The Pledge
The Brick by Brick Citizens Pledge
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people." — Thomas Jefferson
The essence of patriotism is an educated citizen. It is the baseline of all patriotic actions.
Every right we enjoy as Americans — every freedom, every protection, every promise of self-governance — depends on citizens who are informed, engaged, and willing to do the work of democracy. When we stop learning, stop questioning, and stop showing up, we don't just lose our voice. We hand the tool of government to whoever is willing to pick it up.
This is how corruption takes hold. Not through force. Not through conspiracy. Through apathy. Through assumption. Through a citizenry that was never taught — or forgot — that democracy is not a spectator sport.
Government is a tool. If you don't understand the tool, someone will sell you a screwdriver to hammer a nail — and you won't know the difference until it's too late.
Brick by Brick is a team. Team America. And every member of this team carries a responsibility — not to a party, not to an ideology, but to each other and to the democratic experiment we inherited. This pledge is your commitment to carry that responsibility.
As a member of Team America, I personally pledge:
I understand that an educated citizen is the foundation of everything democracy requires. I will commit to learning — not just about the issues that affect me personally, but about the full scope of how my government works, who holds power, and in whose interest that power is being exercised. A team member who doesn't know the playbook is a liability to the team.
I will not reach a conclusion before I have the facts. I will approach every issue with an open mind, seek out credible information, and resist the pull of outrage before understanding. Assumption is the enemy of truth, and truth is the foundation of good governance. I will learn first. Then I will conclude.
I will seek to understand the other side's position — not necessarily to change my point of view, but to understand a fellow teammate. We are a team. Teams do not win by refusing to understand one another. I may not agree with my teammate, but I will not dismiss them. I will listen. We are in this together.
I will actively choose to step away from media and voices that profit from my anger, my fear, and my division from my teammates. The outrage machine is not informing me — it is using me. I will turn down the volume, seek out facts, and refuse to be a weapon aimed at my fellow Americans.
I will vote — in every election, at every level. I will attend public meetings. I will know who represents me. I will contact my elected officials. I will hold them accountable when they serve special interests over the people. Democracy does not maintain itself. It requires citizens who show up.
I will bring at least one more person into this work. Democracy compounds when citizens recruit citizens. We are a team — and every team gets stronger when good people join it. I will share what I have learned, model the behavior I am pledging, and invite others to stand alongside me.
I make this pledge not as a Republican or a Democrat —
but as an American and a member of Team America.
Sign the Pledge
Make it official. Download and print the Citizens Pledge, sign your name, and bring it to your chapter's first town hall — or keep it somewhere you'll see it as a daily reminder of the commitment you've made.
↓ Download the Citizens Pledge (PDF)