State Your Change

We've seen it drive past us on bumper stickers, worn on t-shirts, and painted in iconic art throughout our country. Believers and non-believers alike endlessly blogged it, twittered it, posted it and spoke it. Pop stars sang it, artists designed it, the nation felt it, and at the end of a two year campaign, a new president was elected for it.

After the last eight years, it seemed everyone finally came together to agree on this inescapable notion of what we need. A singular ideal. As a country we experienced the market crash, watched war ensue and witnessed fraud scandals like never before only to be lifted up by a single word that continues to give us hope and provide our many generations with a collective sense of progress: Change.

Change.

The word 'change' has always been a part of our vocabulary but has never before been so powerful. Why has it come to carry so much weight? Certainly the clamoring of voices has increased our consideration of it. But there is another, larger reality facing us. For the first time, maybe in decades, we feel that change holds real possibility. The baby boomers are more than ready, and there is little doubt that the millennials can taste it.

Modern technology, celebrity and media involvement, political transparency, minority turnout and the ability to communicate and rally with anyone, anywhere at a moments notice has empowered us to unite as a country. Location is no longer an issue. The barriers of age are beginning to disappear. No matter who we are or what political group we affiliate ourselves with, if any at all, we are all beginning to connect.

Communication is proving that generation, race, demographic and style are merely smoke and mirrors when it comes to who can influence our future. With the ridiculously rapid development of online social networks, mobile applications, modern grassroots movements and the growing urgency of now, we are seduced by change; it's allure insurmountable and implications incredible.

President Elect Obama strongly stated that "Change has come to America" and
in turn he has called on its citizens to provide that change. But hasn't change always been here? Was it merely a matter of time before we recognized our power and strength in numbers? We are in a special time and 2009 is opening the doors for a new America. This is obviously unique, but soundly in tune with many other social revolutions. It is OUR revolution. It is our -- the people of the United States of America -- turn to make this change what it should be.

"Yes we can" has turned into, "now we will." "What will they (government) do," is now, "what will we do?" What do we want to see change? What issues do the people of this country truly care about? How will we move forward to ensure that change becomes a reality, and not just another slogan?

*State Your Change* began in August at the DNC. Riding my bicycle around Denver, a young boy noticed my Obama spoke card and yelled, "Change" raising his hand high with fervor. Later that evening while grabbing a drink with some of my non-partisan friends, we noticed our beers were sitting on napkins tagged with Sheppard Fairey stickers and the words change, hope and progress drawn on them. With every corner turned, posters were plastered to windows and fliers filled the streets.

After seeing this five letter word all over the city, we began to question what this magical expression really meant to the people who stood so strongly behind it. Yes we know we want change, but what kinds of change do we really want to see? Do we really know what we need? Is it local or global?

With a video crew, Causecast began asking everyday people on the street, celebrities, musicians, activists and anyone we could get in front of the camera, regardless of their political affiliation, to answer one question. "What is the Change you wish to see in the world?"

We'd even run up to perfect strangers and say, "Hey! Will you please finish the sentence, 'The change in the world I'd like to see is...'?" Though first flushed, faces immediately filled with smiles and people became ecstatic to have the opportunity to voice their opinion in the excitement of this political overhaul.

What followed were some of the most incredible "causefessions" our filmmakers had ever seen. People began to open their hearts and tell the camera exactly what they wanted to see changed in our country and the world at large. So we didn't stop. We continued asking people the question wherever we went. Six months and hundreds of responses later, we've continued to build up the library of the diverse faces of our country. From eight year old environmentalists to seasoned activists, executive directors to musicians, mothers to web tech 2.0 bloggers, we are building a national campaign that truly represents the changes our collective generations would like to see. This is the people's campaign, bringing the faces to the forefront.

State Your Change was created to provide the people of America an opportunity to not only have their ideas read, but to have their voices heard directly from their lips. The power of video is transformative and often through blogs, emails, letters and simple petitions -- though powerful and necessary -- we often forget about the unique individuals who write the words we fight for. We live in a diverse melting pot and our 140 character limit tweets, 500 word blog posts, and single line comments don't truly do us justice. Those who stand behind the efforts need to be seen and heard. So grab your video camera, webcam, mobile phone or old school heavy duty 16mm and tell the world the change you'd like to see with the next administration. It doesn't matter what technology you use, the quality isn't in the image but in the message, so press record, save and upload your change.

On the eve of the inauguration, January 19th, Causecast and The Huffington Post will continue to collect the "causefessions" of change at the pre-inaugural ball. In turn, we will compile each and every video uploaded, gathered and submitted to Causecast prior to the 20th and hand them over to President Elect Obama's transition team for his consideration. He will be moved, just as we have been, by the responses and courage of the American people. Because change is in our hands, we must voice our change together.

Join Causecast, Myspace Impact and the Huffington Post in our collective efforts to give the people of our country the opportunity to be seen and heard. State Your Change and together we will tell President Elect Obama what we truly need to see change. Upload a video to Causecast.org finishing this statement: "The change in the world I'd like to see is..." and we will take your message with us to DC on January 20th.

Be inspired by some of the amazing videos others have posted, post your own video to Causecast and together we will answer Obama's call for change. I look forward to seeing your change become a reality.

Please watch the State Your Change 2009 video that features the likes of
Russell Simmons, Maria Shriver, Hanson, Ryan Eggolds and many other well spoken individuals we've met on our journey thus far. When you are ready to state your change, if you are like my Bubbie or even my tech savy little brother who often needs a little nudge, watch our funny, "How to Upload a Video" here. Everybody can do it.

Please don't hesitate, feel free to email me on my personal email at
[e-mail] and join us on this campaign for change. If you are a changemaker or tastemaker looking to change the world, I would love to hear from you.

To a better America and an incredibly happy and healthy New Year!

Peace.

P.S. Here is the video of me stating my change.

Levi Felix is Causecast's Sr. Director of Creative Development. Causecast has been referred to as "the one stop philanthropy shop." Combining entertainment, nonprofit, media, social network, and e-philanthropy, Causecast is your online destination for all things CAUSE.

Comments

[SammyD]

Term limits on all elected officials. This will change everything else listed.

[SeriousBlack]

Of course there are a lot of important things that really need to change in our civilization (for instance, banning AND actually getting rid of all nuclear weapons, just for one example), but if I had to name only one (and even if that were the only thing done it would, over the long haul, make just about the biggest difference in the quality of our lives) it would be universal, single-payer health care.

[blueken]

You hit the head right on the nail. Good for business, good for workers, good for health care providers. In this country I would propose payroll deductions based on amount of pay. I would give the employee a choice of private insureres who would function under strict regulations. Those insurers would have to use a universal billing system, and would negotiate prices with drug companies. No pre existing conditions, no network doctors. Perhaps co-pays, based on income. Doctors and clinics could choose, in or out. That way elite doctors could still pander to the super rich. We can't forget them. They want the best, and don't want to wait, but they would pay whatever the elite doctor wanted to charge, no insurance, just cash. There, everybody happy now?

[SonofLiberty1]

Bring Back the jobs that were outsourced to foreign nations.

A comprehensive Light Pollution law that will save money because we do not light the sky, rather we direct outdoor lighting down to the ground...where it is needed.

And a Federal law which will protect Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park & Preserve from Wind Turbine topped Strobe lights that threaten the second International Dark Sky Park.

[Anciano]

Save all discretionary purchases for the Obama administration. It's easy, it's effective and it'll save you some money. And what we're taking away from Bush, we're giving to Obama. The Bush administration has ignored unemployment, lack of health care, foreclosures and declining wages but what they DO care about are retail sales? That"s why we have taken a vow not to spend one cent on anything we don't have to buy at retail such as food or fuel until the Obama administration is sworn in. Bush"s rebates that added $1200 to our tax liability and his pleas to go shopping show the great importance of consumer spending to the legacy of Republican economics. Bush hijacked the country for the benefit of the wealthy for eight years, so let the wealthy keep the Bush consumer economy going for the next few weeks until the Republicans are rightfully flushed in disgrace. Learn about and patronize your smaller locally owned businesses and pay cash so it's under the radar of statistics. An "unexpected jump in February retail sales" will make a nice White House-warming gift for Obama.

[spriggig]

Of course, to draw a large audience Huff Post needs to focus on national politics but what really effects people the most is local politics.

What is needed is open transparency across the board, one website where I can find upcoming bills and the voting record of ALL my elected officials, right down to the city council. I punch in my zip code and ALL of it is right there.

[brodon]

No more Conservative Talk Radio
More higher taxes.
More government control on business, media and education.
More tax bonuses for those not paying taxes.
More Hollywood celebs running for office.
A fulfilled Obama promise for a Federal Civilian National Police Force.
Even more open borders.
Constitution rights for Gitmo terrorist.
Government controlled health care.

and finally. . . . free Abu Jamal Mumia.

[loki]

well what Ive seen so far, and what I read so far, leaves me far from the hopes I had during the election that change for the better is going to happen.

[cayuse]

Change:

The value of the dollar becomes a means of change and not America's biggest Industry
Character and ideas out weight your savings account
Labor and Genius are rewared more than traded stock appreciation
People realize JOY is a feeling that can be felt and not earned or compared to material accomplishments
People realize they cannot fix the World, but they can fix themselves

[hmargret]

Change that I want includes:
-No More Bad Food poisoning us from agri-business, like Con Agra, Cargill, etc.
-legally end Monsanto's ability to change the genetics of the planet; they are NOT a food solution
-no more invasions, like Iraq; no on Afghani interventions
-no more CIA interventions in foreign countries
-regulation of banking
-revision of the monetary system & ending compound interest on mortagages
-removal of all the changes to US constitution that Bush shoved thru
that's a partial list.....!

-

[kalapa]

Bravo! I like your list hmargret.

and....No more media monopolies.

No more lobbyists in Washington.

[Spinzone]

I'd like to change the situation where liberalism is a requirement to be a college professor. There is a decreasing amount of diversity at universities.

[jan4insight]

It's not a requirement, it's a by-product. People who think tend to have liberal values. College professors generally are thinkers (except for those who teach in fundamentalist right-wing "universities") and therefore they tend to be liberal in outlook.

Q.E.D.

[SammyD]

yes, and that's because they spend their time thinking but nevering doing We now see the results of all the thinking without any rel life experience. It's easy to have theories but alas the majority of theories don't work in real life.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Levi Felix- You are cool, you are an inspiration, your message is profound!

DON'T "YOU" CHANGE!!!

Big Love,

Ed

[larry278]

When Obama started to get money from fat cats, I gave up on change. But now everybody's broke or going broke, expect change. The fat cats want change. Obama & others will build new financial structures to replace all of the structures which fell on 9/15/08. Since trust has been destroyed, somebody has to find something to replace trust. That may take a few centuries. We will get change, not the change you wanted, but generic change.

[ohioan73]

I would like to see the principals of community organizing become something less exotic and foreign to average Americans. Community Organizing is simply a group of citizens fighting corruption and holding politicians accountable and should not be considered something done by "radicals". There is no reason for us to have our heads in the sand while corrupt politicians ream us. This is a government for, by and of The People and we should never lose sight of that again. We have the right to fire our leaders and we must be more vigilant about our own destiny and finally come to terms with the responsibility of our citizenship. Being American is not just about voting. Being American is a responsibility and a job that many of us have abandoned over the decades and centuries in pursuit of toys and wealth. We have gotten so rich, fat and sedated, we have forgotten about the world.

[RetireGreen]

I am going to change the way retirement savings is calculated, restoring the dream of retirement for millions, and in the process help save the economy and the planet. It's called Green Retirement.

http://www.iplanretirement.com

Living a Green Lifestyle, both before and during retirement, enables anyone to retire with much less savings and many years earlier. This is more than an idea, it is a formula, and a method. The reason humans have survived, is due to our ability to change and adapt to new circumstances, together we can make the changes required to survive and prosper.

[smag]

Heck I don't want change, I want dollars like everybody else.

[forpeace]

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smag
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....... and I want both change & dollars!

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