Education

In his Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson (1784) stressed the importance of an educated citizenry to monitor the frailties of political leaders and protect the foundations of democratic life. He noted:

“…In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some germ of corruption and degeneracy, which cunning will discover, and wickedness insensibly open, cultivate, and improve. Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves therefore are its only safe depositories. And to render even them safe their minds must be improved to a certain degree.…”

Today’s world is more complicated than 1784, which only exacerbates the challenge of being educated on the governance of one’s community.  Traditional news sources, driven by advertising revenue, compete for attention more than they seek to educate. Forward Tampa Bay is simplifying the work it takes to become knowledgeable about how things get done in your local community.

Engagement

We are the community we make, and a rich social fabric based on real human interactions in person provides a better way to live.  While technology promises to connect us, breaking bread has long been a way for people to come together to build the personal relationships that bind a strong community. Forward Tampa Bay will drive this type of engagement through community-focused events that allow us to really see, know, and trust one another.

Encouragement

We are a system of self-governance. While only some will step forward to serve in official public capacities, we must all endeavor to create a society that warrants the sacrifice of service. We cannot bemoan a lack of good candidates without working to create an environment that respects the institutions of self-government.  And with that foundation set Forward Tampa Bay will help lay the path for prepared citizens to be good candidates.

Communication

Humans are social creatures relying on communication for everything from safety and security to comfort and love. Communication is also challenging, and today, there are many channels competing for attention and fragmenting efforts to communicate. With a big vision for making our community great, Forward Tampa Bay has a lot of ideas, questions, and information it wants to communicate among a large, growing, diverse group of people. Forward Tampa Bay will be a leading voice across a host of issues.