Being “civically engaged” can sound kind of overwhelming to some people and maybe even a turn-off to others. But with the state in a budget mess and dealing with unemployment woes, none of us can afford to sit back and wait for others to do the work.

That is why I have launched a statewide call to service, “Find Your One Thing.” I am asking that we all identify just one area or one action that will make a positive impact and that is manageable for your life and situation.

Last week, I kicked off “Find Your One Thing” at 22 college campuses across Washington in a weeklong sweep.  The message clearly resounded with students, who were eager to organize service events, forums and learn more about how they could fulfill their civic duty:

While the effort started on the college campus, it doesn’t end there. I want you to get involved in the cause, too.

I have a few easy ideas for how you can do “One Thing” to get involved right now:

• Take 30 seconds to join the “Find Your One Thing” cause on Facebook and, on the wall, share your experience with a community of Washingtonians who also want to take small steps toward change.
• Find out how your actions stack up against your peers – and get some tips on a simple action you can take. Score yourself by taking our Online Civics Challenge and see how much you’re contributing to your community.
• Know a Washingtonian who is inspiring their community one act of service at a time? Share your stories and pictures by emailing [email protected] . We will feature these stories on our agency blog in an ongoing series.

Thanks for being part of the solution!