Blog
Be a Light in the Darkness: Why You Should Become a Member of First Amendment Voice
Take a moment to imagine a lighthouse. It’s perched on a seaside cliff, overlooking the dark, stormy seas below and weathering tremendous gusts of wind from all sides. Even amidst the most torrential storms, the lighthouse fulfills its core purpose by continuing to...
Monthly Message from the FAV Team: April 2021
FAV Community, After the divisiveness and health emergencies of the last year, it seems we have been inundated with bad news and the media continues to feed us that diet. Are you looking for a place to learn about good community work, positive news stories, and...
Everyday Inspirations: Lessons Inspired by Edward D. Lowry
As we gear up for our inaugural Edward D. Lowry Award Ceremony on May 21st, we'd like to take the time to reflect on the many civic-minded qualities embodied by the award's namesake and invite you to consider how you can integrate these principles into your own life....
Celebrating Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, we have chosen to highlight a tremendous force in women’s and Asian-American history: Patsy Mink. Mink served in the US House of Representatives as the rep for Hawaii from 1965-1977 and then again from 1990 until her death in 2002....
Our Opportunity to Move Forward Together
By Councilmember Chris Duncan Reprinted with permission from Chris Duncan. This article originally was printed in San Clemente Times, (March 4, 2021). Our natural instinct in these times is to find like-minded souls to take us in, assuage our self-doubt, and tell us...
Lessons on overcoming adversity after one year of the pandemic
One of the qualities encapsulated in First Amendment Voice's Ed Lowry Memorial Award for Citizenship is a person's ability to overcome setbacks and strive on in the face of adversity. Many of us are no strangers to adversity, especially after one of the most...
Does the First Amendment cover citizen journalists?
Citizen journalists: are they protected under the First Amendment?
Honoring Black History Month
Dear FAV Community, In honor of Black History Month, I thought it would be appropriate for FAV to emphasize the impact of African American leaders. They represent one third of our Board of Directors, Advisory Council members, Symposium speakers and many of our...
3 proven ways to stay calm in a heated argument
Arguments don’t need to be inherently upsetting and uncomfortable. These 3 strategies can help you keep a level head (even if the other person doesn’t).
Announcing the Ed Lowry Memorial Award for Citizenship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPM553kJESI We at FAV are pleased to announce that we will be awarding the Ed Lowry Memorial Award for Citizenship starting this year. Purpose Honor the life and legacy of Edward D. Lowry by recognizing outstanding civic engagement and...
What free speech limitations exist in other countries?
What do Sweden, Japan and South Africa have in common with the United States’ free speech laws? How do these countries freedom of expression laws differ?
Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
FAV Community, On this day, I reflected about the struggles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights advocates decades ago, realizing how much we have yet to achieve. I recall how even in combat in Iraq, we took time to pause on this day, considering the...