Op-Ed: The local ripple effect, Creating change close to home
Tuesday November 5th 2024. What else do I need to say? The American people made their choice, and we as a country and in our own communities will have to reckon with that choice over the next 4 years.
I won’t offer blind reassurance about what’s to come, but national politics alone won’t shape our future. Trump’s nominations of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and RFK Jr. for Health Secretary isn’t exactly the greatest sign for the incoming administration, but if we’re going to continue making progress in the next 4 years, that starts with local resilience. Instead of dwelling on federal politics, let’s focus on how we can improve our communities over the next four years.
When young people say they feel disaffected by politics, both parties often struggle and try to search for the right message. Personally I feel that approach is flawed. Voter turnout consistently drops among younger age groups. My personal opinion as a young person is that other young people feel this way because they don’t feel connected to their communities. We don’t feel like we have power as individuals to make meaningful change. As politics has become more nationalized, people don’t interact with or even know much about their municipal and state governments. It’s like comparing a drop in the ocean to a drop in a puddle. National politics matter, but your individual impact is far greater at the local level.
Most people learn about state and local government through personal experiences, like navigating the school system as a parent or starting a business. For me, it was finding out that there were laws targeting LGBTQ+ people here in New Hampshire, and up until that point I didn’t know how any of this worked. But the great thing about New Hampshire politics is that you as a citizen have more power to participate and make change.
Do you wish your town had more affordable housing? Go tell your city councilor that and see if there are any affordable housing bills you can go and testify for. Want safer sidewalks so you can walk downtown rather than drive your car? You can talk to the city manager and try to make that happen. If you’d like to help tackle climate change in your community, you can start small. You have the power to do so much, but so many people are either hyper-engaged in their communities or completely disconnected.
Here’s your lightning-round Civics 101: Depending on what town you live in, you may be able to join a town committee or board focused on a certain topic like planning new city development, conservation, arts, and more. You should get to know your elected officials at the state and local levels and speak your mind to them on the issues you care about. In New Hampshire, every bill has a public hearing where you can share your views in person or by email. Your city probably has town hall meetings where municipal issues are voted on and the public has the opportunity to speak in support or opposition. You can also write an op-ed like this one or a letter to the editor in the local paper sharing your views with others. Your city might have a newsletter for updates on what’s happening around town, and I’d encourage you to seek that out so you’re more informed on what’s going on in your community.
A little over a year ago, I knew none of these things. Now that I’ve joined a town committee, I’ve been able to help make positive change in my city and get to meet so many amazing people I never would have known otherwise. I joined groups in testifying on bills at the statehouse to make my voice heard. I was even encouraged to run for office myself and am just starting to serve as a state representative. I say this to show you that it shouldn’t be scary to participate in your community and make a difference in the things you care about. You also don’t have to jump in the deep end right away. Take your time exploring what feels right, and you’ll be amazed by all the wonderful people you meet along the way.
Being civically engaged isn’t just good for the community, it’s good for you, no matter who you are. It’s helped me get to know myself, my neighbors, my city, my state, and the world in which I live so much better.
I would guess that the people that need to be reached with this message most probably aren’t the types of people to read an op-ed in a local newspaper. That’s why I’d encourage you if you have a young person or anyone else in your life that feels disconnected, invite them to read this.
Encourage them to participate in local government, show them the civic power they have as Granite Staters. Check your city’s website, attend a meeting, or reach out to a councilor. Just start somewhere. Your drop in the puddle can start a ripple that benefits your community, regardless of national politics. And you might be surprised at how welcoming these spaces can be.
