April 19, 2022April 21, 2022 Rachel Summers

Civic Engagement Minor Helps Students Take Action in Their Communities

“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”

– Doctrine and Covenants 58:27

Anna Monson loves life science. She loves bugs, beetles, and all the diversity of plant life, which led her to major in biology. As she progressed in her major, Monson recognized a pattern among biologists. They would often recognize problems, discuss the problems with each other, and even find answers to those problems, but they didn’t know how to actually solve those problems in their community. With this in mind, Anna chose to diversify her education and add a minor in civic engagement.

The Civic Engagement Leadership minor is designed to help BYU students learn meaningful skills and have opportunities to become engaged in their community. The minor provides students with experiential learning and mentorship to make a real difference in their local area.

“It’s an exciting way to access talents that don’t get addressed by my major directly — the biology major doesn’t care if I’m good on the phone or if I know how to talk to authorities or if I know how to write succinctly, but the civic engagement minor does, so I get to develop those talents.”

In one of her civic engagement classes, Monson worked with Community Action Services to create materials for landlords explaining the benefits and processes connected to housing choice vouchers. She was able to develop a pamphlet with her team that made Section 8 housing requirements and advantages easy to understand. “It was extremely fun and extremely cool to do the research and learn from the talents of my team members,” added Monson.

The minor requires a variety of elective courses with civic engagement connections, as well as two required courses where students are paired with community partners to complete a social action project. Through these projects, students are able to see firsthand the challenges of making a difference, as well as experience the satisfaction of engaging in their community.

Nathan Benavidez, a history major, stepped out of his comfort zone by participating in a social action project. Through the minor, Nathan had the opportunity to work with Utah County Elections to prepare a voting toolkit for city governments explaining ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting gives citizens the opportunity to rank candidates by preference on their ballot, as opposed to voting for a single candidate. “It’s really great and allows for a bit more diversity in voting,” explained Benavidez.

Benavidez worked in a group on this project, and learned a lot about community collaboration and the value of differing opinions. “I learned that when you’re working in the community, you may be working with someone who has the same goals and aspirations as you, but you may have different visions of how you’re going to approach and accomplish your goals… working in the community means you have to work together.”

The project allowed Benavidez to learn new skills and embrace experiences he wouldn’t have had otherwise. “We got to talk to a lot of government officials, we got to present to people, and that pushed me out of my comfort zone which was really valuable to me.”

The Civic Engagement Leadership minor gives students like Monson and Benavidez the skills and experiences not only to participate in community action, but also to lead the community in issues that they really care about.

To learn more, visit civicengagement.byu.edu.

November 3, 2017November 3, 2017

How to Fuse Research and Policymaking

An often-overlooked part of the American policy-making process involves researchers, academicians and others who gather and analyze data about the effects of certain public policies on various demographics, or on the problems that public policies can address. The erudition these researchers provide can be vital in informing public policy and the decisions of lawmakers. But yet, research shows that there is often a disconnect between research and rule, according to Dr. Karen Bogenschneider, director of the Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars, who spoke at BYU’s Civic Engagement recent research conference.

“The story of U.S. social policy reveals a disturbing disconnect between the research community, what we call knowledge producers,” said Dr. Bogenschneider, “and the policymaking community, what we term knowledge consumers. Although the quantity of research has expanded dramatically in recent decades, its role in shaping policy decisions seldom matches the level warranted by the magnitude of the investment in science by government and the philanthropic communities, among others.” Her research on the topic was consolidated into a book published in 2010; it is currently in its third edition. It was from this book that she pulled the data she discussed at the conference. Coauthored with former Associate Director of the Institute for Research on poverty Thomas Corbett, the book details how to integrate research with policymaking.

The Conference

In a panel discussion featuring Dr. Bogenschneider and School of Family Life professors Chelom Leavitt and Alan Hawkins, the trio discussed their experiences with bringing their research to legislators. Dr. Hawkins related that in the beginning, he thought if he simply brought his scholarship to policymakers, they would automatically utilize it in lawmaking. He quickly realized that this was not the case, that a connection needed to be established first. “It’s like match.com, nobody wants to make the first step,” said Dr. Bogenschneider.

Dr. Leavitt added that scientists needed to fit their research with what legislators were doing and that being both bi-cultural and bilingual is essential for social scientists. The three offered the following advice to researchers who want to get more involved in policymaking:

Seek out the lawmaker’s staff and share your research with them.
Hook yourself to a star who will get you there; find someone with an “in” and utilize their connections.
It’s more than relationships—it’s getting the right legislator. You may have a stellar relationship with a certain lawmaker, but if they’re not doing anything, find someone who is. You want a mover and shaker.
Be patient.

Dr. Bogenschneider

Dr. Bogenschneider has raised almost $3 million to support her research and outreach, according to Purdue University’s Family Impact Institute. She is a Rothermel Bascom Professor of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Family Policy Specialist at University of Wisconsin-Extension. She has served as director of the Wisconsin Family Impact Seminars since 1993 and as Executive Director of the Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars since 1999. In 2010, she received the Extension Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions by an Extension Specialist from the National Family Life and Children State Extension Specialists. In 2008, she received the Engagement Award from the Board of Human Sciences of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and, in 2006, she was named a fellow of the National Council on Family Relations. She has also received several awards from her university for faculty excellence, land grant scholarship, and quality outreach.

Photo of Dr. Bogenschneider courtesy of Purdue University

April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

Former Senator Gordon Smith, on Why The World Needs Latter-Day Saints to Excel in the Art of Government

Gordon Smith, a former Oregon senator, is no stranger to the strife of politics, but it is perhaps because of that very strife that he encourages others, particularly Latter-day Saints, to become involved in public service. “I am a witness to the fact that this world needs Latter-day Saints to excel in, not just medicine, not just law, not just business, not just the arts, but also in the art of government,” he said. He said the LDS values are the values that society, though without recognizing it, needs and admires.

At a recent Civic Engagement Leadership workshop, he cited a variety of public service opportunities, and reasons to take advantage of them, among them “a wonderful and rich life.” Smith said many LDS people will ask him what God cares about in government, and he responds by quoting Doctrine and Covenants 134, where God says that “the free exercise of conscience, the right to own property, and the protection of life is what God cares about in government. The rest is just stuff,” Smith said. “Remember those three principles, they were guiding principles for me and certainly can be for you.”

Whether you choose to be just an informed voter, or run for office, Smith provided helpful advice. To voters, he advised:

Informed Voting

Ask of your elected officials: “Can you tell me one issue in which you would be in the minority, about which you feel so strongly that you would be willing to loose your office for?” “If they can’t do that, you might as well elect a weather vane,” Smith said.
Look for the “heart of the interest”, as many are motivated by a monetary interest.
To make sense of politicians, watch how they run their campaigns. They will often govern how they campaign.
Be wary of politicians who say that they are running because “its a natural extension of my service,” because that is self-centered, which is an antithesis of public service. He also warned against those who want to run government like a business, because it is not about a return on investment. It’s about writing rules that gives everybody a chance.
Look for authenticity. “People are hungry for [it,]” Smith said. “They want people that stand something, rather than fall for everything. Voters will forgive the differences of opinion, but they will not forgive failure to lead.”
Divide politicians into two groups: noisemakers and deal-makers. “It’s very difficult to be both,” he said. Noisemakers give the media what they want, and they make a lot of enemies, but they are needed because they set boundaries. Deal-makers are needed because they make things happen.

Holly Richardson, who spoke at a September 2016 Civic Engagement event, also provided these suggestions.

Running for Office

Though many may hesitate to fun for public office, particularly women, they may find that they’re more qualified than they think. Paige Albrecht, who ran for the Lehi Utah City Council in 2015 and won, met with community members, precinct chairs, and neighborhood influencers during her campaign. She said of them, in a 2016 Connections article: “The majority of them [were] women. They [were] extremely behind-the-scenes, [and] rarely [took] the stage themselves. When I ask[ed] why they [didn’t] run for office, I hear[d] things like ‘Oh, I could never do that!’ They just [didn’t] see themselves as leaders, while in reality they [were] doing more than they realize[d].”

That being said, Smith encouraged and cautioned those with a desire to run for office to:

Have a desire
Encourage and listen to criticism
Learn to communicate clearly and concisely. “Be able to answer why you are running, in 30 seconds or less,” he said.
Develop a conviction. Smith said the best advice he was ever given was to develop an opinion, through thorough research, and to write it out and and say it over and over, and that will help him develop a conviction.
Believe in something and fight to defend it.

Being in Elected Office

And for those who do run and win, he said:

Learn leadership. “You can’t be the jack of all trades,” Smith said.
Keep a vision
Learn how to delegate details
Practice the art of constructive compromise. “You have to remember that what you see depends on where you’ve sat in life, and where you sit in office,” Smith said. It’s critical for someone in authority to understand other people’s lives.”
Respond softly to vulgarity. “It will elevate and inform and protect you,” Smith said.
Do not forget the importance of honesty and integrity. These are your cornerstones. Smith said that people should be able to trust you, even if they disagree with you.
Keep your LDS covenants, because Smith said they will be a “shield and a protection to you.”

Smith’s Senate Service

The United States Senate influences the rest of the world through example, said Smith. The Bill of Rights and the Constitution are the greatest “exports” this country has. “We’re not a perfect nation, but we’re a good nation,” Smith said. “As long as we live up to the values of our founding documents, there is much good in the world.” For things that have a huge impact on many people, like Obamacare, both parties need to agree through compromise because things passed this way will last longer. But compromise can be very hard to achieve. It was one of the hardest things he was involved in during his time in the United States Senate.

What helped him was having a supportive family, because it was hard work, and meeting young people. “During my time as a senator, I delighted meeting with young people,” Smith said. They always asked Smith if he represented their ideas or his. Smith said he had two roles, one as a delegate and the other as a statesman.

March 29, 2017

Finding Common Ground with Those who Differ Politically

Civil dialogue, both in-person and on-line, can be difficult to maintain, especially with those who differ politically. It is something, however, which has been addressed by our Office of Civic Engagement, in past and current events, and which can be done. Panelists at a 2015 Civic Engagement workshop, all of them politicians and familiar with heated debates on important topics, recommended these tips for those striving to create civility:

see opponents as real people
actively listen
know the full story
be constructive.

At a 2016 workshop hosted by the same group, panelists Brian King, Democrat Representative; Sheryl Allen, former Republican Representative; Scott Howell, former Democrat Senator; and Deidre Henderson, Republican Senator, spoke on a similar topic: Finding Common Ground with Those Who Differ Politically.

What is Civility?

Each of the panelists offered a different definition:

Senator Henderson: “Never impune another person’s motivations.”
Former Senator Howell: “Do more listening than talking.”
Former Representative Allen: “Make the effort to understand the other side. Civil discourse begins with each and every one of us.”
Representative King: “Separate political from personal.”

How can You be Civil?

Representative King spoke about the importance of reaching out. He said, “Disarm people who might be suspicious of you. Get personal but in a positive way.” He added that he likes to seek out and get to know people with opposing political views; he talks to them about things other than politics. The Democrat also talked about remaining civil even when one’s constituents don’t want you to be. He said that politicians “greatest supporters” often want them to be “their weapon, their tool, their instrument” and not necessarily get along with others. He cautioned politicians to resist that.

Former Senator Howell said, quoting the Dalai Lama: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”

In the Utah State Senate, said Senator Henderson, there are 24 Republicans and 5 Democrats. “I esteem [all of] them and value their input. No bill passed solely on a partisan vote. No one party has all the answers. Hence, it’s important to listen to other people’s ideas.”

Former President of the United States Barack Obama once said, “We have to remember that we’re actually all on one team…We’re not Democrats first, we’re not Republicans first, we are Americans first. We’re patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country.”

How do YOU find common ground with people you differ with?

October 25, 2016October 25, 2016

Addressing the Epidemic of Child Poverty

“Child poverty should scar our conscience as much as it does our children’s futures.” So said Dan Jarvis, a member of the British Parliament from the Labour Party, on Twitter last month. And indeed, child poverty is a problem not just in Britain, but worldwide. In the United States, 20% of children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty threshold, according to World Hunger. Lincoln Nehring, President and CEO of Voices for Utah Children, says that the 13% of Utah children that live in poverty is still too many, but there are effective measures we can take to help them.

Research-based Problems and Solutions

“Research is very clear,” said Nehring, that children who live in poverty are adversely affected throughout their lives, and the detriment is not just physical. Stress problems due to poverty play a huge role in children’s struggles academically, socially, and in other facets of their lives. But research is equally clear that children who receive a high-quality early education can more effectively overcome the income gap created by the poverty of their younger years. This has been the focal point of various initiatives of Voices of Utah Children’s.

His organization also supports and participates in initiatives that improve access to healthcare for children so that they can overcome the stresses of hunger and poverty, as Utah ranks 47th in the nation for children’s health insurance coverage. “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach his or her potential,” he said. “The trends in this area have been encouraging as of late. There are a number of programs in our country that are helping. Supplemental security, housing assistance, food stamps, and free and reduced school lunches are really making a difference”

BYU’s Office of Civic Engagement sponsored Nehring’s lecture, part of a number of events designed to highlight the need for and benefits of civic engagement. The next event is scheduled for November 2nd, and will feature a panel discussion with Provo Mayor John Curtis, Police Chief John King, and Economic Director Scott Bowles. For more information, visit civicengagement.byu.edu.

October 13, 2016

Holly Richardson on the Benefits and Ease of Voting

Are you registered to vote? Do you plan on voting? Do you even know who your state senator or representative is? If your answer is “No” to any of those questions, don’t feel bad; you’re not alone. Holly Richardson, blogger and former member of the Utah State House of Representatives, says that many students ages eighteen to twenty-five did not vote in the 2014 election; even though they made up 21% of the voting population, only 17% of them actually voted. At a September Civic Engagement event on campus, she spoke of the benefits of voting to the voters, adding her voice to others who’ve spoken on that same topic recently, and the ease with which it can be done.

“Many of the issues being debated are directly related to students, student loans for example,” she said. “Who we vote for…is…who establishes the laws [regarding those loans]. If we want our voices heard, we need to make an effort.” Whether or not we pay any attention to politics, it will affect us. Holly, at the campus event and on her blog HollyOnTheHill.com, provides these tips for easy involvement:

Start a blog. Holly shared the story of Aimee Winder Newton, who was frustrated that the council members at her City Council Meeting wouldn’t speak to her. She started a blog where she reported the happenings there, and they began speaking to her. Eventually, she was appointed to be the city’s first Communications Director.
Share your political views on social media. But, be NICE. Political Science professor Richard Davis spoke about that here.
Follow your state legislators or political parties, particularly when the legislature is in session. She reports that several Utah legislators tweet actively, as well as @UtahReps and @UtahSenate. Follow along by using the hashtag #utpol.
Check out @UTLEGTracker, an automated Twitter account that will tweet real-time updates of legislative action.
Follow political blogs like UtahPoliticoHub and 45Politics.
Check out Senate cloud for all things social media on the Senate side. It’s pretty awesome.

Making a difference in the world doesn’t have to mean running for office or dedicating one’s life to politics. Your difference can simply be your vote, and there are many ways to prepare to vote. The question is: will you vote, and…

How will you prepare?

September 19, 2016

Why #AllVotesMatter: an Event

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people.” Walter H. Judd once said. “Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote — a very different thing.” Our own Dr. Earl Fry specifically addressed the need for our generation to vote in an October 2015 Twitter chat. On September 22nd, our Office of Civic Engagement will continue the conversation by talking about why all votes matter.

Says Kelsey Cogswell, assistant to the Director of the Office of Civil Engagement: “This is an election where some people are saying that they don’t know who to vote for and even that they aren’t going to vote because no candidate is their favorite. We want students to understand that voting is important even when there is not one favored candidate.”

It may easily be argued that this upcoming presidential election, more so than any other, is of paramount importance. With such polarizing candidates, every vote matters. Of this, Ms. Cogswell said, “When talking politics, I’ve often heard people say something like, ‘It doesn’t really matter if I vote, I’m just one person. What difference would it make?’” This is exactly the kind of mindset #AllVotesMatter hopes to combat. Holly Richardson, a political activist, dynamic speaker, blog writer, social media consultant, small business owner, and a Republican. It is hoped that Mrs. Richardson’s words will inspire students to vote.

However, #AllVotesMatter is not the only way in which the Office of Civic Engagement is hoping to rally students. At 3pm on September 20th at the WILK Garden Court , they are hosting a Political Involvement Fair where various party representatives will answer any questions students might have. Additionally, there will be a Voter Registration Drive on both September 27th and the 28th at the WILK (inside and outside). Within a few minutes, you can be registered to vote!

All votes matter. When you’re talking with someone, don’t you like it when they hear you? Why should this, the choosing of the president of the United States, be any different? So, don’t forget to go the seminar, don’t forget to vote, and remember: #AllVotesMatter.

Will You Step Up to the Plate and Vote?

April 11, 2016April 11, 2016

Speaking Out Against Abuse: The 5 Browns Fight for Justice

“Neutrality helps the oppressor; never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor; never the tormented.”

– Elie Wiesel

Can one person truly make a difference? Taking a good hard look at the multitude of evils and injustices in our communities may tempt us to lose hope for the future – and second guess our capacity to be an influence for good. But the simple truth is that anyone with a desire to do good can make a difference. And we’ve got proof.

Classical music chart-toppers The 5 Browns discussed their foundation for survivors of abuse as keynote speakers at our recent Civic Engagement conference.

In response to a long-term pattern of sexual abuse from their father, who is now in prison, the Browns decided to speak up. They now act as advocates for legal change on statute of limitations legislation – contending for victims of abuse by pushing for legislation that allows them time to heal, and prepare to prosecute against their abusers when they are ready.

From Victim to Advocate

In a vigorous speech, Deondra Brown, co-founder of the foundation, shared her story; a story of growing from a broken victim to a strong advocate for positive change.

“I remember the first time I said the words, I was sexually abused,” recalled Deondra. “It felt both terrible and yet somehow freeing at the same time.”

2dbdb9a5-caf1-4bde-83d5-9d7a1d9a97d2 — Deondra Brown

“News of the abuse hit the media and I thought my world had literally ended…I wondered if I’d forever be branded as a victim and only be remembered by the vicious things that had been done to me, and not the person that I am.”

Abuse knows no cultural or socio-economic bounds, she says. It finds its place in the homes of children worldwide – regardless of race, class, demographic, or religion. Many of its victims are silenced by fear and confusion, with the perpetrators allowed to “play the odds” that the victim will not come forth until it is too late to prosecute.

In many states, there are laws that prohibit victims of abuse from prosecuting unless they do it in a specific time frame. Now Deondra and her sister Desirae fight to eliminate these laws. And they have found great success. They recently worked on a successful bill that became a law to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil cases of current sexual abuse in Utah. And they are currently working on further legislation in Washington DC. “Never before have I experienced such purpose as I do now,” declared Deondra.

Twenty percent of children have been sexually abused, she said. And their voices can be powerful voices for social change.”Our stories are the most important thing that we can share,” declared Deondra. “[They] help move our communities in a more positive direction.”

Raising a Voice in Support of Victims

2d74e2c2-dd8d-4869-9267-a10922cbeecb — Gregory Brown

Speaking as one who was not abused, Gregory Brown encouraged students to be a voice for change. “I was kind of like you not so long ago,” said Gregory, “I was sitting in class, going about my daily life, all the while not knowing that people I knew were suffering like this.”

Gregory encouraged all, but particularly the 80% of people who have not been abused, to cease the silence, and speak out. “The other 80% of us are just at another school event and will probably leave here and go about our lives as we normally do,” admitted Gregory. But he believes that we are all capable of change.

“I have to wonder why it is that it always seems as though the people who are hit hardest by a given issue are the very ones left to shoulder the burden…of standing up for what is right.”

“Whether it is this issue [of abuse] or another issue that is leaving you conflicted or sitting on the fence, my plea to you today is to get up and do something about it. Don’t drown out the protest of your conscience by assuming that someone will else will pick up and do the dirty work that is needed to make things better.”

Finding a Voice

So how did two survivors of abuse become effective advocates for other victims? In answering this question, Desirae Brown stressed the importance of commitment to a cause – as well as having eyes that are open to seeing real issues. She also mentioned a potential hurdle that Mormons may have to get over in order to make a difference.

“In a few short years, we had gone from being broken and scared, to initiating, drafting, and having legislation introduced on a federal level.”

0598314e-34a1-49b0-8ab9-a92d1556114d — Desirae Brown

“Sometimes the positivity and hope so intrinsic to the Mormon lens through which we as members view the world, can at times make us blind to what is actually happening around us.”

Desirae suggests that we, as members of the Church, lend our voices to those of victims of abuse. “We don’t have to lose our faith to be passionate about social causes…You can be a whistle-blower and still be a Mormon.”

To lift our vision for the future, and make a difference in the lives of the oppressed, we can remember the words of Gregory Brown. “I promise you that one person can make a difference,” he said. “And the only reason I can say that with 100% certainty is that I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen it happen in the lives of my sisters.”

To donate to Desirae and Deondra’s foundation, click here.

Photo Credit: Andrew Satham (Picasa)

In what ways could you help victims of abuse?

November 9, 2015

Women’s role in Politics to be discussed at Civic Engagement Event

Are you keeping up with politics? According to a recent Pew Research Center Poll, 10 percent of Americans fall into the category of “politically disengaged.” For millenials—voters under 30—that figure is much higher. The New York Times pegged their percentage of disengagement at closer to 61 percent. The subject of why we should care about politics, when so much seems to be going wrong, was a subject of discussion at our recent Twitter party and at a presentation given by Provo Utah Mayor John Curtis. If you feel disengaged in politics, here’s a chance to change your ways and learn about why you should care. On Thursday, November 12th, two Utah elected officials, Rebecca Chavez-Houck and Lisa Watts Baskin, will be on campus to speak about the importance of participation in electoral politics, particularly the participation of women.

Real Women Run is a collaborative, nonpartisan initiative. Their aim is to encourage women to participate fully in public life and civic leadership, whether that means simply being informed about the American political system or running for a political office. This event, sponsored by the Office of Civic Engagement, will focus on the advantages and challenges of women participating in electoral politics.

The general hesitancy of women to participate in political issues is a topic recently of interest to many. Christopher F. Karpowitz, associate professor of political science at Brigham Young University, conducted extensive research on this topic. He describes his findings in his book, The Silent Sex, published in 2014. In the book summary, Karpowitz suggests that men and women “enter deliberative settings facing different expectations about their influence and authority.” Additionally, he says:

Women are no longer officially restricted from full participation in public gatherings. On paper, they have equal access to juries, university seminars, voluntary association boards, government committees, and even work teams. And so, in theory, we would expect to find that they participate and exercise power at the same rate as men do at the meetings that govern our society in these influential spaces. Yet women are still underrepresented in the ranks of active and influential participants in many of these settings.”

Although Real Women Run focus their efforts primarily on the political participation of women, they also urge all citizens to:

Register to vote.
Get to know your elected officials.
Educate yourself about candidates running for office.
Learn about the issues.

The two speakers at for the event are:

Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Utah State Representative

Rep. Chavez-Houck has represented Salt Lake City’s District 24 in the Utah House of Representatives since 2008 and focuses on public policy related to health and human services as well as voter engagement and access.

Lisa Watts Baskin, Administrative Law Judge

Ms. Baskin has practiced law in Utah for nearly 25 years and presently serves as an Administrative Law Judge in the Utah Office of Inspector General. She also practices law in her own firm. She serves on numerous civic boards and commissions.

Visit RealWomenRundotorg.wordpress.com for more information on.

Real Women Run

Sponsored by the Office of Civic Engagement.

Thursday, November 12th 11:00am in 3714 HBLL

Are you politically engaged or disengaged?

College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Brigham Young University College of Family, Home, & Social Sciences