There are many ways that people can step up. Whether it is personal, to help yourself improve, or for the community, to make a change, taking action is how we can work towards outcomes that we care about. Especially at the time of an election. It is amazing to see how many people around Princeton and the state work to advocate for their needs or for those around them. This month, in the May issue of Princeton Perspectives, Actions to Benefit You and Your Community, we share about the ways many people are working for change.
What actions have you taken that benefit you or your community? We walked around town and met so many that were willing to share their stories with us. You can get inspired by them by watching this month’s Pulse of Princeton video.
Whether through the smaller action of going to the polls to vote or the larger action of running for elected office, being educated on what is going on is key. The article Civic Participation: Everything You Need to Vote Informed! shares all of the details about where and how to vote, and each candidate that you can consider as you choose who will win the nomination for Princeton Council and Mercer County Commissioner – two roles that greatly impact your daily life.
There are also big national races on the ballot this year. You can take part in your civic duty of choosing the Democratic Candidate in the competitive race for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District or the Republican nominee to go against Senator Cory Booker. Who are they and why are they running? Read Take Time to Know Your National Candidates to Cast an Educated Vote and get informed.
To get where we are today, with the chance to run for office and vote in a U.S. election, we must look back to the people who helped to create America in the first place – the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Five of them came from New Jersey, and their inspiring stories can be found in our article The New Jerseyans Who Pledged Their Lives, Their Fortunes, and Their Sacred Honor.
Creating a country and running for office is not for everyone. Sometimes it takes a more personal goal to move you forward. Triple the Challenge, Triple the Reward: The Joy of Triathlon shares the encouraging story of the development of the Princeton Triathlon, which debuted last year. Take part or go cheer along the course – either way your action can have an impact!
This month’s Perspectives Revisited shares news about changes at a local elementary school and steps taken to improve the lives of New Jersey’s commuters. Read on to learn about these major updates.
Feeling empowered? Educate yourself and go vote…sign up for the triathlon…or just make a plan to do something different. The actions you take today can make a difference tomorrow.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!