How to Save Democracy Citizen is a Verb
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Jul 1, 2025 
Baratunde Thurston, a writer, activist, and comedian, and Elizabeth Stewart, the creative force behind the How to Citizen project, discuss transformative ideas for democracy. They emphasize that citizenship is an action, not a status, urging listeners to engage beyond just voting. Their conversation explores how emotional intelligence and storytelling can strengthen civic life. They share inspiring stories, including that of Broadband Bruce, and highlight the power of collective action to create meaningful change in communities.
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Citizenship as a Verb
- Citizenship is a verb: democracy is an active practice, not a static right.
- We must redefine ourselves from mere consumers to active contributors in democracy.
Latent Love Drives Action
- Human behavior is strongly influenced by latent love and the desire to contribute.
- Viewing ourselves as citizens expands our capacity beyond passive consumption.
Power of Storytelling
- Our understanding of the world is shaped by stories we inherit and tell ourselves.
- Changing our story can empower us to change reality and collective action.