What is Civic Power?
As we’ve discussed, there’s an active component to citizenship in politics and society, your local
and global community, within your families and your schools. But what about work? As
members of the workforce, people exert “Civic Power,” the ability to positively impact their
world through the work they do.
In Obama’s State of the Union that we watched last week, he said “We may do different jobs,
and wear different uniforms, and hold different views than the person beside us. But as
Americans, we all share the same proud title: We are citizens.” But do some citizens wield more
civic power than others?
Below is a list of ten people in America’s workforce and community. On a scale from 1 to 5 (5
being the most powerful), rate the civic power of each worker-citizen. Be prepared to defend
your choices both in your table groups and in front of the class.
Kasim Reed – Mayor of Atlanta (Democrat ); legal partner at Holland & Knight, LLP; Board
Member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund.
Rating and Rationale:
Dr. Edward Tanner – Chief of Orthopedics at Rochester General; wine connoisseur; Graduate of
the University of Rochester.
Rating and Rationale:
Jennifer Howard – Mathematics Teacher at Pittsford Sutherland HS; single mother of 9;
volunteers at ABVI (Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired).
Rating and Rationale:
Catherine Harrison – unemployed construction worker; married, no kids; likes Rene Zellweger
movies.
Rating and Rationale:
Antonio Peréz – CEO Kodak since 2005; 2010 salary of $5.7M; member of President Obama’s
Council on
Jobs and Competitiveness.
Rating and Rationale:
Michael King – Volunteers of America National President; faculty of University of Colorado; MA
degree in Civic Affairs.
Rating and Rationale:
Ingrid Newkirk – Int’l President of PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]; Courage
of Conscience award winner(1995); Animal Rights author and advocate.
Rating and Rationale:
Rachel McCawley – Rochester Police Officer and volunteer Fire Fighter.
Rating and Rationale:
George Clooney – Award-winning actor and screenwriter; United Nations Messenger of Peace;
People Magazine “Sexiest Man Alive” (1997 and 2006).
Rating and Rationale:
Jerome “J-Roc” Fuller – high school student; Might Taco employee; lives at home.
Rating and Rationale: