2012 Journey

A Journey that Counts:
Promoting Citizenship Education from Sea to Shining Sea

Citizenship Counts’ Board Member Diane Eckstein and her husband John are passionate and proud American citizens. On January 27, 2012, they began a cross-country journey with their dog, Kipp, walking and biking 3,500 miles, to promote engaged citizenship, awareness of the naturalization process and the Citizenship Counts program.

A Journey that Counts: Promoting Citizenship Education from Sea to Shining Sea is traveling across America and participating in celebrations of citizenship in several communities across the country. The inspirations for the Ecksteins’ Journey across America are Gerda Klein’s life and the work of Citizenship Counts, the organization Gerda founded as her way of giving back to the country that saved her life and enabled her to build a future. “We are proud to be Americans,” the Ecksteins say, “and hope that our Journey will inspire and educate young people to be good, participating citizens.”

The Ecksteins will cover all of their personal travel-related expenses. Any and all donations will directly support Citizenship Counts efforts to create an interactive educational experience that encourages students to celebrate citizenship and engage in their communities.

John and Diane sleep in a recreational vehicle after long days of exercise, walking and biking across the nation.  Their Journey commenced at San Diego High School on January 27, 2012 and will travel through the following major cities: Phoenix, Arizona; Tucson, AZ; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; College Station, TX; Dallas, TX; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Nashville, TN; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, PA; and New York City, New York.

Throughout the Journey, Citizenship Counts has partnered with middle and high schools in communities across the country, where students use the Citizenship Counts curriculum to learn about how immigration has created a diverse and inclusive United States. Students also learn about the naturalization process, through which newcomers enter the U.S. citizenry. Finally, the curriculum inspires students to participate in service to their communities and strive to be responsible citizens for the rest of their lives. Diane and John author a blog that students and other interested citizens can use as a tool to learn about the history and geography of our country and about the vital contributions of immigrants who have become citizens throughout our history. As the culmination of their educational program, students in our partnering schools participate in naturalization ceremonies or other celebrations of citizenship and civic engagement at their schools or alternative community venues.  Along with community members, elected officials, and other stakeholders, John, Diane, and Kipp attend each event. Citizenship Counts Founder Gerda Weissmann Klein has attended and delivered the keynote address at several of these ceremonies.  She will also meet the Journey team in Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City, NY.

Individuals and businesses interested in supporting the work of Citizenship Counts can pledge per mile for the Journey or may elect to donate in other ways. Please follow this link to make your contribution.

The Ecksteins are maintaining a blog on our website where supporters can track their progress. Their dog, Kipp, composes his own blog entries, describing his experiences as he travels across America. Additional details about the Journey can also be found on Facebook (CitizenshipCounts) and Twitter (@CitizenshipCnts). To follow John and Diane’s adventures, take a look at their blogs!  Click here to read on.