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."

Melanie Bell (00:00): Well, number one thing would be, vote. If you want a voice, you need to register. Go down and register and be able to vote.

(00:08): People don't realize what our ancestors did for us. They fought, they died, they gave it all for us to have this big right to go out and vote. People that complain, if you don't vote, you don't have a voice, I feel like.

(00:22): But beyond that, getting involved in not just local clubs, getting involved in your local politics, serving on a board of adjustments, or serving on boards with the county, sidewalk boards, learning more, educating yourself on budgets. What is our money going towards? Not only just city, county, but state levels.

(00:48): So, I feel that that is your civic responsibility, everybody's civic responsibility, to get involved. And just don't go out and talk it, but walk it, and walk it every day. And join clubs, the Kiwanis Club or the Rotaries, and be involved that you know what's going on in our community.

Asset ID: 2022.37.12.f