Solutions Civics: Solutions Civics is now incorporated in the curriculum for all Newark public high school students. It is a 10-hour teaching tool that gives high school students skills they need to be problem-solvers and to participate in the city’s decision-making process so they can leave their city better than they found it. It also teaches students about accessible entry-level public leadership opportunities — ones that they can immediately seize without having to run for public office, ones that also prepare them to participate in politics and government at the state and national level in the future.
Power Civics: Power Civics combines the basic elements of Solutions Civics with more advanced guidance on how to devise and successfully implement a solution to a city issue. Power Civics is available to all Newark residents through community forums, promoted by the mayor, and via an online video class curriculum. Power Civics is now being taught at Rutgers Newark School of Public Affairs, and as part of the Rutgers Honors, Living and Learning Community program. As a service component of these courses, students are organizing and leading Power Civics forums for community residents. The first one was held on December 1 at the Paul Robeson Campus Center.
Newark Civic Trust: The Newark Civic Trust is comprised of 24 city residents — Civic Trustees — who come together in monthly No-Blame problem-solving sessions, searching the nation to identify successful solutions to better Newark. Trustees commit to at least one year of service and pledge to work to “leave their city better than they found it.” These trustees are the driving force behind Newark, The Civic City.
Policy of Empowerment: Mayor Baraka’s commitment to empowering all city residents to participate constructively in city government is a critical element of Newark, The Civic City.
Drawing on Newark’s examples, Civic Cities are in various stages of formation in Trenton, Plainfield, Perth Amboy, Atlantic City and Philadelphia. Miami, Oakland, Toledo and Yonkers are among the cities where activities are slated to get underway later this year. But it is Newark that set the standard. As the pioneering Civic City, Newark is setting an example for the nation, leading the way to the national civic revival needed to build a 21st century democracy from the bottom up.
Harry Pozycki is the founder of The Citizens Campaign, a community of problem-solvers dedicated to restoring service, civility, and pragmatism to America’s political culture by facilitating the development of Civic Cities across the nation.