A partnership with Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. We must ask ourselves is registering people to vote the answer to civic engagement? Is this the best way to effect a change in our community? Are there other ways we can get involved where our voices are heard? Historically voting participation numbers have not increased significantly in years. The only time we see an uptick in voter participation is during the presidential elections. Other election years the voting participation numbers are dismal. Yes, we must continue to have voter registration drives to maintain what gains we have while seeking other avenues to engage our community. We need to educate our community that local elections are far more important than the presidential elections and why? While we must continue to educate and register our constituents to vote, we should seek out other ways to get our community involved civically. This is a five (5) part, long-term, civic engagement project designed to educate and encourage our communities to get involved in the local, county, and state beyond the vote. The areas of interest identified for engagement are voter registrations & voting, participating on citizen review boards, serving on grand juries & jury duty, property taxes protesting and participating in Home Owners Associations (HOA) / Civic Clubs / Municipal Utility Districts (MUD). Below are five (5) areas identified for civic engagement and opportunities to get our communities involved locally. All program events, activities, messaging, materials shall be prepared and delivered on a nonpartisan basis.

1. Voters Registration, Deputization and Get Out to Vote (2-Steps)

Information on Volunteer Deputy Registrar Program

Engage the community to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar

Develop Voter Registration Drives

Engage the community via voter registration drives on a semi-annual basis

Follow-Up - Engage the community to vote during early voting periods and the day of the election.

Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of voter registration drives

2. Citizen’s Review Board (Police Review)

Research to understand the dynamics of the citizen review board in your community

Understand the process to make yourself available to serve on the board

Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of a project

3. Grand Jury Process …serving jury duty and on a grand jury?

Understand the process in your political subdivision to make yourself available to serve on the grand jury in your jurisdiction and why you NEED to appear at jury duty.

Understand Jury Duty Selection Process in your City, County or Parish

Understand Grand Jury Selection Process in your City, County or Parish

Canvas the community for eligibility based on the Grand Jury criteria

Registration of eligible candidate for the Grand Jury in the respective residential area

Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of a project

4. Property Taxes …

protesting and tax exemptions

serving on the Tax Review Board

Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of a project

5. Home Owners Associations / Civic Clubs / Municipal Utility Districts

Comprehensive initiative (started Spring 2016) designed to address and end all forms of abuse, nationally and worldwide. I-S.H.I.E.L.D. is an acronym that stands for "IOTAS Saving, Healing, Improving, Empowering Lives Daily". We have 5 focus areas that address Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Abuse, Elder Abuse, and Child Abuse/Bullying. To view the comprehensive program,