Guides for Practicing Democracy

“The human heart is the first home of democracy,” observes American author Terry Tempest Williams. “It is where we embrace our questions. Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather than our opinions?” In our actual homes, these questions can serve as guidelines for our relationships with our family and housemates. Here are 14 suggestions for household activities that promote democratic values.

What factors determine how you earn, spend, invest, and give away your money? The answer reflects your cultural background, your values, your ideals, and even your perspective on democracy. Bringing thoughtful awareness to your relationship with money can lead to a fulfilling life and deepened civic commitment. Here are nine ways you can approach your finances in ways that promote democratic values like equality, freedom, and justice, as well as democratic virtues like fairness, integrity, and consideration of others.

Democracy begins locally—not only within the city or county government nearest you but even closer, within your neighborhood. Philosopher and activist Grace Lee Boggs observed: “We can begin by doing small things at the local level … That is how change takes place in living systems, not from above but from within, from many local actions occurring simultaneously.” That process is how we can strengthen our democracy. Here are 12 starting points.

Seventeen ways to honor our home, the Earth. These practices help strengthen democratic values and virtues through our connection with the Earth, its current inhabitants, and its future generations.

Developed with Spirituality and Practice as part of the Practicing Democracy Project.

Eleven ways to support healthy and wise connections online. An increasing number of our interactions about democracy occur online. We turn to our favorite websites, channels, and chat rooms for research, dialogue, and debate, often as a replacement for pursuing face-to-face opportunities. To help foster healthy engagements online, we offer these suggestions.

Developed with Spirituality & Practice as part of the Practicing Democracy Project.

Thirteen ideas for practicing democracy in the workplace. Americans spend a major portion of each week at work. The way we go about our jobs and how we relate to our coworkers—both in our own workplace and on behalf of the larger community of workers—reveals how we much we value the common good and the national motto “Out of many, one.”

Developed with Spirituality & Practice as part of the Practicing Democracy Project.

Eighteen ways your faith community can help strengthen the bonds within our democracy. Faith communities serve as pillars of light modeling civility and hospitality to the stranger; they boldly denounce injustice and offer programs to enhance the common good. Here are some ways your faith community can strengthen the bonds within our democracy.

Developed with Spirituality and Practice as part of the Practicing Democracy Project.

Nine ways to help children engage democratic values. Children come naturally to some democratic values, like pursuit of happiness and love of freedom. Other ideals—like recognizing that we are all equal and seeking the common good—need practice. This guide encourages children's democratic engagement at home and in their communities.

Developed with Spirituality & Practice as part of the Practicing Democracy Project.