Class: Politics 101

Episode Summary: Christina Puentes is here to discuss her experiences with civic engagement; how important it is - especially now - and how to get involved in it.

Christina’s Bio: Christina is the 29-year old daughter of immigrants from China and Colombia. As a former elementary and high school teacher, she advocates for equity and accountability in the K-12 education arena. She has a strong interest in the intersectionality of systems, especially those involving democratic processes. Christina is a proud alumna of The University of Texas at Austin, with both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the university. She is also a member of the inaugural cohort of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School. Committed to public service, Christina has served with AmeriCorps, has been active in community coalitions, and has volunteered with local organizations since college. She currently serves as the chair of Austin's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and works as a policy analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Topics Discussed:

• Christina’s Introduction - [1:10]
• Why Civic Engagement? - [2:34]
• Christina’s Master Studies - [6:29]
• Civic Education Reform - [7:41]
• Civic Education Past, Present, and Future - [9:57]
• Critical Race Theory in Civics - [13:16]
• Why Engage in Civics? - [14:59]
• The Ukraine Situation - [16:42]
• How Many Countries Have a Democracy? - [18:21]
• The Benefits of a Democracy - [19:05]
• How to Engage in Civics - [22:18]
• Relationship Building in Civics - [26:09]
• Civic Values - [28:34]
• Focus on Local Politics - [30:04]
• A Life Lesson from Christina - [32:04]
• Where to Find Christina - [34:16]

Christina’s LinkedIn: @christinaapuentes

Articles about Austin redistricting work here and here

Christina’s Research here and here

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