PROJECT HISTORY
Jon Mann spent 15 years developing and managing hundreds of creative projects that have helped schools, communities, companies, institutions and individuals to address issues of concern. Meanwhile, as a participant in many grassroots efforts to improve conditions through existing channels to government since the 1970s, Jon came to share the frustration and disappointment that many in America feel.
Recognizing the need of a better way for The People to be heard, Jon combined these two parallel fields of experience into a timely new process which enables citizens to participate more actively and assertively in our democracy.
After copywriting and registering the concept with the Library of Congress and Writers Guild of America by 2001, Jon presented his idea to a politically and culturally diverse range of respected leaders in relevant fields, as well as to everyday people across the country. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and their input was incorporated as the concept was refined and strengthened.
An advisory committee was formed that included Walter Cronkite, Yolanda King (King Center), Jehmu Greene (Rock the Vote!), Ron Daniels (Center For Constitutional Rights) and Brian Nickerson, Ph.D, a public policy and good goverment expert (now Dean of Arts & Sciences at Iona College).
The concept was first presented as a television program to two networks which expressed interest. But after several meetings over a two year period, the political nature and power of this concept proved an overwhelming obstacle for them.
Refusing to give up, determined to overcome the limitations of The People watching our democracy from the 'sidelines,' Jon redesigned the concept as this interactive website Our Voice Our Country, which went online in February, 2009.