In this era of social media and the daily onslaught of overwhelming news stories, it’s tempting to either shut down entirely or to think that community engagement is something we can do by clicking on a screen. In reality, engagement is action, it’s dialogue, it’s often face-to-face, it’s showing up whenever we can. 

For some in our community, politics can feel distant and untouchable — we are either comfortable enough that what happens “out there” doesn’t seem to affect our daily lives, or we are struggling so much that we feel powerless to impact anything beyond our day-to-day. Both privilege and powerlessness can lead to disengagement for very different reasons.

The good news is that 2020 offers opportunities for simple, straightforward engagement that can have tremendous impact. Our voices matter. That’s always been true, but this year even more so.

In this Civic Engagement section, learn more about this year’s census and why it matters. Learn about how and when to vote. Learn about local issues like the Oscar Mayer Special Area Plan and PFAS that will directly affect your neighborhood — your health, your property values, and your quality of life. Most importantly, learn what you can do to get involved.