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GOOD Citizenship Task 20: Ask a Foreign-Born Person to Share Their Migration Story #30DaysofGOOD

When is the last time you asked someone their story?

By Harrison Freeman,
Harrison Freeman
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Eric Liu,
Eric Liu
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Jena Cane
Jena Cane
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Feb 24, 2012


Things are easier said than done, or so the old adage goes, and we couldn't agree more. That's why we do The GOOD 30-Day Challenge (#30DaysofGOOD), a monthly attempt to live better. Our challenge for February? GOOD citizenship.

Ask a foreign-born person to share their migration story.

So we're a nation of immigrants. But when was the last time you asked an immigrant why she or he came to this nation? What dreams compelled them? Have those dreams come to pass? If so, how? If not, why not?

The simple act of asking—of inviting a new American to share their story of how they came here and why—does a few things at once. It weaves the storyteller more powerfully into the American story. It awakens you to the stories all around us. It requires both of you to lean forward and connect with someone in a way that you can't in everyday polite conversation. The person you ask might be someone you see at work or in the neighborhood. Or you might go to a local organization that works with immigrants and refugees and spend a short amount of time listening. Either way, there are few better ways to remember what being a citizen is about.

Learn how to live like a citizen at The Guiding Lights Weekend conference on creative citizenship March 8-10 in Seattle.

Propose an idea to promote GOOD citizenship where you live for a chance to win $500 to make it happen.

good challenge30daysofgood#30daysofgoodgood citizenship

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