"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." -- African proverb

Today’s political, social and media climate is all about going fast. Scarcely has any public event made headlines and the talking heads are already on to political fallout and the next headline.

Community-oriented civic engagement is all about going far. Solving real problems means working consistently on a problem before, during, and after it has made headlines, or even if it never does. You don’t have to be the solution to a problem by yourself. But it is not hard to be part of the solution.

Here are four steps to get started.
1. LOOK: Explore your own passions and goals.
2. LEARN: Collect information from a variety of sources.
3. LISTEN: Tap the perspectives of those already doing the work.
4. LEAP: Vote, volunteer, advocate, speak, organize and engage!

Register to Vote - Missouri
Register to Vote - Illinois
Find Your Elected Officials/Representatives
Civic Capacity Building and Engagement Organizations in the St. Louis Region

Have a specific question about civic engagement not covered here? Ask our FOCUS staff! We're happy to help you get engaged.