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Michael Walker: Teaching the Importance of Voting, Iowa
This snapshot was gathered in conjunction with the Museum on Main Street program at the Smithsonian Institution and its "Stories from Main Street" initiative. The project is intended to capture Americans' impressions and stories about their small-town and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, and thoughts about American democracy. This story is from a group of narratives inspired by the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America."
Michael Walker (00:00): In my opinion, civic engagement is really the way that we as a people interact with our communities. And I think one of the most important ways that we interact with our community is through the voting process and, and really making sure that we're tuned in to who our elected officials are, not only at the local level, but at the federal level. And one of the ways that I try to bring that democracy into my community, into my home is through making the voting process, the caucusing process, the primary process, a family affair.
(00:29): And I have two young children, eight and 10, and they have been with me through every year of voting, whether it's the city council, whether it's the school board, or whether it's the president. And, I think it's really important to have them walk with me to the polls and see the process and make sure that they know it's not a scary process, and make sure that when they do get to a voting age, they feel comfortable going into those voting booths.
(00:51): But also that changes that, or that goes down to making sure that they're part of the caucus process here in the state of Iowa, which is an important process in the presidential election from a national perspective, but also from our responsibility as Iowans to that national process, making sure that they know what it means to caucus and how that works, and having fun with the process and interacting with the presidential candidates that come through Iowa on a regular basis when it gets to that time. And while it could be exhausting, we make sure that we have fun with the kids and make sure that they're incorporated into that experience.
Asset ID: 2023.03.02.b
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By The PealeThis snapshot was gathered in conjunction with the Museum on Main Street program at the Smithsonian Institution and its "Stories from Main Street" initiative. The project is intended to capture Americans' impressions and stories about their small-town and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, and thoughts about American democracy. This story is from a group of narratives inspired by the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America."
Michael Walker (00:00): In my opinion, civic engagement is really the way that we as a people interact with our communities. And I think one of the most important ways that we interact with our community is through the voting process and, and really making sure that we're tuned in to who our elected officials are, not only at the local level, but at the federal level. And one of the ways that I try to bring that democracy into my community, into my home is through making the voting process, the caucusing process, the primary process, a family affair.
(00:29): And I have two young children, eight and 10, and they have been with me through every year of voting, whether it's the city council, whether it's the school board, or whether it's the president. And, I think it's really important to have them walk with me to the polls and see the process and make sure that they know it's not a scary process, and make sure that when they do get to a voting age, they feel comfortable going into those voting booths.
(00:51): But also that changes that, or that goes down to making sure that they're part of the caucus process here in the state of Iowa, which is an important process in the presidential election from a national perspective, but also from our responsibility as Iowans to that national process, making sure that they know what it means to caucus and how that works, and having fun with the process and interacting with the presidential candidates that come through Iowa on a regular basis when it gets to that time. And while it could be exhausting, we make sure that we have fun with the kids and make sure that they're incorporated into that experience.
Asset ID: 2023.03.02.b