Who we are

The Citizens' Campaign, launched in 2004, works to cultivate a culture of service and develop a new generation of leaders - leaders who put service over personal gain. We recruit, educate and mentor new leaders.

In 2009 we launched the Jersey Call to Service, a nonpartisan public service initiative to inspire 5,000 citizens to participate in the leadership of their communities and reverse the tide of government waste.

Through live events and online classes, the Citizens' Campaign has educated thousands of New Jerseyans in how to navigate the power structure of government and to exercise leadership beginning with their own hometowns. The Citizens Campaign educates citizens how to enter four powerful nonelected leadership positions, including appointed office service, political party service, citizen legislator service and citizen journalist service. Apart from education

The Citizens' Campaign also devises innovative government solutions that support good government and open the doors for citizen service. We have led the successful fight for the adoption of pay-to play protections at the state level. New Jersey now has the strongest state pay-to-play reform law in the nation.

The Citizens' Campaign was created and is fostered by the Center for Civic Responsibility, founded 10 years ago by Harry and Caroline Pozycki Sr. to teach citizens about the legal rights and political skills they need to bring constructive, responsible leadership to the service of our communities and our country.

Major Accomplishments

Developed and won adoption of the strongest State-Level Pay-to-Play Reform Law in the Nation.

Developed and won adoption of the Citizen Service Act opening appointments to government policy boards and commissions.

Developed and won adoption of the Political Party Democracy Act creating grassroots control of gubernatorial endorsements.

Developed and won Executive Orders Issues by Governor which make New Jersey's pay-to-play regulations the national gold standard.

Developed and won adoption of over 200 city and town-level citizen empowerment laws.

Developed and obtained Governor's Executive Order to open up the closed shop of government appointments to state boards and commissions.

Harry Pozycki, Citizens' Campaign Chairman, was named Citizen of the Year 2008 by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Won adoption by the New Jersey State Board of Education of a mandatory Social Studies curriculum component, Participation Civics, for all New Jersey high schools.

Wrote the book The Citizens' Manual, which won endorsements from Harvard President Derek Bok and Governor Tom Kean.

Developed Citizen Leadership Forum Series for adult citizens with first forum, taught by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, made into a New Jersey Network Documentary.

Won sweeping series of reform laws in Newark, called by the New York Times among the most far-reaching of any American City and gained the adoption of an Environmental Commission, the first in Newark's history.