About CR

CITIZENS, RISE!

Did you know the United States is the only country that has not agreed on the United Nations standards for youth well-being? Our stats reflect our values:

  • 43 children a day are impacted by gun violence.
  • Three million children witness a shooting each year.
  • Three million children are affected by child abuse.
  • 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.

We can do better by our kids. We must.

Individual trauma becomes societal trauma.

  • Children who experience child abuse and neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violence crime.
  • About 80% of 21-year-olds who were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
  • 14% of all men and 36% of all women in prison were abused as children.

Who we elect and what they value will set in place laws and policies that can protect our children. It starts at the local level.

That’s why in addition to partnering with organizations to promote education and advocacy of child protection policies, Citizens, Rise is also a civic engagement group dedicated to Community, Knowledge, and Action. We connect our local community to experts so we can all be active and well-informed citizens.

WHAT WE DO

Citizens, Rise believes in the power of the Media. Control the messaging and change the minds.

Citizens Rise believes in the power of the Community.

We hold monthly events to get the news behind the news from the people with partners like ACLU, Planned Parenthood, immigration rights’ nonprofits like SIREN, experts in Constitutional law.

To do all this you need to know how to be an engaged citizen. We will provide information and knowledge on this page as to how governance works pertinent to the latest issues, ways to be in touch with your political representatives at all levels, and the activist organizations that you can become involved in or support.

Information

  1. Governance: how does the American political system work? What is your place in it?
  2. Issues: What are the values most important to you? Research and learn from original sources and experts about that issue.
  3. Implementation: What can I do as a citizen?

Tools & Resources

  1. How can I turn the information into action?
  2. What tools exist to make it easier and more effective?
  3. What impact will I have?

Community

  1. Public meetings to bridge communities. This will include Web conferences to bridge communities at events in different states (stay tuned!)
  2. Town forums to gather information from experts, policy makers, and legislators
  3. Inform you of en masse actions from other activist organizations for those interested

Citizens, Rise! Principles of Civic Engagement

The values of an organization will reflect how it chooses to publish its content and with what editorial eye. Learn to be a critical reader in these “false news” and “alternative truth” times.

At SWR, when planning events or engaging in dialogue we adhere to the following:

  • Inclusion: SWR will strive to create opportunities and initiatives that encourages and enables the pariticpation of members of all communities, so that all citizens, regardless of income level, ethnicity, or religion are empowered with information.
  • Collaboration: SWR believes in a culture of community engagement and by community we mean from the local to national level – the community of civic-minded citizens building projects and initiatives that will be beneficial to our members
  • Community building: Building a sense of community comes from promotion of dialogues between communities as much as dialogue between communities and those who represent their interests and are fighting for their rights.
  • Meaningful Engagement: Any event held or initiative undertaken is with the goal of conveying information from those whom individual citizens may not have easy access to and fostering a stronger sense of community
  • Easy participation: There is an over-saturation of information out there from news, false news, activism initiatives. We hope to distill the important information as pertains to your ability to be an active citizen in key issues. It’s up to you to pick the issue or two and not be overwhelmed. If you want to simply act by helping SWR expand, then you are welcome!
  • Access: all citizens should have easy access to simple, fair voting and to their legislators and to the media.
  • Focus on Social Justice: :
    • gender equality: equal pay for equal work; rape culture eradication; family leave; reproductive rights; maternal and early childhood healthcare access
    • all children deserve to be safe, food secure, and have access to quality education;
    • mass incarceration reform as reflected in the Black Lives Matter and other activist organizations involved in both law enforcement, community, and judicial dialogue;
    • climate change must be addressed as a national and foreign policy that takes top priority