the Chiefs, their ‘WIIFM’ focus is gonna be on a possible threepeat. But what coach Reid was also saying is the importance of a higher purpose as an organization. In other words, not only to ‘party with a purpose’ with a parade in the community, but also ‘live with higher purpose’ as a collective. That’s when self gets to tag-team with solidarity.

2. Education

Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement tapped into something that folks hung-up on grievances seem to miss. The movement was focused on opening the doors of commerce, strengthening community and advancing country through policies that respect the value of all people. What we have nowadays are some who’re focused on devaluing people. Moreover, one way the movement got its boost was built around education. The Brown vs Board of Education ruling was a landmark decision and bookmark to the movement. Civics education can play a similar role today for taking a stand.

3. American Dream

The American Dream is sometimes seen as turning opportunity into capability, a good job into a good life. There’s also the part of invention through innovation. Either way, things might lead to greater market value and social capital. One way we see this play-out in sports is where players/teams turn energy into chemistry and build marketability through synergy. Similarly, America is at its best when it builds its standing around creating synergy across quantity of life, quality of life and solidarity of life. Maybe that’s what the effort in E Pluribus Unum was about during the early days, as well as civil rights in later years.

4. Country/Family

The challenge these days is of double-speak from those who push policies in division but offer rhetoric in patriotism. This feeds the culture wars and a toxic kind of synergy. SAIC brings a different approach, like back in the day when music was released as a ’45’ vinyl record. There was the main track as well as what was known as the B-side. One side was the lead single, the other was an instrumental or different song. A good ‘45’ was one where it was a ‘double hit’, lead single and B-side. Well, we can do the same by bringing new energy to our civic life and human spirit. It’ll make for a double hit in country and family.

America looked to the sky in unity for one reason, the eclipse. So to coach Reid and those who wanna forge a ‘Stroke of Genius’ in civic life, let’s take a stand in unity for the culture. This will help impact self, education, American Dream and country/family. Our ‘Civic Mondays’ program to triumph in social spirit is like planting a seed and watching it sprout roots, then branches and leaves in civic engagement. The program and SAIC are for all ages, like water for a potted plant. As civics gets poured in, April showers bring May flowers. So ‘JAM With Us’ on the method to our madness, turn up big for fun and happiness.

Tracks: Chris Brown – Turn Up the Music – https://youtu.be/eQWG8BVeryU?si=JKn9fNnIoKlqPoIK

Nupah – Self Love – https://youtu.be/uveBMpCfgAU?si=2S2GqCNk8EXKGIkL

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Brainstorming for America: Turning Lows to Highs, Step-back to Comeback and Downtime to Primetime in Civic Engagement

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

It was the scrolling alert on the TV screen and smart phone. Lebron James crossed the 40,000 points scoring mark. It’s a first for a pro basketball athlete. But even before that hit the wire, there was the NFL scouting combine with a new record in the 40-yard dash. While the NFL season is in its downtime, the next crop of players gear-up for primetime.

But that’s often easier said than done when it comes to the issues of our time. From Supreme Court rulings to surges in border crossings to shrinkflation pricing, it sometimes feels like too much to handle. That’s why SAIC’s efforts involve helping us with brainstorming for America. Our Civics & Community forum series is focused on making our voices heard from the block to the Capitol.

Take for example how there’s a growing effort to deny DEI as a biz/social value program. There’re those who want to play the ‘reverse race card’ to suggest that they’re being disadvantaged. Then, when you add-in the furor around immigration issues, you realize it’s all connected to the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 (INA). During the civil rights movement, much of the focus was around equality. This period saw some major legislation passed to solidify those efforts.

The INA included provisions for boosting immigration from predominantly non-white regions. So, countries in the Caribbean and Africa received an increase in numbers of immigration slots. This shift was an example of valuing diversity in public policy. Now, imagine if that chance wasn’t possible. There wouldn’t be an SAIC that came out of a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. There wouldn’t be an SAIC that invites folks to “JAM With Us” in community empowerment. That would have been my loss, and maybe even America’s loss too?

With the 250^th anniversary of America’s independence in a couple years, we have the chance to explore local resolutions and state/federal legislation that writes the next chapter of America’s story. Plus, as the presidential campaign season ramps-up, folks are looking to be informed and involved. There are moments when it feels overwhelming from poll results and media reports. While not always top-of-mind for some millennials and Gen Zers, the issues are a way for us to come together and inspire the next generation of Super Citizens around:

1. Democracy – New Light

The American experiment of a democratic constitutional republic came out of the Enlightenment period. Folks were tired of being tied to a King or tied down by colonial strings. Democracy was ‘new light’ in public affairs and civic engagement. SAIC brings a social-edge campaign/platform that sheds new light on the hot button issues of our time. In a sense, it’s like knowing the difference between a bird feeder and a scarecrow. One attracts birds with food, the other scares birds from destroying food. SAIC helps us see the issues in a similar way. Some folks wanna destroy our ideals, others wanna feed those ideals.

2. Diversity – New Lane

Imagine road construction, with one lane closed on a three-lane highway. Traffic continues (but slowed) in the remaining lanes, with merging cars from the closed lane. If cars in the open lanes never allowed cars in the closed lane to merge, then that would cause a jam-up. Sometimes they’ll open a lane on the shoulder as an alternate path. Similarly, what DEI allows is for channels of opportunity to be open for those who’ve historically been ‘closed-out’ or might continue to be overlooked. It’s an alternate way to have representation. Then, everybody can merge or ramp-up with the traffic flow of the American Dream.

3. Synergy/Unity – New Leap

Most folks know about the courage of Rosa Parks in not giving up her seat on the bus. We also learned about Claudette Colvin who nine months before had a similar experience of being asked to give up her seat and was arrested. But most don’t know that Dr. King had a similar moment when riding home on a bus at age 14. He was returning from an oratory contest in Dublin Georgia. At first, he thought not to give up his seat when asked by the bus driver. But his teacher/chaperone advised him to do so for their safety. So King had a synergy/unity connection with Parks which led to a new leap in the civil rights movement.

4. #CitizenStrong – New Life

With a spring feeling in the air, it’s time for seeing new life. Trees get to bud new leaves and yards sprout new grass. The Easter season also represents new life in faith and form. What would it mean to have a sense for new life with civic/social issues? It means being aware of those who’re bent on “branding ignorance and marketing distraction”. That’s what the immigration debate has come down to. Working on being #CitizenStrong gives us a chance to not fall prey to the scarecrow. That’s why we’re about advocating roots & culture, not being ignorant in civics and demographics.

So, if you’re feeling a level of burnout from the campaign season or election updates or other hometown disappointment around the issues, maybe March Madness will be an outlet. But in the meantime, to go from lows to highs, step-back to comeback, downtime to primetime means finding new light, new lane, new leap and new life in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes it might seem as if an attack on diversity feels like folks see you as a threat instead of an asset. But as iron sharpens iron, so does civics sharpen civic engagement to help us stand-up and even step-up. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Tracks: Stephen Marley ft Buju Banton – Solution – https://youtu.be/nf_v6CORMNs?si=rVWWcOTGYPTYE7Dm

Jasmin Sullivan – Stand Up – https://youtu.be/X-6g7My_j14?si=KWkjmhK_fUDJpLXe

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Breaking Down America’s Score in 2024: An Up-Close Look at What Makes Us Tick, As Others Abuse ‘False Hope’ or Shady Trick

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

It’s official, the ‘big game’ is coming to New Jersey. FIFA officials announced that the 2026 World Cup Soccer final will be played at MetLife Stadium in Secaucus. With soccer as the most popular global sport, according to the World Atlas, the rounds of matches leading to the finals are sure to draw major media buzz and fan-demonium. The countries and cultures represented by visiting teams and local communities might easily be found in hometowns in the NY/NJ area.

There’s another big game that gets our attention every February. The NFL Superbowl is seen as the ultimate sporting event in the U.S., with a growing fanbase in many parts of the world. The event also falls during Black History Month, and it seems every year there’s always a cultural issue that’s got folks bothered or hot under the collar. This year it’s those who think there’s too much attention being given to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. They’re even pushing conspiracy theories. Then, add-in issues from the presidential campaign trail, and you’ve got folks pondering whether America is a racist country.

All the brew-ha-ha shines a light on America’s divides throughout history. By looking back we’ll see that America was founded with elements of racism in its DNA (e.g. three-fifths clause, etc). In one sense, there were times when the racism was intentional and other times an oversight. Plus, there’re those who look at racism like seeing a glass as being half-full or half-empty. It’s the same glass but viewed differently because of lived experience. But there’s something else about America’s roots. It’s that we’ve got a ‘breakaway gene’ in our DNA. Over 200+ years of trying to live-up to our ideals, we’ve either been trying to break-away from the aspirational or break-away from the detrimental/dysfunctional. We see this playing out with DEI and immigration issues as a battle between the public good vs political tool.

That’s the crux of America’s divides that seem to get reborn or re-imagined for the good or for the bad as a nation. Maybe the release of the Bob Marley movie might help make sense for how we handle the divides. Marley and his music reached worldwide status because he:

Connected with ‘the people’ in songs about the liberation struggle.
Watched ethnic battles and civil wars in African countries after their Independence in the 50’s and 60’s, so he didn’t want the same to happen in Jamaica.
Was loved by folks across the world and especially in Africa, as a Reggae Ambassador “of service” to people, and admired leader “of value” to gov/biz decision makers.

The popular track ‘Jamming’ was released during the 70s when Jamaica went through a period of social unrest, political division and election tension (sound familiar?). Marley headlined a major concert to help bring the political factions and everyday people under the banner of “One Love” and the idea of “unity of respect and purpose”. It’s from this lived experience that SAIC’s “JAM With Us” (join a movement) initiative is about how we experience more #MojoInAmerica (make our journeys one).

Now, going back to sports, when we watch the pre-game coverage of the Superbowl, the commentators share various stats and video clips to help breakdown what we might expect from the players. Similarly, as the presidential campaign season rolls-on, there’re political analysts doing the same for what’s at stake. Well, if we had to breakdown America’s score in 2024 on what makes us tick or fall for the shady trick as a nation, we’ll see that folks get sold false hope. So, to avoid getting caught-up in the conspiracy, disinformation or wild ideas from celebrity newsmakers, it helps to be:

1. ‘Smart’ on Issues

We can break down whether America is a racist country based on if we ‘see America in black & white’ or ‘see America in color.’ In other words, based on how a black & white TV works, it beams a stream of white light with varying intensity. But a color TV beams three streams of colored light (red, green, blue) for the beautiful picture on the screen. There’re those who’d like America to be defined by ‘whiteness’ as the narrative (beam of light). But others want it defined by its history as well as a multi-cultural narrative (streams of colored light). So, if we were able to ‘get smart’ with TV technology, why not on the issues?

2. ‘Juiced’ on Culture

People get ‘juiced’ on culture for different reasons. It could be the music, food, spirits, lingo, social vibe or some combination. But what seems to be happening more often these days is folks getting ‘juiced’ on junk culture. It’s like in the financial world we gotta be careful about junk bonds, or with our health we gotta minimize junk food. In terms of culture, we gotta minimize getting ‘juiced’ by those who’re selling us a junk ‘bill of goods’. Sometimes we gotta know if that celebrity newsmaker or political candidate is talking out of ‘profit or prophet’ reasons when rallying folks in roots & culture. We can minimize getting ‘junked or punked’.

3. ‘Pumped’ on Movement

There’re many ways to get involved with a social cause or civic engagement. Oftentimes there’s the idea of being part of a movement. When seen in a physical sense, movement gets the juices flowing. It raises blood flow and heart rate which are good reasons to get ‘pumped’. But in a social sense, getting ‘pumped’ on movement relates to having a certain mindset. Throughout history we’ve seen different ‘movements’ of folks wanting to break-away from slavery, segregation, etc. The concern these days is about those who want to break-away from the aspirational to the detrimental, from democracy towards autocracy.

4. ‘Inked’ on Union

There’s excitement on Signing Day as athletes announce where they’re headed for college. During our nation’s founding there was another signing day when the Declaration of Independence became official. It announced where our country would be headed. Plus, in another founding document you’ll find that our nation was ‘inked’ on Union with the words “in order to form a more perfect Union”. Whether it’s signing day in sports where athletes from different backgrounds and hometowns plan for a team or signing day in the life of a multi-cultural nation, being ‘inked on union’ has us locked-in on the betterment of the whole.

So, when the initial round of play in World Cup Soccer begins in a couple years, teams will go through qualifying games in the championship. Interestingly, when the finals happen in July 2026, America will also be celebrating its 250^th birthday. The question we gotta ask today…what if we approach the next two years to get ‘smart’ on issues, ‘juiced’ on culture, ‘pumped’ on movement and ‘inked’ on union? Maybe we’ll have a better handle on America’s divides. Maybe we’ll have more #MojoInAmerica. Or maybe we’ll better understand the ‘breakaway gene’ in our DNA towards the greater public good as a nation.

For more on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, chime-in at the ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus, you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming – https://youtu.be/oqVy6eRXc7Q?si=kgIuPRusJqg4U6nb

India Arie – What If – https://youtu.be/GCKFFitNxy4?si=5aUtrr9ARPDyfIkq

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A Promise to ‘We the People’ and Our America: New Year, New Wake-up Call on Working Shoulder-to-Shoulder for Social Impact

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

Well, the Top 10 list of best concerts in 2023 is out. Did your favorite artist make the cut? The obvious ones on the list come as no surprise, Pitbull, P!nk, Beyoncé Taylor Swift, and so on. But according to USA Today, U2 was the big winner. Their shows are seen less as a concert and more as an experience.

So what if we could come up with the Top 10 list of hometowns for civic engagement in America? Would your community make the cut? Here we are in a leap year with the chance to turn a new leaf in 2024. As folks make plans for better health, more travel and higher earnings, we might also see the new year as a wake-up call on working shoulder-to-shoulder for social impact. It starts out by making a promise to ‘We the People’ and our America.

If Dr. King were at the mic he might direct us to scripture for a metaphor that translates in life. It’s like the story of the fishermen being recruited to join the movement of the Son. They were gonna be taught what it takes to be “fishers of men”. In modern day terms, they’d cast their nets to reach those who would consider civics over politics. When you study America’s history, you’ll find moments of progress in the nation were tied to civics, while moments of pain and social strife were driven by politics. The Son used the movement for sharing spiritual insight and a social impact message. As a Baptist preacher, Dr. King might have also applied this and other metaphors to the civil rights movement.

With civics, the focus is on ‘power in the people’. With politics, the focus is on ‘power in the powerful’. The Son would later impress upon decision makers and the people that ‘power in the system’ and those who’re powerful should not overwhelm or disregard or discredit the ‘power in the people’. By going back in time, America was founded on the notion of power in ‘We the People’, with those word appearing at the top of the U.S. Constitution. It’s just that there was a limited view to those who were property owners. They didn’t fully see the nation as ‘our America’. That mindset seems to resurface and gets in the way from time to time.

Since the new year presents the chance of a do-over, how would we go about fulfilling the promise to ‘We the People’ and our America? Maybe we’d consider that a focus on civics means a new dawning in Democracy, Public Good and American Dream, while a focus on politics might mean more divisiveness, extremism and misinformation. Plus, when it comes to growth & change as individuals or as a nation, there are some things to guard against that could short-circuit our potential: ignorance, immaturity, insecurity, indecision. So, taking a page from the process used by the founders, and updating it for the 21^st century, we can chart a course for “our America” and our personal goals by how we:

1. Write it into Existence

There’s a scripture that says to “write it down, make it plain”. In a sense, that’s what happened during America’s startup. They penned three key documents, Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Those serve as the linchpin for our constitutional, democratic republic form of government. Personal development coaches suggest a similar strategy for goal setting. Write it down, make it plain across your mental, physical, spiritual, financial and emotional well-being, spanning a few years. In other words, growing personally or as nation takes some forethought, not just afterthought.

2. Speak it into Relevance

If you don’t write it down, then at least you gotta speak it into existence/relevance. Those of a certain religious faith believe that God spoke the world into existence with the words, “Let there be..”. What the founders did after the Constitutional Convention was to write/speak America into relevance. They’d write the Federalists Papers and then went on the road telling the colonies what was agreed upon for the new nation. The colonies would later adopt the Constitution as a binding document to govern their affairs as the United States of America. You can just feel the relevance that name holds at home and worldwide.

3. Lead it into Prominence

A startup nation wasn’t enough, there had to be some action that went along with the message. They’d have to lead the nation into prominence. SAIC is embarking on such an effort through the ‘Civic Mondays’ effort to triumph in social spirit as well as the Civics & Community Forum series across government, education and community. This way you can “JAM With Us” to grow organizationally and organically. The Son went with a similar approach with His rollout. Furthermore, by combining the spiritual and the social is what led to the prominence of the Son’s movement as well as the acclaim of the civil rights movement.

4. Release it into Brilliance

Sometimes we’ll see time-lapse pictures of changing weather conditions as a storm moves in and rolls out. We go from sunshine to clouds back to sunshine. What if we could see time-lapse pictures of a flower in bloom? It has access to the natural resources of air, sunlight and water. The flower slowly opens up into its full radiance. What if we could see time-lapse pictures of America as a new dawning in Democracy, Public Good and American Dream? Well, as you “JAM With Us” we’ll bring more civics, more roots & culture into the mix of available resources and watch the nation release into its brilliance.

These days it seems like mass communication is often less about informing and empowering, more about click-baiting and entertaining. We need a bit more click-thread journalism. In addition, there’s an overload of politics focused on ‘power in the powerful’ that overwhelms civics focused on ‘power in the people’. We have some who complain and monetize around the problem, but disappear around the solution. The Top 10 list of hometowns for civic engagement will thrive as we write it into existence, speak it into relevance, lead it into prominence and release the brilliance of our best selves as individuals and a nation.

Tracks: Nailah Blackman Ft Lyrikal – Best Self – https://youtu.be/3OGeRodfJ50?si=LPsmWiFeR5HrFwgk

Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground – https://youtu.be/33ZsLGWj1H4?si=vKIc2xyCQPjfQ-N5

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Get Smart on the Issues Thru Media and Civic Events: A Deeper Dive for America’s Best Days or Worst Nightmare

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

It’s the holiday season and word on the street is that Santa Claus is coming to town! As the ‘bearded one’ makes his way from yonder, many get into the cheer of the season. Meanwhile, others are excited ‘bout the College Football Playoff line-up, Beyoncé’s Renaissance movie release, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film or the remake of the Color Purple movie. Those might keep you cuddled-up by the fireplace or big screen.

But during the Hollywood ‘60s, folks were watching the TV sitcom “Get Smart” featuring Maxwell Smart, aka Agent 86. The theme of the show was built around a secret agent who was often making ‘bumbling moves’ in his undercover work. He had gadgets he didn’t handle well, like the phone in his shoes. The technology on the show then seemed far-fetched, but here we are today dealing with ChatGPT and other high touch devices. What if we could make advancements in civics the way we’ve seen happen in tech?

Well, that was a question that helped give birth to SAIC. Yea, there were my own times of ‘bumbling confusion and frustration’ around a series of national news stories which required getting a better handle of the issues. This experience led to a deep dive to extract moments from America’s best days or worst nightmare. The framework that was developed is based on America’s journey of 7 phases (Settlement, Slavery, Independence, Civil War, Reconstruction, Segregation, Civil Rights); 3 communities (Community 1.0, 2.0, 3.0); and 2 questions: (i) how did they overcome the struggle to get their breakthrough, (ii) how did they build excellence to live their best life.

You may be wondering, does that help us get smart on the issues of our time? How might we go from ‘Best-Life 1.0’ to 2.0 to 3.0? Well, think about how we went from black & white TV to color TV to smart TV. We went from a picture based on the streaming of white light, to a picture with three streams of colored light, to a picture with cutting-edge apps and features. Similarly, SAIC’s model is about doing the same with civics, by looking at history and today’s issues not based on just a stream of ‘white light’ but by combining three streams that involve American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. Sadly, some folks don’t want to move beyond the streaming of ‘white light’ as their preferred way for seeing or handling the issues. Moreover, what we see in some circles of public service is more about attention-seeking and chaos, than honor and civic duty.

So in America and even beyond, we gotta decide whether we want to have the best days or worst nightmare moving forward. That’s what Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement had to contend with as well here at home. He’s often remembered for saying “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”. These days, it seems we also gotta bend that arc towards Democracy, Public Good and the American Dream. This might require a gameplan for ‘civics in action’ for the next chapter of America’s story. Plus, if we take a page from Dr. King and the movement, apply it to SAIC’s ‘JAM With Us’ (join a movement) initiative, we’ll need to pack:

1. Vision for the Assignment/Journey

Ambassador Andrew Young once shared that Dr. King wasn’t initially gung-ho about being a figure-head for the cause. He saw it as an enormous responsibility. But after self-reflection and divine intervention, he came onboard based on a vision for the assignment/journey. It’s like taking a road trip and punching the destination into your GPS. It gives routes based on traffic patterns and congestion. The direct route is often the way to go but it may also show the by-pass around the city. Civics is a direct route for how we get smart on the issues, but a vision can provide a bypass around roadblocks, power-trips and doubts.

2. Leadership for the Movement

It’s amazing how far we’ve come with computing technology. When computers had Windows and macOS added to the box, it was revolutionary in function and user-friendly in application. This was due in part to tech leaders who heard the frustration cries of consumers for how clunky it was to use the early devices. It took leadership in going from black & white TV to color TV, DOS to Windows and flip phones to smart phones. It took leadership to go from British colony to Independence. And it’ll take a shift in leadership and citizenship by listening to the frustration cries of citizens, to make good on America’s full potential.

3. Message for the Culture

Not only was there leadership with tech advancement, but there was also a message for the culture in the civil rights movement. To hold strong on our freedoms and expand the circle of equity & inclusion we have to be engaged at the ballot box. We gotta turnout for the vote in the same way we wanna ‘turn-up’ at the club or in the stands at an event. Moreover, there’re different lanes we can choose from to level-up our civic engagement game. The civil rights movement was a kinda 4-lane highway where folks would advocate, agitate, negotiate or motivate. SAIC does some of that by weaving through roots & culture.

4. Teamwork for the Players

Any organization that pulls off a major feat is often a model in teamwork. As the saying goes…there’s no ‘I’ in T.E.A.M. because ‘together everyone achieves more’. The added-value isn’t simply linear but moreso monumental. In football, teamwork is built around offense, defense and special team. But there’s also a rhythm/chemistry and team history that get weaved into the organization’s culture. SAIC’s approach to civic engagement and teamwork brings 3Rs: roots to the culture, rhythm to the civic action and realness to the message. This way we can win big for campus, company, community and country.

In the recently released biopic film “Maxine’s Baby”, Tyler Perry shared how he was a loner as a young boy. He’d hide in his house cellar to avoid the emotional abuse he experienced. But then he had an ‘aha’ moment from watching the Oprah Winfrey Show about keeping a journal. This opened up his mind to bigger goals and larger dreams. Sometimes this website reads like a journal too. It’s really a snapshot of SAIC’s vision for the assignment/journey, leadership for the movement, message for the culture and teamwork for the players. And when different colors and cultures come together, beautiful people say yes!

For more on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, chime-in at the ‘Civic Mondays’ events or “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Sia – Together – https://youtu.be/vnfGni4_RlI?si=PsbQn-YEl3Vrt_x_

Rihanna – Say Yes – https://youtu.be/XZBk7LZGpJk?si=jjJvMtj6x_Woad2c

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Moving Towards Our Civic Destiny: 4 Ways to Take Action on the Block or Make a Difference in Your Hometown

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

Is this a good time for some holiday trivia as we move into the festive season? First question, after Halloween comes…Thanksgiving or Christmas? Well, the answer might depend on where you shop. Back in the day there was a sense that Christmas could wait until after Thanksgiving. These days, holiday decorations are on display long before Halloween, while Black Friday media ads were running right after.

This marketplace dilemma could be viewed as a cultural snapshot of the unfolding of America’s story. Consider that the first group of settlers who were British merchants arrived in 1607. They were looking for new markets to trade goods. The first group of pilgrims/puritans landed in New England around 1620. They were yearning for reform and belonging. Thanksgiving took a page from Native Americans’ celebration of harvest that the pilgrims adopted as a celebration of safe passage across the Atlantic. Then, Enlightenment Age sentiments spread across Europe and the New World as America charted its Independence, going from merchants to puritans to patriots. Of-course, while all this was happening, in 1619 the first group of Africans were brought to Virginia, which later led to the transatlantic slave trade.

Over those first three phases in American history (Settlement, Slavery, Independence), America has seen its tug-of-war in ideology around different forms of governing. This includes monarchy, theocracy and democracy. But it’s the latter that’s seemingly under assault from different factions of the other two, which presents a heightened level of concern. Democracy has so far been able to prevail because there were those among the Founding Fathers along with citizens and public officials who were focused on moving towards our civic destiny. Interestingly, the Middle East tension we see is a reflection of the battle between similar forces of monarchy, theocracy and democracy.

If SAIC had to chime-in on the matter, there’d be 4 points of notes for a viable solution:

History:- things didn’t start overnight but have been brewing over many decades of distrust.
Hate-sight:- while insight might bring self-awareness, hate-sight can lead to group awareness.
Humanity:- the idea of ‘inalienable rights’ is made real in basic human needs for survival.
Hope:- with hope there’s a sense for tomorrow. Without hope there’s little feeling for tomorrow.

These reference points might be useful for resolving ongoing conflict there or elsewhere. They might also be a catalyst for change in the next phase of America’s unfolding story. We’ve got some issues too that if allowed to fester, could become the kinda incessant stalemate or social imprint we see with overseas instability. Think about how large bills in American currency have a watermark to distinguish the real from the fake. The internal image is superimposed within the bill. Similarly, America (or for that matter other countries too) have a social imprint based on its history and legacy, that’s superimposed into the culture.

It’s why SAIC’s efforts with civics is about delivering content and programming that help shed light on roots & culture. In addition, we’re engaging with those who wanna make a difference in Education and Community, Democracy and Public Good, maybe even Entrepreneurship and American Dream. This collaborative approach spans Government, Business, Education and Community with those who’re onboard with moving towards our civic destiny. So while election activities are tied to civic participation, our overall civic engagement should involve:

1. Voting

An important way of having our voices heard happens at the ballot box. We choose from candidates running for office at various levels of government. Voting as a civic right represents the most basic form of service as citizens. It’s a way to show-up in the process. Moreover, voting as a franchise is a collective stand on who we think best represents our values and wishes. Throughout history, the chance to vote has been used as a wedge issue against certain groups. This is a problem even in modern day America where fear and false narratives are used to deceive, distract or disenfranchise those groups.

2. Crafting

Imagine if before a game, a team’s coach presents a narrative that if they lose it’s because there was point-shaving happening in the game. We wouldn’t think highly of that coach. Well, since the last presidential election, that’s basically what we’ve seen. There are those pushing a narrative that has become its own conspiracy. Instead, what we should be doing as citizens is crafting a vision or a set of options such that whether our candidate wins or loses, we’re still in a position to win as ‘we the people’. SAIC has such a strategy built around the ‘MVP Club – Many Valuable Parents for the Win’.

3. Vibing

As holiday celebrations ramp-up around Diwali, Thanksgiving or Christmas, there’s something about the parades or football games that we enjoy. Maybe it’s watching the battle of the bands at halftime, or the pageantry of the bands at the Thanksgiving Parade. They get to vibing on the field or up the block while strutting their stuff. The different groups of horns, drums and percussions bring a ‘common sound’ that puts us in a groove or the holiday spirit. What’s it gonna take as citizens on vibing across government, education, business and community? It’s strutting our stuff in a direction that builds on common ground.

4. Impacting

There’re athletes who are drafted and others who’re walk-ons. Drafted athletes get much of the mainstream attention for their track record of performance, whether on offense, defense or special team. Walk-on athletes aren’t initially seen as a ‘prime choice’ but after a while they find ways to impact the game. SAIC might be understood in a similar way. We’re not necessarily viewed as coming from the stock of celebrity, corporate exec, cable media personality or industry official. But as founder, the approach of yours truly has been about impacting the civics game with offense or defense like a special team player.

So how do we get past ideological tug-of-war brewing in America? Well, SAIC came out of a deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. This allows us to build civics content and programming for a new & improved version of America’s social imprint. Moreover, we affirm the idea that voting isn’t the only form of civic engagement. It’s also gonna require crafting, vibing and impacting efforts that take action on the block to make a difference in your hometown. We can move past any stalemate, building on common ground and shared purpose that flows like water.
For more on impacting Education & Community, Democracy & Public Good or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, chime-in at the Civics & Community Forum Series or “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Alicia Keys – Like Water – https://youtu.be/wSLtwTzlMGs?si=k0VH_n4-dJrkc5cS

Skip Marley – Life – https://youtu.be/0h_VHiQmnR4?si=yVUSX_8qPSk8IT9-

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This is How You Do ‘Public Good’: To Prevent the Sinking of Democracy, Spreading of Demagoguery and Killing the Soul of the Nation

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding Off Social

Well, word on the street and in sports media is that the NFL’s got a problem. The season’s primetime schedule includes many games featuring the NY Jets. But the injury to Aaron Rodgers has put the league in a bind. While that story got big media coverage earlier, it’s now eclipsed in pop culture by the Taylor Swift Travis Kelce buzz. However, NFL honchos wanna keep their focus on pro football as a brand.

Brand Satisfaction Guarantee

How ‘bout some other issues on the front burner? With local races and the Presidential election’s pre-season of debates and campaign events getting ramped-up, there’s simmering anxiety across hometown America. As a country, it feels like we’re in a daze. The ‘fog of war’ overseas in Ukraine, ‘fog of culture war’ here at home and fog of government shutdown drama. While that stuff’s been getting all the media coverage, we wanna keep our focus on America the Republic as the brand.

From surveying the landscape, it seems there’s a decreasing sense of ‘public good’ that’s hurting us as a society. We see it affecting businesses closing locations due to concerns in safety and theft. We see it with public officials who’re more interested in being social media stars than serving the public good. Clearly, if we lose sight of America the brand and move away from ‘democracy & public good’, it could be to our peril or demise as a nation, and here’s why.

After the events of 9/11/01, a commission laid out recommendations along two tracks:

Criminal accountability for those responsible.
A National Response Operation to address air travel safety & security.

Many involved in the World Trade Center (WTC) attack ended up in confinement or incarceration. What we know today as the TSA was a national response. Officials determined that safety and security in air travel was beneficial to all. The TSA now functions as a standard ‘public good’ for airports at home and abroad. Fast forward 20 years to 1/6/21 and we’ve got a similar dilemma. But is there a National Response Operation to support democracy and public good as a standard at home and abroad?

For some perspective, those of us who’re immigrants left our country for opportunity and the American Dream. We didn’t leave to then watch the sinking of democracy, spreading of demagoguery or killing the soul of the nation. If it was important to have a national response around safety & security after 9/11, it’s equally important after 1/6 to have a similar push in Democracy & Public Good. Can’t just leave it to a Presidential speech. It’ll take all of us across government, education and community by how we make a difference as ‘we the people’ towards:

1. Country

Throughout our history, there’ve been moments of challenge due to wars, tragedies, natural disasters and political strife. But we live in a time now where there’s an undercurrent of grievance that, like a software bug, can get in the way of functioning properly as a family, organization, community or country. Are we gonna fix problems or just patch edges? Recently, 13 Presidential Foundations took a stand for country with a heads-up warning. They span decades of political leadership across party affiliations. They’ve called on citizens and elected officials to stand-down on divisiveness and stand-up on democracy.

2. Constitution

The first order of business as a nation was the Constitution. It serves as a linchpin keeping things together as the world turns. It helps us manage the interrelatedness of different parts of government function. This would make sense to Benjamin Banneker, a noted player from black history who published almanacs and was on the survey team that founded Washington DC. According to his family member, he felt “the interrelatedness of things in life is the world’s greatest truth”. In terms of government, that speaks to the Constitution. It’s also why a key to SAIC is connecting the dots across history, civics and culture.

3. Citizenship

There’s an expression which says, “you live life forward and understand it backward.” In a sense, culture helps us live life forward, history helps us live life backward. So how about civics? Well, it helps us raise our game as residents and citizens. In other words, civics is the practice by which we live life forward and understand it backward as a nation. But these days, some just want to have power, not bring solutions. They look past public good and do things that give the illusion of public service or citizenship. It just looks and smells bad which reflects poor ‘social hygiene’. A higher level of citizenship is best for social hygiene.

4. Common Purpose

Die-hard fans know sports bring out the happiness in us. Oprah learned something similar from chats with her Talk Show audience over 25 years. They said that happiness was their #1 pursuit. Maybe the founders were on to something when they coined ‘Life, Liberty & Happiness’ as an important national ideal and pursuit. So, what if we did a reset in how we approached happiness as a common purpose in America? We may gain new appreciation for being “land of the free and home of the brave.” Add-in how SAIC’s work tied to a common purpose also means being ‘voice of the times and model of the dream.”

So, is it settled news that Kelce and Swift are an item? Maybe they wanna keep folks guessing. Similarly, is it settled whether we have democracy on lock? If we’re still guessing, then maybe we gotta deliver more public good and make a difference as ‘we the people’. These days there’re folks in some circles who operate more out of sabotage than collaboration. While politics is sometimes based on how you play the game as a power grab, civics is how you raise your game as a public good. If you’re wondering “What Now America”, let’s have public good on deck, to live-up to our ideals of greatness and American Dream.

“What Now America!” To find out more about ‘Democracy & Public Good’ or the Civics & Community Forum Series or how you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life, checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Babyface and Trisha Yearwood – Change the World – https://youtu.be/SjUFRhARAHs?si=Eqi8cPkK9B95FWk_

Libianca – People – https://youtu.be/rJWdfDPZ9Ck?si=LTajS0wN_fokg8di