KAP HomeKnowledge As PowerKAP_fa6c43ca-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2aKnowledge As Power (KAP) is an open government, 501 (c)(3) organization.CitizensLegislatorsGovernmentsCitizens and government working better, together._fa6c464a-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2aTo help people become better citizens, legislators become better lawmakers, and governments become better servants of the public._fa6c4780-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2aTechnologyProvide online technology._fa6c4848-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a1KAPcitizenAllow individuals to easily track legislation on any topic, view relevant video from their legislature, and communicate effectively with their lawmakers._fa6c48e8-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a1.1KAPcitizen is Knowledge As Power’s free, online service allowing individuals to easily track legislation on any topic, view relevant video from their legislature, and communicate effectively with their lawmakers. Launched in 2008 in Washington State, KAPcitizen is the first comprehensive legislation tracking service integrating video, communications tools, legalese translation—all for free, online.Civics EducationProvide offline civics education._fa6c497e-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2CurriculumDevelop a curriculum to provide foundational civic skills._fa6c4a1e-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.1Only 22 American states test for civic knowledge in the United States. For those students who are lucky to be educated on American government and “civic” topics, most aren’t taught how to engage with their government. Students are educated that voting is emphasized, but not receive mixed messages on engagement in legislative process. Recognizing that America is graduating young adults without the skills to effectively track issues in city councils, state legislatures, Congress, or other lawmaking and decision-making bodies, KAPcivics was developed to meet this civics education need. Over the past two years, Knowledge As Power developed a civics curriculum called “Act & Impact” provides foundational civic skills on how to [achieve four objectives]. KAPcivics was designed by Knowledge As Power’s staff and reviewed by civic engagement leaders, such as iCivics and the Dreyfus Initiative. The curriculum is currently being reviewed and tested by teachers in the Bellevue School District, in Washington State. The text of the document is written at an 8th grade reading level, making it accessible to a range of classrooms and to the 80% of Americans who read at an 8th grade level. Take a peek at this Creative Commons-licensed curriculum. It’s free to use, copy, and distribute under the Creative Commons license type.Political IssuesTrack any political issue in legislative process, at any level of government._fa6c4abe-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.1.1Legislation and CommunicationsUse new, online tools and resources for tracking legislation and communicating with lawmakers._fa6c4b72-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.1.2RelationshipsLeverage simple, proven strategies for developing relationships with lawmakers._fa6c4c30-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.1.3Engagement and ResultsGain confidence in their capacity to effectively engage lawmakers and make a difference in their communities._fa6c4cf8-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.1.4KAPcommunityIncrease citizen engagement in the decision-making bodies of government._fa6c4dc0-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.1.4.1City of SeattleEveryone knows it’s important to vote, and many of us know we can “contact our lawmakers,” but few of us know how. Sadly, 53% of Americans believe “people in government don’t care about what people like me think,” (NCOC Civic Health Survey, 2010). Knowledge As Power’s KAPcommunity program is geared to increase citizen engagement in the decision-making bodies of government. KAPcommunity works achieves this goal through educating citizens on how to engage effectively with government and increasing citizen’s sense of internal efficacy (one’s confidence in their abilities to understand and influence political events). Through a City of Seattle Technology Matching Fund grant, Knowledge As Power’s KAPcommunities pilot program is educating community groups, individuals, and classrooms of kids on how to make their voice heard in the legislative process. KAPcommunities is based on KAP’s civics curriculum, reviewed and approved by civic engagement leaders, such as iCivics and the Dreyfus Initiative. Covered in each class: * Foundational knowledge for individuals on the legislative process. * Online and offline tools, resources for tracking legislation. * Education on successful, simple strategies for citizen engagement. * Research and examples of how individuals and small groups can be effective advocates. KAPevents[Conduct] conferences._fa6c4e92-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.2Four conferences, two countries, three states, 1,200+ participants, & 20+ local meet-ups in the last 1.5 years. RelationshipsBuilding relationships across gov, nonprofits, civic groups, & tech companies._fa6c4f78-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.2.1Partnership and SponsorshipPartnership development, sponsorship acquisition._fa6c505e-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.2.2Ideas & TechnologySpreading good ideas & technology._fa6c5158-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.2.3Efficiency and ExperienceCost efficient, low ticket prices, great experiences._fa6c5252-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2.2.4Engagement and Advice[Foster] engagement and [provide] advising [services] in order to help citizens and government work better, together._fa6c534c-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a3Knowledge As Power provides consulting services, usability studies, and event management. Our advising supports open, modern, and interactive governments from the city to the national level. We’ve provided advice on how to create and manage open government solutions for national governments (including the US Congress, the White House, several US agencies and 10 Downing Street), as well as state and city governments (the NY State Senate, British Columbia and the cities of Seattle and San Francisco). We believe that creating useful and intuitive online services is key to giving citizens greater access to, and engagement within, government. We also think great advising doesn’t have to cost taxpayers a lot of money to yield great results._fa6c5450-58c2-11e1-a6e9-b32a7a64ea2a2012-02-16http://knowledgeaspower.org/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net