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Friday, January 4, 2013

Finding your way around the State House

Grassroots Effort to Increase Civic Participation
By KEVIN PROFT/ecoRI.org News staff
PROVIDENCE — Six people congregated in the decked halls of the Statehouse just before 3 p.m. on a recent Wednesday for the first of a series of “civic outings,” organized by the Rhode Island Chapter of the Sierra Club. The purpose of these outings is to familiarize Rhode Islanders with the legislative process, from the buildings where it happens to how individuals can make their voices heard.


“People feel comfortable going to the library but don’t feel comfortable going to the Statehouse,” said Abel Collins, program manager for the R.I. Sierra Club. Collins noted that the Statehouse, just like a library, is a public building built to serve the people. “Anyone is welcome to come here.”
The hour-long outing centered on a guided tour led by Meredith Puppa, a Statehouse employee. Puppa navigated the group through important rooms while highlighting items of interest, such as Rhode Island’s Royal Charter of 1663 from King Charles II outside the Senate Chamber and pieces of moon rock displayed in the library. She peppered in a variety of anecdotes about the history of the building, including that the “Independent Man” standing atop the building’s dome was struck by lightening 27 times before a lightening rod was installed.
Knowing her audience, Puppa also noted that by installing computers at the legislators’ desks in both the House and Senate in 2002, the Statehouse went 60 percent paperless.
Collins added more practical information, describing how Rhode Islanders can lobby representatives and senators. “(Rhode Island’s elected leaders) are regular people like you or me,” he said, “and honestly, they need (constituents) to tell them what they think or else they just end up talking to special interests.”
Collins said future outings will include viewings of committee meetings, where the public can testify for or against a bill, and trips to the chamber floors, where outing participants will be able to talk to their representatives. Rep. Donna Walsh, D-Charlestown, a member of the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, has agreed to join the Sierra Club on a future Statehouse civic outing, according to Collins.
Collins and the Sierra Club also will experiment with other innovative outings designed to “build the skills, knowledge and experience to effect policy change.” One example is a “YouTube Outing,” which will teach participants the importance of videography and social media in modern activism.
“Road Audit Outings” will focus on potential improvements that can be made through better transportation planning.
“I think we began demystifying the Statehouse,” said Collins, in reference to the club’s first civic outing. “Anybody can come here. Anybody can talk to (their elected leaders).”
Collins hopes these outings translate to greater civic participation. He believes higher participation will naturally lead to more people pushing for the causes the Sierra Club has marked as priorities, such as stabilizing RIPTA’s funding, securing renewable energy tax credits and building the infrastructure to support electric vehicles.
“There is going to be a lot to talk about this session,” Collins said.
He hopes he won’t be the only one doing the talking.
To learn about future Sierra Club civic outings, send an e-mail to Abel Collins at abel.collins@sierraclub.org.
Kevin Proft volunteers with the Rhode Island Chapter of the Sierra Club.