“Citizen. So, you see, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there’s an election, not just when you own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the Internet, try talking with one of them in real life.

If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Persevere.”

— Barack Obama, Farewell Words Jan. 10, 2017

In response to this statement, John Seigel-Boettner of Santa Barbara, challenged the various Teen Press groups he has helped get off the ground to hit the streets and see how people were feeling on inauguration day.

“Let’s see if we can come up with a question(s) that gets people to touch on what it means to them to be a citizen of America, or Describe what their first priority is in being nominated to the most powerful position in this land,”  Boettner challenged.

Chronicle staffers Aubrey Allen and Thomas Row went Blooming Grounds coffee shop and Andre Russeau, Joy Hong, and Noah French went to Winona State to pose these questions to the people they met.  Here are some of what they heard back.

The first installment is Andre Russeau interviewing Joe Reed of Winona State.