Learn more about the American Jobs Act
The White House

AMERICAN JOBS ACT OVERVIEW 


President Obama shared his plan to grow the economy. To create jobs, the President unveiled the American Jobs Act – nearly all of which is made up of ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and that Congress should pass right away to get the economy moving now. The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. And it would do so without adding a dime to the deficit.


We encourage you to learn more about the American Jobs Act and let us know what you think. 

TAGS: civic engagement, education, employment, government, leadership, legislation
Fact Sheet: The American Jobs Act and Overview  »
Latest Media
2012 ELECTION MAP PROJECTS ELECTORAL VOTES
It's too early to tell which candidate will secure the presidency, but an election map from The Washington Post illustrates factors that may affect… more »
CHICAGO PREPARES FOR ROLE AS HOST OF 25TH NATO SUMMIT
What should you expect when the NATO summit convenes May 20-21?… more »
CONTACTING ELECTED OFFICIALS MADE EASY
Two new online tools help put you in connection with your representatives instantly… more »
TOWN HALL MEETINGS MOVE ONLINE TO INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
MindMixer is helping cities improve community participation and generate better ideas with its online forum… more »
REPUBLICAN PARTY USES FACEBOOK APP TO ENGAGE VOTERS
The Social Victory Center is helping to connect Republicans with events and volunteer opportunities in preparation for the national election… more »
INTEREST RATES SET TO DOUBLE ON SUBSIDIZED STUDENT LOANS
If Congress doesn't act, students may add an additional $1,000 to their debt with the increase in interest rates… more »
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE CHICAGO
CMAP is implementing a comprehensive regional plan to improve communities in Metropolitan Chicago and keep the region's economy strong… more »
CHANGE.ORG 'FIGHTS FOR WHAT'S RIGHT
The social action platform is mobilizing support across the globe to help individuals inspire change in their communities… more »
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAXES
An illustration of how Americans pay taxes in 11 charts… more »
CHICAGO RESIDENTS SURVEYED ABOUT CITY SATISFACTION
Chicagoans approve of mayor and city services, support longer school day… more »
WHERE ARE YOUR TAX DOLLARS GOING?
The Federal Taxpayer Receipt shows how your taxes were distributed for spending in 2011… more »
WHITE HOUSE TO HOLD FORUM ON WOMEN AND THE ECONOMY
Participate in the forum by watching the event live and submitting questions online… more »
PLAYING GAMES IN POLITICS
An online games shows young people the relationship between census data and the redistricting process to political representation… more »
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: THE STATE OF THE CITY AND THE STATE
Chicago Forward brings together Gov. Quinn and Mayor Emanuel to discuss opportunities for economic development… more »
ECHICAGO 2012: BUILDING A MORE DIGITAL AND DEMOCRATIC CITY
Register today for the event.… more »
SUPREME COURT TAKES ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
In what promises to be a landmark ruling, the Justices hear arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act… more »
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND LOCAL E-GOVERNMENT: SOCIAL NETWORKING…
A new study from UIC finds that more local governments are using social media to create an engaged and responsive citizenry … more »
CITYSOURCED CREATES PLATFORM FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
… more »
CREATING TURNING POINTS IN SERVICE
Register now for Turning Point 2012: the National Conference on Volunteering and Service… more »
WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES ETHICS.GOV
Ethics.gov is President Obama's most recent initiative in his commitment to open government… more »
WHY DOES OPEN EDUCATION MATTER?
Submit a video explaining the benefits of open educational resources and you could win up to $25,000… more »
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Economist Aleph Molinari envisions education and technology-focused community centers as tools for healing the digital gap… more »
CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE POLLS?
Absentee Voting allows you to cast a ballot by mail… more »
THE VOTERS' BILL OF RIGHTS
… more »
WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT?
Here are the offices for which Chicagoans will be a casting a vote in the March 20 Primary… more »
GRACE PERIOD EXTENDS VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE TO MARCH 13
… more »
ILLINOIS KICKS OFF 18 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING
More than 150 sites are set up in Chicago and the suburbs in advance of the March 20 primary… more »
FORECAST OF IL BUDGET GLOOMY AS GOV. QUINN CALLS FOR CUTS
Watch the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Address Live… more »
'YOUTUBE NEXT CAUSE' HELPS NONPROFITS SUCCEED
… more »
CHICAGO NAMED THE MOST CORRUPT CITY IN U.S.
A new report at UIC reveals the facts behind the corruption that plagues Illinois and outlines steps for reform… more »
WHAT'S THE BUDGET?
White House Holds Office Hours on Twitter to Answer Questions About the President's 2013 Budget… more »
NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY OFFERS STARTLING…
… more »
CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OF FILIPINOS IN CHICAGO
… more »
WATCH GOV. QUINN'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS LIVE
… more »
WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF NAVY PIER?
Help decide the future of this popular Chicago tourist spot by attending two public forums on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1… more »
CHICAGO JUSTICE PROJECT WORKS TO REFORM LOCAL CRIMINAL…
By making justice-related data open and accessible, CJP is committed to improving practices and policies in the system… more »
WHITE HOUSE MOBILIZES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SOCIAL…
… more »
GET INVOLVED IN ELECTION 2012
Show support for your candidate by finding ways to participate this election season… more »
WEBSITES PROTEST ANTI-PIRACY BILLS THAT CHALLENGE THE…
… more »
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
President Obama reveals a new plan that will make doing business in America easier… more »
POLITICO USES FACEBOOK TO GAUGE AMERICA'S VIEWS ON THE GOP…
… more »
BEHIND THE VOTES: ANTICIPATING THE YOUTH VOTE IN THE 2012…
… more »
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CITES NEED FOR CREATING A MORE…
The White House facilitates a dialogue focused on civic learning… more »
THE CITY OF CHICAGO BRACES FOR WINTER WITH A NEW ONLINE TOOL
… more »
GOOGLE LAUNCHES NEW SITE AS A "ROBUST ELECTION HUB"
… more »
HOW TO WIN ELECTIONS
A new UIC video series details the underworkings of the campaign process… more »
WHAT DOES $40 MEAN TO YOU?
The White House campaigns online in support for an extension of the payroll tax cut… more »
CHICAGO IMPLEMENTS OPEN311
The City of Chicago improves the 311 system to increase city-wide transparency and accountability … more »
TIME MAGAZINE NAMES THE PROTESTER AS PERSON OF THE YEAR
The renewed image of the Protester becomes a symbol for hope and for change in 2011… more »
OPEN311 TRANSFORMS CITY-WIDE COLLABORATION
… more »
EDUCATION GOES DIGITAL
YouTube's new portal provides free access to educational material that can be incorporated in the classroom… more »
CHICAGOANS PARTICIPATE IN DIALOGUE TO HELP CREATE AN HONEST…
… more »
THE CITY OF CHICAGO BUILDS TRUST THROUGH TRANSPARENCY…
A Chicago open data portal houses over 200 datasets that provides citizens with city goverment information… more »
MYTHS DISPELLED ABOUT YOUTH VOTERS IN ANTICPATION OF 2012…
CIRCLE study reveals that millenial voters are more diverse in their political engagement than is often portrayed… more »
GOVERNMENT RECORDS GO DIGITAL IN A MOVE TO INCREASE…
… more »
USING ADVOCACY AND TECHNOLOGY TO ADVANCE THE POLITICAL…
… more »
FEEDING AMERICA BRINGS RELIEF TO HUNGER
49 million Americans struggle with hunger. Feeding America has made it its mission to make that number zero.… more »
CHICAGO'S HIGH HOPES CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO REFORM DISCIPLINARY…
… more »
JOURNALIST IGNITES IMMIGRATION DIALOGUE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
Jose Antonio Vargas says "It's time to have an honest conversation about immigration in our country"… more »
BEING AN AMERICAN ESSAY CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Students can submit essays for cash prizes that answer how the Constitution establishes and maintains a culture of liberty.… more »
NEW DESTINATIONS IN AN OLD GATEWAY: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN…
… more »
TO OUR VETERANS: "YOU FOUGHT FOR US AND NOW WE'RE FIGHTING…
The Obama Administration creates resources to help veterans find jobs after completing their military service… more »
BECOMING CITIZENS: YOUTH E-ENGAGEMENT IN CIVIC AND PUBLIC…
New study at UIC finds that the Internet can counteract the downward trend in youth civic engagement… more »
2010 GUIDE TO STATE AND LOCAL CENSUS GEOGRAPHY
… more »
DESIGN FOR AMERICA CREATES SOCIAL IMPACT
Students in participating universities design solutions to local and social problems… more »
WHERE DOES YOUR FRESHMAN CLASS COME FROM?
… more »
CODE FOR AMERICA HELPS CITY GOVERNMENTS BECOME MORE…
… more »
CONGRESS HAS DECLARED WAR ON THE INTERNET
… more »
AN INNOVATIVE AND FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE NONPROFIT MODEL
… more »
HOST AN IMMIGRATION ACTION ROUNDTABLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
President Obama wants your input on how we can reform immigration policy.… more »
ADD YOUR VOICE TO GOVERNMENT AND BE A PART OF CHANGE
A new White House resource highlights opportunities to get involved and join in a national dialogue… more »
REVIVING THE CIVIC MISSIONS OF SCHOOLS
Civic Schools is a new project helping schools rethink how to effectively teach civcs to students… more »
CAMPAIGN TO CUT WASTE TARGETS FEDERAL REAL ESTATE
Americans can now track the governments progress in eleminating property excess through two new online tools… more »
PATIENTS ALLOWED TO CHECK ON ILLINOIS DOCTORS THROUGH…
Illinois grants greater transparency to state health care through its physician database… more »
YOUTH ENCOURAGED TO "GET SCHOOLED"
Non-profit organization Get Schooled helps American youth take control of their education and stay in school… more »
REGISTERED VOTERS MORE LIKELY TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED
A study from CIRCLE reveals a wide gap in civic participation between registered voters and non-registered, elibile citizens… more »
"WHEN YOU ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES, YOU CAN SHAPE DEMOCRACY"
… more »
CHICAGO BECOMES THE CITY OF BIG IDEAS WITH THE PREMIERE OF…
100 Speakers. 7 Days. 1 Electrified City.… more »
YOUTUBE LAUNCHES NEW POLITICS CHANNEL
… more »
HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
High black and Hispanic unemployment widespread across nation's metropolitan areas… more »
FUTURE OF SOCIAL CHANGE LIES IN THE INDIVIDUAL
Walden University's "Social Change Impact Report" shows social change is important to Americans and they are taking action… more »
NATIONAL CIVICS CONTEST FOR STUDENTS
Enter your class for a chance to win a VGo Telepresence Robot and a virtual visit from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor… more »
PROTECTING THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT AND THE RUNAWAY AND…
Help protect homeless students by sending a letter to your congressperson… more »
HELP THE CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS WIN $15,000
Vote for the Speakers Bureau at CCH… more »
HOW PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY
New PEW study shows that Americans turn to a wide range of platforms to get local news and information… more »
MAKE EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE
Courseload Inc. A platform that provides students and faculty to access digital textbooks and course materials… more »
THE NEXT AGE OF GOVERNMENT
… more »
REPORT CALLS FOR ACTION TO RESTORE CIVIC EDUCATION
… more »
DESKTOP VIRTUALIZATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION
A strategy white paper… more »
CHICAGO POLITICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Web site features resources and information on Chicago Politics … more »
A STATUS REPORT ON THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT TO…
… more »
NEW REPORT: 2011 CIVIC LIFE IN AMERICA: KEY FINDINGS ON THE…
Civic Life in America is based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau… more »
REPORT CITES NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN OPEN…
A comprehensive review of federal agency open government plans.… more »
A STATE BY STATE LOOK AT THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT
… more »
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT
White House fact sheet and overview.… more »
THE COOK COUNTY 2012 BUDGET: HOW DID WE GET HERE?
… more »
YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE CAMPAIGN THANKS TEACHERS
A new campaign that focuses on the work that teachers do.… more »
WHITE HOUSE TO LAUNCH WE THE PEOPLE WEB SITE SOON.
Your voice in government … more »
NEW LOBBYIST DATA SHOWS DETAILS LINKING CHICAGO LOBBYISTS'…
ChicagoLobbyists.org is intended to improve the transparency of interactions between City of Chicago agencies and lobbyists and their clients. All… more »
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY: A NEW STUDY ON NONPROFITS AND…
A new study provides exciting new evidence that documents the effectiveness of in-agency nonprofit voter engagement work.… more »
AMERICASPEAKS ANALYZES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL…
The report describes and analyzes the participation activities described in the Federal Agencies' Open Government Plans… more »
HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY FOR E-DEMOCRACY
In May, the UIC e-Government Workshop brought together the best and the brightest in public service and information technology. … more »
THE CITY OF CHICAGO WILL FINALIZE THE BUDGET FOR 2012 &…
… more »
THE WHITE HOUSE PRESENTS MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT THE…
Here is an interesting graphic of The Bipartisan Compromise… more »
RESEARCH REVIEW FOR AUGUST 2, 2011
A roundup of research that piques our interest.… more »
VISUALIZING DEFINING MOMENTS IN US HISTORY
Momentus is a collaborative project organized by Evan Stremke to help visually explore momentous periods in US history. Pulling together a select… more »
TRACKING INEQUALITY THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
The median wealth of white households is 20 times that of black households and 18 times that of Hispanic households, according to a Pew Research… more »
ENCOURAGING YOUTH SAFETY IN CHICAGO
The white and blue sign outside heralds both the high-caloric lure inside and a needed respite from the heat: "20 Chicken Rings 4.99 Ice Bags $1.79… more »
CHANGING PERSPECTIVES ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Advances in brain science are calling into question the volition behind many criminal acts. In a recent article posted at The Atlantic, a leading… more »
THE HOUSING COLLAPSE NO ONE REMEMBERS
The most recent housing collapse has been covered through a myriad perspectives. It is, if not fully understood, at least known. However, nearly… more »
NEW YORK CITY BUILDS A PARK IN THE SKY
New York was planning to tear down the High Line, an abandoned elevated railroad in Manhattan, when Robert Hammond and a few friends suggested: Why… more »
PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS WHILE PROTECTING…
Harvard social theorist Elaine Scarry was recently interviewed by the Boston Review on her new book, which probes in concrete detail the many ways… more »
REDESIGING CITIES TO MAKE THEM SAFE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
Too often we are willing to sidestep a topic of dire importance. The public safety of women and girls is one such topic. Cynthia Nikitin, who… more »
SQUATTER CITIES: PLACES OF INNOVATION?
Robert Neuwirth, author of Shadow Cities, finds the world's squatter sites -- where a billion people now make their homes -- to be thriving centers… more »
UNDERSTANDING AND APPRAISING CHICAGO'S TIFS
On Gapers Block, a blog dedicated to all things Chicago, is a dicussion of tax increment financing in the city… more »
CHICAGO'S WARD REMAPPING
As City Council heavyweights prepare to redraw ward boundaries in a once-a-decade exercise that will reshape Chicago's political landscape, a group… more »
QUOTE OF THE DAY: JULY 14, 2011
Today's quote is from Clay Shirky… more »
NEW REPORT: BEST PRACTICES FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY…
The Transparency and Accountability Initiative (T/AI) has been reaching out to leading experts across a wide range of open government fields to… more »
HOW TO SAVE SUMMER SCHOOL
It may not be a topic that children want to talk about, but the summer can be a time when learning takes the backseat to parks, camps and games. In a… more »
30 MODELS OF CIVIC PARTICIPATION
One of the main goals of this web site is to understand civic participation. We continually wonder, why do people get involved or why are they… more »
RESEARCH REVIEW FOR JULY 11, 2011
A roundup of research that piques our interest. … more »
VISUAL CULTURE AND THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights is an art exhibit organized by the Center for Art, Design and Visual… more »
FIND OUT WHO YOUR ALDERPERSON IS IF YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO
The Chicago Tribune has an interesting graphic showing all of the wards in the city with a link to those who represent each. Highly recommended!… more »
JON CALAME ON DIVIDED CITIES
Jon Calame is an architectural teacher and writer who explores the origins and consequences of urban partition along ethnic lines. In an informative… more »
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TWITTER TOWN HALL
Here is an interesting graphic of the Twitter Town Hall. … more »
REVITALIZING PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCESS…
Early in its deployment, public, educational, and governmental access media was being planned and developed to empower local civic groups by… more »
PREVENTING SUMMER LEARNING LOSS
Jennifer McCombs, a senior policy advisory at the Rand Corporation, describes a new study she just conducted on the issue of … more »
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PODCAST SERIES: INNOVATORS IN…
Communnity leaders Nancy Lanoue and Sarah Ludden talk about civic engagement and leadership in our final Community Leadership Podcast Series. … more »
NEW RESEARCH ON CALIFORNIA'S CAMPUS COMPACT PROGRAM
Here is the abstract California Campus Compact (CACC) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching first conceived the Service… more »
DISCUSSING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
August 28, 1963 was a day that all should remember. It was then that The Great March on Washington took place and Martin Luther King subsequently… more »
PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HOLD TWITTER TOWN HALL
Last week, the White House sent out this press release: WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama will participate in the first ever Twitter Town Hall at… more »
HOW SOCIAL NETWORKING CAN REINVIGORATE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY…
Today, we were live tweeting the Brookings Institute event called "How Social Networking Can Reinvigorate American Democracy and Civic… more »
TRAINING TEACHERS FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF CLASSROOM
It takes different training to teach in low income schools than in affluent ones. That is the core idea behind the Urban Teacher Education Program at… more »
A COLLECTION OF MUSEUMS FROM THE USUAL TO THE UNUSUAL
Some museums connect us to the past, showing us a world we never knew existed. Others inform us, giving a depth to that which we already know. And… more »
QUOTE OF THE DAY: JUNE 21, 2011
'Don't try to innovate for the future. Innovate for the present.' Peter Drucker … more »
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PODCAST SERIES: INNOVATORS IN…
Civic Engagement Community Leader Dr. Rahn is helping people flourish... … more »
INBOX INFLUENCE
We previously showed you the Influence Explorer from Sunlight Foundation, a web site that allows you to track money from corporations and individuals… more »
BUSTING A MYTH: VOTER TURNOVER HAS BEEN GOING DOWN
Via The Monkey Cage, a blog run by a cadre of political science professors, comes this graphic, showing that voter turnout has not changed all that… more »
ARE THE BUDGET WOES OF CALIFORNIA CAUSED BY ITS…
We have all heard about California's budget woes, but the story that is not often told is the one describing its origins. A couple of months back,… more »
WHEN SUBURBS AND SPRAWL WERE NEW
This Life Issue from 1965 is an interesting look back on the development of the city and suburbs when they were first being recognized as important… more »
A POOL ON THE HUDSON RIVER
The summer is finally here, which means heat. And while Lake Michigan is swimmable, the Hudson River straddling New York City is not. In an effort… more »
PATERNALISM IN TANF LEADS TO CIVIC DISENFRANCHISEMENT
Robert Griffin, a Ph.D. student in political science at George Washington University makes note of the relationship between the TANF program and… more »
CAPITALVIEW FOR JUNE 6, 2011
Medical marijuana, concealed carry, workers comp reform and more is on the agenda for this week's edition. Bernie Schoenburg from the State… more »
A NEW REPORT SHOWS MOST STATES ARE FAILING TO RECRUIT…
The Voting System Scorecard is self explanatory. It serves as a ways to understand the 50 states in terms of their policies in three key areas… more »
DIGITAL DIPLOMACY
Alec Ross, senior adviser for innovation at the U.S. Department of State, talks about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's focus on improving… more »
WHAT DOES COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU
Heartfelt and emotional answers to a simple question - what does community mean to you?… more »
PETER LEVINE - WHAT DO COLLEGE STUDENTS GAIN FROM CIVIC…
Peter Levine, the author of this new white paper on engagement, speaks on this exact topic at this recent event put on by the Institute for Policy… more »
VIDEOS FROM PERSONAL DEMOCRACY FORUM
The Personal Democracy Forum held in New York earlier this week is the one of the largest conferences that explores and analyzes technology's impact… more »
HOW DOES POPULATION AFFECT THE WEALTH OF A CITY?
Over the past couple of decades, there has been a shift in the populations of major cities. The total metropolitan populations for cities like Los… more »
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF POVERTY
Poverty destroys the human spirit, shortening limbs and lives, and reduces human frame into a mechanized automaton, as one writer said. Poverty… more »
E-GOV REPORT DU JOUR - THE FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT: LESSONS…
Governments around the world are faced with new demands, new expectations and a fast-growing array of new technologies and tools. A current example… more »
DESTROYING DETROIT (IN ORDER TO SAVE IT)
Depopulation is a fact of life in Detroit. The once bustling city is now undertaking a massive project to demolish massive sections of the abondoned… more »
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PODCAST SERIES: INNOVATORS IN…
Lisa "La Boriqua" is President of Latin Street Dancing and Director of the Chicago Latin Street Dance Company and MOSAICO student dance group. In… more »
RESEARCH REVIEW FOR JUNE 6, 2011
Here is some research that has struck our fancy as of late… more »
ASIMOV ON LIBRARIES
Sage words from Isaac Asimov:… more »
CHICAGO'S LOOP DURING THE MILLENNIAL CONSTRUCTION BOOM
In this podcast, Dr. Weber discusses her research on periods of rapid change in the physical fabric of Chicago- the dizzying "construction booms"… more »
FOLLOW THE LEADER(S' MONEY)
Influence Explorer is a website that explores the relationship between politicians and goes some way toward untangling the webs of influence that… more »
HOW INEQUALITY AFFECTS REDISTRIBUTIVE POLITICS
The Monkey Cage has some coverage on a new piece of research about income inequality.… more »
CAPITALVIEW FOR MAY 27, 2011
On this week's show, the Blagojevich trial heats up as he takes the stand, redistricting maps are released, workers comp & education reform could… more »
CAPITALVIEW FOR MAY 20, 2011
Redistricting, Mayor Emanuel's effect on the state, pensions and more are on the agenda for this week's program. Jamey Dunn of Illinois Issues… more »
MOGADISHU IN THE MIDDLE OF AMERICA
If one were to believe what is said in the news, then it would be easy to think of Somalia only as a country with pirates, warlords or terrorists. It… more »
IS PRESERVATION DESTROYING OUR CITIES?
It is a question that has Rem Koolhaas, one of the most prominent architects currently working today, considers in his new art show that is being… more »
ASSORTED LINKS
Links that do not fit anywhere else.… more »
RESEARCH REVIEW FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 23, 2011
Here is some recent research which would be of interest to CivicSource followers… more »
MORE CIVICS EDUCATION DOES NOT INCREASE SUPPORT FOR CIVIL…
In a new article in the Journal of Politics (gated, I am afraid) a group of Yale scholars (including Donald Green) finds that randomly exposing… more »
THE COMING COLLAPSE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS: HIGHER RISKS,…
Distinguished law scholar Elizabeth Warren teaches contract law, bankruptcy, and commercial law at Harvard Law School. She is an outspoken critic of… more »
CONCERNED CITIZEN, PUBLIC FIGURE GEORGE BLAKEMORE
Singlehandedly, George Blakemore is putting the public back into public meetings. … more »
HAVE A BAD WINTER? CHICAGO GEARS UP FOR A CENTURY OF BAD…
Chicago is known for its green spaces. In fact, when it incorporated in the early 1800s, it took as its motto the Latin phrase Urbs in Horto, which… more »
QUOTE OF THE DAY: MAY 24, 2011
Anecdotes, personal stories, reminiscences, like biblical parables, are the medium through which faith is restored. Stories are a form of poetry, and… more »
THE CITY LIMITS BY DOMINIC BOUDREAULT
While it might not exactly fit with our normal posts, this is a beautiful time-lapse video by Dominic Boudreault that shows the … more »
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PODCAST SERIES: INNOVATORS IN…
Jose Lopez along with Alejandro Molina. Making a difference in the Puerto Rican Community. … more »
QUOTE OF THE DAY: MAY 23, 2011
It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a… more »
ILLINOIS' NEW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
Every decade, the state undergoes this process so that districts are representative of the population and ethnic changes within that area. Illinois… more »
GET INTO THE CONVERSATION WITH YOUTUBE TOWN HALL
One of the reocurring criticisms of the open government movement is the lack of enhanced governing. Having access to information is not the same as… more »
FEWER EMERGENCY ROOMS AVAILABLE AS NEED RISES
The New York Times reported earlier this week that hospital emergency rooms, particularly those serving the urban poor, are closing at an alarming… more »
CAPITOLVIEW FOR MAY 13, 2011
Education reform, the Blagojevich trial, Bart Simpson's voice and Aaron Schock's abs are on the agenda for this week's edition. Bernie Schoenburg… more »
STATE REP. LINDA CHAPA LAVIA SPEAKS ABOUT EDUCATION REFORM
This video courtesy of Illinois Statehouse News has a quick interview with State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia speaking about education reform Senate Bill… more »
THE CIVICS 2010 REPORT CARD
This month the National Center for Education Statistics released their Civics 2010 Report Card, one in a series of educational reports that surveys… more »
MAYOR-ELECT EMANUEL'S PLAN FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT
This morning, Mayor-elect Emanuel released the Chicago 2011 Transition Report, outlining a series of projects that the Mayor plans to tackle. The… more »
CAPITOLVIEW FOR MAY 6, 2011
On this CapitolView, medical marijuana, concealed carry and workers comp reform are discussed. Bernie Schoenburg moderates the discussion and is… more »
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PODCAST SERIES: INNOVATORS IN…
Turtel Onli is a teacher, illustrator, and artist making a difference in the community… more »
AN END ON EVERGREEN / A MIRACLE IN MEDELLIN
The last of the Cabrini-Green buildings, 1230 N. Burling, was marked for demolition over a decade back but in April the deconstruction began. As the… more »
JOSEPH HALL ON E-VOTING
Surprisngly Free is a weekly podcast hosted by Jerry Brito. As the web site proclaims, it features … more »
CIVIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Clay Shirky has written widely on the capacity for humans to engage in collaberative efforts. In his most recent book, he persuasively argues that as… more »
PREDICTING IS HARD, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE FUTURE
As they say, predicting is hard, especially about the future. Here are some predictions from the early 90s, from William Gibson, novelist, essayist… more »
CHARTING THE RISING PRICES OF GAS
The Center For Neighbohood Technology has an interesting new tool at their web site, showing how how rising gas prices could affect household… more »
AMERICAN FLAG
This short film is the winner of the the 2009 Looking for Democracy Short Film and Video Contest. The name of the film is … more »
FOOD DESERT LOCATOR
For the policy makers and researchers out there, the USDA released a new web app called Food Desert Locator today. Combining information from the… more »
HYPERCITIES: A PLATFORM FOR UNDERSTANDING SPACES
Space is important, to say the least. Only in spaces are we able to act. Analogously, being able to understand the space where an event is taking… more »
CROWDSOURCING INNOVATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
This talk from Brandon Kessler, founder of ChallengePost, is entitled, "Crowdsourcing Innovation in the Public Sector," and explores how… more »
UNDERSTANDING THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE THROUGH PHILOSOPHY
What is it to be American? Is there such a thing? Since this country was founded, there has been a fascination with what it means to be American.… more »
WHAT TAXES REALLY PAY FOR
April is the cruellest month if for nothing else than paying taxes. In filling out the paperwork, we don't often fill out the one that explains where… more »
CAPITALVIEW FOR APRIL 22, 2011
Budget issues, appointee holdover legislation and Blagojevich Part II are discussed on this week's edition. Guests include Ray Long from the Chicago… more »
FROM WBEZ: ENGLEWOOD PINS HOPES ON NEW TAX DISTRICT
Though it is nationally known for This American Life, WBEZ continues to produce high quality programming on various challenges facing both the city… more »
ECONTALK EXPLORES THE POLITICS OF POLLING
EconTalk often bridges the gap between economic theory and economic reality. In this podcast, Doug Rivers of Stanford University and YouGov.com talks… more »
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PODCAST SERIES: INNOVATORS IN…
Mariame Kaba, founder and executive director of Project NIA… more »
CAPITALVIEW FOR APRIL 15, 2011
School reform, budget issues, workman's comp and the upcoming Blagojevich trial are discussed in this week's program. Guests: Andrew Thomason… more »
THE CIVIC COMMONS: CODE SHARING BETWEEN CITIES
Government entities at all levels face substantial but similar IT challenges. Currently they are being forced to take them on independently and the… more »
RENEWING THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE STATE AND NONPROFITS
In this extended essay, Brent Never, assistant professor of nonprofit leadership at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, makes the case that the… more »
FREE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY ACTION GROUPS:…
Urban areas are administratively complex, and bureaucrats are often overburdened, which means they are often working at what Herbert Simon called the… more »
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF PEOPLE-POWERED GOVERNMENT
EFF co-founder, futurist, and former Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow gave the keynote talk at Personal Democracy Forum 2010 where he argued… more »
MAPPING ARCHITECTURE'S SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORKS
In this seminar, Sharon Haar, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Architecture, discusses how the development of… more »
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PODCAST SERIES: INNOVATORS IN…
Benny Montgomery, Constituent Services Representative, has worked for the U.S. House of Representatives for the past 28 years. Listen to Montgomery… more »
ALEC ROSS ON STATECRAFT OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Alec Ross is an up and coming star on the e-government scene. As an technology advisor to Secretarry Hillary Clinton, he is spearheading the State… more »
MAYOR DALEY ON PRIVATIZATION
Outgoing-mayor Richard Daley discusses his views on privatization… more »
PODCAST ON MILLENNIUM PARK'S FUTURE
In this Great Cities Institute podcast, Ed Uhlir explores Millennium Park's future by explaining its creation, its successes, and the factors that… more »
TECHNOLOGY AS A SOLUTION
The received opinion is that technology, like any other "solution", will only work if it is integrated in the social structure. It must become an… more »
KEEPING UP WITH THE JUSTICES
Trying to keep up with the Supreme Court? Last week, the Oyez Project at Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology released an… more »
CROWDSOURCING FUNDING IN CHICAGO'S 49TH WARD
Beginning almost six years ago, AREA Chicago "actively gathers, produces, and shares knowledge about local culture and politics. Its newspaper,… more »
FREEWAYS WITHOUT FUTURES
Most of the well known highway removals in America have come on the heels of unpredictable collapses, brought on either by structural issues or… more »
THE TRIBUNE ASSESSES ILLINOIS' OPEN INFORMATION LAWS
At the Chicago Tribune, there is an in-depth series and corresponding web site on Illinois' FOIA laws. It highlights one of the most tenuous modern… more »
NEW MEDIA, CIVIC MEDIA
The old media model still does unique things for us. It's what people mean when they say we have to save newspapers -- the watchdog function, and… more »
ENGAGEMENT TOOLS FOR ONLINE IDEA GENERATION
A couple of days ago, we posted a catalog of online engagement tools. In a similar sort of vein, here is a report with the pros and cons for various… more »
A CASE STUDY OF NYC DURING THE SNOW STORMS OF 2011
O Reilly, if you didn't know already, is a great resource for e-gov news and studies. Recently, they did a case study of NYC's efforts at becoming a… more »
RESEARCH: DIGITAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKS: HOW…
I am not completely sure when this came out, but this paper entitled … more »
KNOW ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
A week or two back, the Justice Department produced 17 videos to help explain everything you ever wanted to know about the Freedom of Information Act… more »
LESSENING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE HUMANITARIAN CRISES
The last couple years have been one frought with crises. Social media platforms have also been developing to coordinate in response to these… more »
TWO CATALOGS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TOOLS
Finding tools and software is the one of the first steps in executing a civic engagement effort. To help you figure out what is out there, two… more »
AUDIO: OPEN SOURCE GOVERNMENT
Gov 2.0 Radio discusses Phase2 with CEO Jeff Walpole about open source in government and emerging business models for non-proprietary Web and open… more »
GARY BECKER LECTURES ON HUMAN CAPACITIES
A series of lectures by Nobel laurete and University of Chicago economist Gary Becker has recently found its way to YouTube. … more »
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHICAGO
Following the great popularity of the Encyclopedia of Cleveland, published in 1987 by Indiana University Press, the Press approached the Chicago… more »
UNDERSTANDING THE TSUNAMI
This isn't related to our normal subject areas, but the Japanese tsunami this last weekend was obviously a tragedy. It is hard, though, to understand… more »
RESEARCH PAPER: CODES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
… more »
2010: THE YEAR OPEN DATA WENT WORLDWIDE
Tim Berners-Lee explains what happens when government, personal, and commerica data is used by people to make sense of the world.… more »
CAPITALVIEW FOR MARCH 18, 2011
… more »
RESEARCH PAPER: FREE TECHNOLOGY FOR COMMUNITY ACTION GROUPS
… more »
VIDEO: DEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION IN A HYPERMEDIATED SOCIETY
… more »
PROFESSOR KAHNE DISCUSSES POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN A…
… more »
PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION IN DENMARK
… more »
BEST PRACTICES FOR A GOVERNMENT 2.0 WORLD
… more »
FIVE PROJECTS THAT SHOW THE POWER OF OPEN DATA
… more »
IMPROVING CITIES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
… more »
VOTE NAKED ILLINOIS
… more »
CODE FOR AMERICA
… more »
CCLCP TV
An overview of the Chicago Civic Leadership Certificate Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This video was produced by three CCLCP… more »