What does it mean to be a citizen?

What does it mean to be a citizen? Most of us are citizens of the United States of America. Others might be citizens of a different country. None-the-less we all have legal citizenship somewhere. However, is having legal papers all it really takes to be a citizen?

When most people think of citizenship they think of their rights. In America, many people will think of the Bill of Rights. It includes freedom of speech, the right to vote, the right to bear arms, and many other rights we get for being citizens of the U.S. Having all of these rights are great, but there is more to being a citizen that people aren't thinking of. There are duties that come along with citizenship too.

We have duties outlined by our country: jury duty, military participation (not a required duty in the U.S.), and the duty to pay taxes. But as citizens we also have the responsibility of giving back. We have the responsibility to work in our communities to make our country a better place to live.

The Community Citizen Awareness Project focuses on the responsibilities of being a citizen. The CCAP is bringing people together who understand their responsibility and are active members within their own communities. We invite you to join our project and talk about your experiences. You can share your story by finding us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

Citizenship may seem like a right, but members of this project understand that it is also a privilege.