Written by: Bill Schickel, Former Mayor of Mason City
Are you in need of a little inspiration? Look no further than the 5th Annual National Civics Bee. You are invited to this inspiring event on Thursday, April 2, in the FEMA Room at John Adams Middle School. I guarantee you will leave more hopeful than when you arrived.
You wouldn’t know it from watching the national news, but our system of government is designed to bring people together, not drive them apart. It depends on participation, on listening, on a shared commitment to the common good. In other words, democracy works best when we do — when we show up, engage respectfully, and see one another not as enemies, but as fellow citizens with a stake in the outcome.
That spirit will be on full display April 2. This event is more than a competition. It’s a living example of what civic life can look like at its best.
Here in Mason City, we’ve seen that same principle at work. Our recent success hasn’t come from division, but from connection. It comes from neighbors, businesses, and community partners working together to move forward.
The formula is simple, even if it takes intention: Talk with people, not about them. See others as allies, not adversaries. Be a bridge builder through partnerships.
The Civics Bee reflects these values in action, as students step forward to demonstrate not just knowledge, but a commitment to citizenship. It’s fitting the event takes place at John Adams Middle School, named for a founder who believed education was essential to democracy’s success.
Come see it for yourself. If these students are any indication, the future of our community, and indeed our country, is in good hands. You just might leave with a renewed sense of what’s possible.