PROJECT HISTORY
Site founder and facilitator Jon Mann spent 15 years developing and managing hundreds of creative projects, collaboratively planned and carried out with 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), Russel Ross, and Brian Nickerson, Ph.D, a public policy and good government expert (now a Dean 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 and determined to overcome the limitations of The People watching our democracy from the 'sidelines,' Jon reformatted and expanded the concept to become this interactive website, which went online in February, 2009. Its evolution continues, incorporating all good ideas from users.
In June, 2009 the site began its first $1,000 National Scholarship Competition, for incoming freshmen at colleges across America. The Competition drew thoughtful entries from across the Country and the story of the winner drew AP, TV, Radio, online and international news coverage. The entry was submitted for congressional review by four relevant committees, to share the timely ideas in the entry and also to start introducing Our Voice Our Country to Congress.
In July, 2009 Our Voice Our Country was a featured presenter at the National Civic Summitt in Minneapolis, held in conjunction with a National Association of Secretaries of State conference.
We followed up on the success of our Summer 09 Competition with two additional Competitions, in Fall '09 - Winter '10 and again in Spring, 2010. Over 1,000 entries were made by students from every state during the three Competitions. Interestingly that activity has spurred participation by many more non-students, with almost 3,000 entries having been made at the site as of June, 2010 -- and over 180,000 visitors.
In June, 2010 Our Voice Our Country will present a workshop at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service. The Meaning of The American Revolution Today, a 30-minute moderated discussion featuring three of America's top Revolutionary War historians will premiere at ourvoiceourcountry.org on July 4th weekend.