On June 15, 2009 the Oviedo City Council unanimously adopted a resolution to support an initiative known as “Building Citizenship in the Community: Back to Basics”.  This new program was designed by the Florida League of Cities to increase civic awareness and participation and to develop more informed residents, voters and leaders.  Oviedo is now one of more than 100 Florida cities who have adopted the resolution and endorsed this initiative.   

Below are 10 things that the League of Cities program suggests Oviedo and other cities can do to advance this initiative.  Some of these ideas will involve collaboration with schools and other agencies.   

• Adopt a resolution recognizing the “Building Citizenship in the Community: Back to Basics” initiative.
• Develop a civic-education action plan.
• Make civic resources available to your residents.
• Establish a speaker’s bureau.
• Create a citizens’ academy and/or a youth council.
• Establish a city/school partnership program.
• Create “community tours” of City Hall for all residents and shadowing opportunities for educators and students.
• Use City Council meetings as an opportunity to improve your community’s civic health.
• Sponsor community forums where critical issues can be discussed in even more detail.
• Form community partnerships with civil groups and other businesses.