Today marks one year since the launch of my website and social media presence! It’s been a year of exciting growth and a lot of learning. In addition to building my own understanding of technology and social media, I’ve also learned a lot from my fellow Kansans and Americans about the things they care about and the issues that impact their lives the most. So for the many who have been engaged with this site, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for being part of this new journey for me.
Civic Engagement is my passion in life, and it also represents an on-going challenge—the eternal quest to form that “more perfect union” envisioned by our founders. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to live out this value as a private citizen, a public servant, a teacher of Civic Leadership, and now through this website. It is the true definition of a “passion project” for me that involves reaching out and engaging as many people as possible with the issues and challenges facing our future.
Civic Engagement is my passion in life, and it also represents an on-going challenge—the eternal quest to form that “more perfect union” envisioned by our founders. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to live out this value as a private citizen, a public servant, a teacher of Civic Leadership, and now through this website. It is the true definition of a “passion project” for me that involves reaching out and engaging as many people as possible with the issues and challenges facing our future.
A Look Back at Year One:
In the first year, we’ve built a strong following of over 1,000 on Facebook and reached tens of thousands more with our posts through your Likes, Comments, and Shares. The site receives around 300 visits on an average day and can top over 3,000 on days when particularly engaging content is shared. Growth on Twitter has been modest but steady, and it will be an area of focus in the coming year (by increasing the activity of the account—including some content available exclusively on Twitter).
Below are some highlights from each month of Year One of my blog, hover over the photos to read more:
Below are some highlights from each month of Year One of my blog, hover over the photos to read more:
Looking Forward:
So what’s on the horizon for Year Two?
- As current events happen, I’ll have more to share on state and national issues, along with more stories and examples from my personal experience to be incorporated into future blog posts on issues from education, to infrastructure, to the growth of the middle class.
- With help from several media outlets, the State Archives, and a lot volunteer hours on the part of my sister, Ann Carlin Ozegovic, we’ve cultivated plenty more great photos to share in “Throwback Thursday” posts and future blogs.
- The guest contributor section of the site—the Leader Corner—averaged one post per month from seven unique contributors, and growth is on the horizon with more voices and more issues to cover.
- In the Leading and Learning Moments section, you’ll find a set of short YouTube videos on several areas of learning that I discuss in my classes and can be used for personal or organizational learning on leadership. This year, I’ll be releasing a new set of videos focused on Civic Engagement that can be helpful in community-focused work, involving others in the democratic process, and mobilizing others in efforts for change.
Growing Together:
My goal with this site is to reach people of all backgrounds and political stripes and advance important dialogues and ideas from around our kitchen tables all the way up to making changes—both big and small—in our communities, our state, our country, and the world. I hope you’ll consider joining me in this by being part of these dialogues and helping us grow as an online community to reach more citizens and involve them in a conversation that can help us—together—shape our future.
If you have about three minutes to spare, I'd appreciate hearing some of your feedback in the short survey below. This information will be very helpful as we continue to grow together in 2016!
If you have about three minutes to spare, I'd appreciate hearing some of your feedback in the short survey below. This information will be very helpful as we continue to grow together in 2016!
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