Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn: on Government Reform


John Lewis: 1977: Oversaw 250,000 volunteers at ACTION agency

In 1977, Congressman John Lewis was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to direct more than 250,000 volunteers of ACTION, the federal volunteer agency. He has since been the recipient of numerous awards, including the preservation Hero Award given by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Martin Luther King Jr. Non-Violent Peace Prize, the President's Medal of Georgetown University, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for lifetime achievement, and the National Education Association Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Award. The Timberland Company has established the John Lewis Award, which honors humanitarian service, and has established a John Lewis Scholarship Fund.
Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p. 7 Nov 1, 2006

Michelle Nunn: The biggest obstacle of all is apathy

We stand at a time of enormous potential, but also of danger--environmental hazards, nuclear proliferation, global poverty, and terrorism are all very real threats to our world and the promise of progress. But perhaps the biggest obstacle of all is apathy.

We need to participate--within our communities and in our democracy. Individual acts of daring and creativity will ultimately determine the fate of nations and our increasingly global society. And those acts will change us in return.

Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p. xi Nov 1, 2006

Michelle Nunn: Change only becomes enduring when we ask & enlist others

How do movements come into being? Change starts with an individual, with one person believing that something can and must be changed. But change only becomes an enduring reality when individuals join together to act. Social change movements are often led by powerful individual change agents, but if you look closer, you will find that these individuals acted in concert with friends, family, mentors, and organizations. In working together, change is possible.

How do we enlist others in our efforts to make a change? The most fundamental and important step is to ask. We know from our stories, and we know from research, that the most common reason people choose to help is simply that they were asked.

Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p.127 Nov 1, 2006

Michelle Nunn: Drop in civic participation enfeebles our democracy

Over the last 40 years, we have seen a precipitous drop in civic participation--in voting, reading the newspaper, and writing to our representatives. This is dangerous for our nation. It enfeebles our democratic system and leaves us ill-equipped to solve the serious challenges that we face domestically and internationally. We have lost the idea that our government and our leaders are extensions of ourselves and that we can shape the course of our nation and our world.

We sometimes lose sight of the radical proposition of democracy; that each of us has inalienable rights and responsibilities. The idea of our American democracy was envisioned as a "City on a Hill," but it has taken enormous personal sacrifice and leadership to establish such ideals as a woman's right to vote, or of all people to be free and full citizens under the law.

Ultimately, our leaders will, largely, follow their constituencies. That gives each of us an enormous power.

Source: Be the Change, by Michelle Nunn, p.173-174 Nov 1, 2006

  • The above quotations are from Be the Change!
    Change the World. Change Yourself
    by Hundreds of Heads & Michelle Nunn.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Government Reform.
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  • Click here for more quotes by Michelle Nunn on Government Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Government Reform:

Retiring Senate as of Jan. 2013:
AZ:Kyl(R)
CT:Lieberman(D)
HI:Akaka(D)
ME:Snowe(R)
ND:Conrad(D)
NE:Nelson(D)
NM:Bingaman(D)
TX:Hutchison(R)
VA:Webb(D)
WI:Kohl(D) 		Retiring House to run for other office:

Running for President:
TX-14:Ron Paul(R)

Running for Mayor:
CA-51:Bob Filner(D)

Running for Governor:
IN-6:Mike Pence(R)
WA-1:Jay Inslee(D) 		Retiring House to run for Senate:
AZ-6:Jeff Flake(R)
CT-5:Chris Murphy(R)
FL-14:Connie Mack(R)
HI-2:Mazie Hirono(D)
IN-2:Joe Donnelly(D)
MO-2:Todd Akin(R)
MT-0:Dennis Rehberg(R)
ND-0:Rick Berg(D)
NM-1:Martin Heinrich(D)
NV-1:Shelley Berkley(D)
NY-9:Bob Turner(R)
WI-2:Tammy Baldwin(D)
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Page last updated: Jan 09, 2014