Midge Costanza Institute - The study of politics and public policy

"Welcome to the Midge Costanza Institute for the Study of Politics and Public Policy

Government effects every single minute we live. Education, war, peace, the water we drink, the air we breathe, our jobs, our health care, our safety, the streets on which we drive and even the sidewalks on which we walk. And, in this country, Government is born from politics.

Right now, this very minute, somewhere in our nation, somewhere in our state, there are decisions being made by a government entity that will effect our lives.

With or without your vote, with thousands of votes or with just one vote, a government will be formed, a decision will be made that will impact every one of us.

Every year statistics show that less and less people are bothering to vote, and among the lowest numbers are young men and women. This is a luxury we cannot afford. Young and old alike, it is time to regard our right to vote as the greatest gift we own. If we do not vote, we are not counted, we have no voice. Political preference of party or candidate is irrelevant. It makes no difference whether we vote for or against any issue or any candidate. The significance is our vote, our voice, our right to be counted.

I learned that lesson many years ago, in a City called Rochester, New York, where I was born. I made the decision that I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to count, I wanted to be heard. But first, I needed to know who I was. What were my values, my principles? What did I believe in? What was important to me? And I determined that the things that mattered to me the most, the world in which I wanted to live, the world that I felt I deserved, was a world that believed in peace, equality, justice and personal freedom. I wanted a world where each of us has the equal opportunity to reach our own destiny, both men and women alike, could be whatever they chose to be.

How could I help create this environment, this world? That is when I realized the way to help make this happen was through politics and public service. I began a journey of political activism and public service that brought me from Rochester, New York to the White House and Washington, D.C.

The Midge Costanza Institute for the Study of Politics and Public Policy was created to share my journey with you. The stories, the photos, the information and the lessons that I learned along the way will be shared through the Archives on this web site and the activities of the Institute. I am hopeful that this political history will help guide us as we continue our efforts to fulfilling these goals. Our job is not done, the journey is not complete."