My students have been involved this semester in several civic engagement projects.  One of them involves revitalization of the south Oklahoma City community.  They want to influence how tax dollars are allocated by the City Council so that a community center is built on their side of town.  They took responsibility or inviting their city councilman, the manor, a city planner and business leaders to class.  They also created a poll to see what people's interests are.  They surveyed students in school and community members via Facebook.  The data was submitted to the mayor's office.  Next they are starting a letter writing campaign and email campaign to generate support for a community center and better street lighting on the Southside.  One thing I am learning through this project is that teaching about how government functions is important, BUT, teaching kids that they can be change makers in their own community may be more vital to our continuing democracy.  I wish everyone could have seen the look on one of my student's faces when he received a phone call from his State Represented.  He is a high school senior but couldn't wait to go home and tell his parents that a state rep called him personally.  And in another class, the kids really perked up when their State Senator told them he was submitting their idea for a state law to proposed legislation in February.  Civic engagement is what it is all about!