Enrichment · Passion Projects

Bring numbers
to the meeting.

A council or school board can say no to a complaint; it is harder to say no to two days of counts, four old 311 requests and a clear ask. Gather the evidence here, mix its kinds, and arrive with something they can act on.

Start an issueWhat you get
$5one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $5

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Passion projects kit, $39 for 34 items.

Your issues

The worked example is made up: students counting drivers at a crosswalk by their school, and a park path with lights out. Saved on this device only.

Loading the issue form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Enrichment · Passion Projects$5

What you finish with
A record per local issue: the problem, where, who it affects, each piece of evidence with its kind and date, who can decide, the next public meeting and your ask, and eight checks. Counts evidence and kinds of evidence and the days to the meeting; flags evidence of one or two kinds only, a close meeting with no ask, a missing decider and the public comment basics.
Who it is for
Students doing civics or service projects, student councils, youth commissions, and neighbors working on a local problem.
Format
Browser organizer with a saved record per issue. Prints a one-page case to hand out, every issue in a table or a blank sheet; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
$5 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Passion projects kit ($39) and the Enrichment Suite pass ($119), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Passion Projects space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Name the problem and the exact place.
  2. Count or watch on two or more days and log it.
  3. Search 311 and meeting minutes for a record.
  4. Find who can decide and when they meet.
  5. Write one specific ask and sign up to speak.

Start an issue

Evidence that moves an agenda

Evidence a decider can act onCount itSame place, sametime, two or moredaysWrite the methoddown so anyonecould repeat itDocument itDated photos andshort notesPublic records:311 requests,minutes,inspectionreportsHear itPeople affected,in their words,with permissionNo faces or namesof minors withouta parent’s OKAsk for one thingFind who can sayyesOne specificrequest with adateEvidence a decider can act onCount itSame place, same time, two or more daysWrite the method down so anyone could repeatitDocument itDated photos and short notesPublic records: 311 requests, minutes,inspection reportsHear itPeople affected, in their words, withpermissionNo faces or names of minors without aparent’s OKAsk for one thingFind who can say yesOne specific request with a date
Commissions and boards hear many complaints. Numbers gathered carefully, a record that shows the problem is not new and a clear ask are what move an item onto an agenda.

Public comment

Most city councils, commissions and school boards set aside time for public comment. It usually means signing up before the meeting, speaking for two or three minutes and staying on one topic. Many also take written comments; a one-page summary with your counts is easy to pass around.

Keep people safe

Count from the sidewalk, never the street. Ask before you quote anyone, and leave out the faces and full names of minors unless a parent agrees. Public records are public; private information about neighbors is not.

Sources

  1. National Conference of State Legislatures and state open meetings laws: Open meetings and public comment overviews (ncsl.org).
  2. Federal Highway Administration. Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) countermeasures, including rectangular rapid flashing beacons (highways.dot.gov).
  3. Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). Youth civic action research (circle.tufts.edu).
  4. Generation Citizen. Action civics project guides (generationcitizen.org).

The worked examples are made up. Meeting rules differ by city and board; check the agenda and the clerk’s instructions. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.