Rough Notes from Harry Boyte lecture

Harry Boyte boyte001@umn.edu http://www.hhh.umn.edu/people/hboyte/ -- Dr. Boyte, Senior Fellow, University of Minnesota, has authored nine books and multiple publications on democracy, citizenship, community organizing, and citizen action. His most recent book is The Citizen Solution: How You Can Make a Difference. He also worked with Martin Luther King, Jr in the 1960's as a field secretary

9/17/2008 “Change Agents: Developing a Renewed Place for Civic Engagement” lecture by Dr. Harry Boyte’s at Fort Hays State University (rough notes taken by Dr. Rita Hauck with some comments from "lch")

Civic agency initiative – how we can be agents of change – next wave of education – work together making a better society – architects of civic change and civic life – different pockets – shift from things as activities to identity. A group of schools (colleges and universities) will become . . . the group . . . (change agents). Boyte noted he attends a Methodist Church. They have a new building and are now asking, “How shall we use it?”

The Constitution – The most important part is on this theme of civic agency. The preamble to our constitution begins with “We the people. . . “There are limits in the “we.” They were older white men. [They envisioned their project as an] ongoing evolving work . . . “to create a more perfect union.” This “we” was very diverse, a public “we” as it was practiced in public forums, taverns, debates, and discussions. People were able to engage themselves across differences. Jefferson: “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” He had a passion for learning and education – expanding the mind. Feudal societies had a commitment to keep people ignorant. Creating a vibrant “we” – bringing a public spirit, public habit, public identity. Founding Fathers soon disillusioned. Alexander Hamilton very disillusioned. What happened in practice as 19th century developed. American democracy tied to productive activity – “First Portable democracy” People took it with them as they set up communities – buildings, schools, libraries, city halls, associations, churches. De Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America. Americans were learning how to work together – to dig wells, etc. Balance between private and public pursuits. As they built things together, there was a sense of identity.

Largest women’s organization in the 19th century (1874) was the Women’s Temperance Union. It developed a theme that women should do everything. Through the efforts of community organizing, women in power. Most significant outcome of this movement – realized their power stronger sense of their full citizenship – helped build the nation – also the foundation of the African-American freedom struggle.

3rd theme – the tie of democracy to particular occupations. Universities, agriculture, and education – educating teachers to model citizenship – nurses, armed service, police – all saw themselves as civic leaders.

Hubert Humphrey Center – Humphrey wrote Education of a Public Man about his father. His father’s drug store was the civic center of the town (Dolan, South Dakota). These were “citizen businessmen.”

Settlement Houses – integrated new immigrants – celebrate themselves as hypehated Americans. Twelve settlements across the Twin Cities. The Phyllis Weekly (spelling?) settlement was made into a democratic center, different kinds of knowledge – many kinds of knowledge was respected, neighborhood knowledge, entertainers, vital culture in Black Community. It created a culture of citizenship – baseball league, boxing. Every sport league seen as way for young people to know they could make a difference. It developed key leaders. It had collective accountability. – shooting out street lights – [lch Pittsburg anecdote] Black athletes were not allowed to stay in the residence halls at the University of Minnesota, so they stayed at Phyllis Weekly. Now the Black Athletes are interviewing the elderly athletes about their experiences and history.

Boyte’s experience in the civil rights movement: generations passed on wisdom. We’ve seen an erosion of our civil life – erosion of Americans’ sense of community. A research study revealed that there are fewer than one-third close relationships – increasingly lonely society. There are significant counter trends. We’ve become a more private society.

Schools are much less attached in the life of the society. In 1958, a professor at the University of Minnesota, whom Boyte knew, was a model of engagement. Every year until his retirement in 1998, the professor was encouraged [by administration] to have more detachment. It is a devaluation of knowledge of elders of experience – resulting in changes in the institution. [lch: It becomes a burden if one shares those values (of engagement)]. Universities began dropping courses. There was a janitor at Duke University who led the Civil Rights Movement. He could take on any professor in debate. [lch: It’s worse now – with Distant Learning “no one has to be engaged.” – result postmodern education]

The New Deal, considered as the people’s instrument – government working for the people. Franklin Roosevelt, 1933. We have all these people with talent. Boyte likes the brick roads in Hays. It reminds him of this.

1. Alden Krider painting (people working in Kansas, looking enthusiastic but note people at wall without any work) National Youth Administration
2. Roosevelt Memorial (she’s sitting, he’s standing)
3. The Rural Couple
4. The Breadline “sad faces – no energy”

These photographs and statues are the public memory of the New Deal.

[lch: what Sunflower could do for western KS communities. Even the passive engagement, is it enough to make it a better community – faculty having students in the public schools. . . ]

We are a culture that has become a service delivery culture – consumers rather than creators and co-creators. [lch: The government took over AIG yesterday, one of the most powerful and investment cultures is gone – Lehman Brothers] [lch: Colorado Ute “youth” in NYC]

Song “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” -- Obama accused of it being a recent protestor ditty that he was quoting or using – but it was part of the Civil Rights Movement in 1956.
Public work is the sustained effort of a mix of people who learn to work together across differences. . . could be curriculum. . . lasting civic memory. How do you work without a pre-defined goal or predictable outcome? New attention to place and renewed sense of public purpose. Politics from politico Greek – learning how to engage people who are different – how to understand other peoples’ interests, background, . . . [lch: “Yes, we were!”] [lch: Poverty – only thing of value relationships]

Public achievement initiative started in 1990 – 4H, . . .
teens surveyed every group said, Yes, they had major problems. It was a myth that young people are apathetic. What could you do about these problems? Over 300 teenagers said, “No one ever asked them that question. A way for young people to learn is by 1:1 interviews with people who are unlike you. Learn to work with people outside of comfort zone.

7th grade Catholic girls – What should a person be called who works with you? A coach – pushing people to get out and do things, not “director” but working with students – resulted in change of culture in the school and transformation in the girl Rachel who developed a public life, public happiness, and public freedom. Her parents had died of overdose.
[lch – civilians afraid to be mentors but “coaches”-- I can do that.

Denver University and Colegate University adapted public achievement concept.
Need new generation of students who become civic professionals – citizen recreation worker, citizen health worker,

Neighborhood Learning community in St. Paul has citizen librarians working with immigrants
3r theme – Question of basic purposes. 1968 MLK speech – the “Drum major instinct” People want to do well, but for what? What is the larger public purpose for doing well? MLK was worried of it becoming private achievement, private wealth, a cult of efficiency, loss of what it means to be a person. Students say we live over-scheduled lives so no time to think about purpose.

Who we are a democratic society. Recover the sense of “We the people” balance public things with private things. Challenges to a “me first” culture.

American Civil Health Index