Not Just Voters, But Stewards

We talk a lot about civic duty during election season. Yard signs go up, debates spark online, and we’re reminded, once again to vote. But real democracy isn’t something we do once or twice a year. It’s a way of life. It’s in how we show up for each other, not just as voters, but as stewards of the places we call home.

Here in Mt. Lebanon, we’re fortunate to live in a community where that kind of quiet, persistent stewardship happens every day. You can see it on Saturday mornings in Bird Park, where volunteers with the Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy haul out invasive vines and plant native species along the trails. You can hear it in the Uptown business district, where local merchants set up tents at the weekly farmers market not just to sell goods, but to build community. And you can feel it in the advocacy of residents with MoveLebo, who are reimagining our streets as places that serve people, not just traffic.

These efforts might not make headlines, but they shape the character and livability of our town in real, lasting ways. When MoveLebo mobilizes neighbors to clean up sidewalks, push for safer crosswalks, or advocate for transit funding, they’re doing more than improving infrastructure, they’re practicing democracy. They’re reminding us that streets belong to the people who use them, and that public space should be safe and accessible for everyone.

Likewise, the Mt. Lebanon Partnership doesn’t just throw events, they create rituals of belonging. Through the Uptown Market, Final Fridays, the Artists’ Market, and their support for local businesses, they turn a simple street into a gathering place. They make it easier for people to bump into one another, to connect, to build trust across backyard fences and block corners. That’s not just good for local commerce, it’s good for civic life.

And when the Nature Conservancy brings third-graders into the woods through its “School in the Park” program, they’re not just teaching kids about trees, they’re passing on a model of stewardship. Many of those same kids grow up to become high school volunteers who return to teach the next generation. That’s a civic tradition, just one that happens to involve hiking boots and field guides.

What ties all of these groups together is a shared understanding that democracy isn’t something that happens to us, it’s something we build. They don’t wait for permission. They don’t need national headlines or sweeping legislation. They work where they live, with the tools they have, to make this place better for everyone.

You don’t need to join a board or start a nonprofit to be part of that work. You can organize a block party. You can attend a public meeting and speak up. You can volunteer with Scout Troop 284, 28, and 9028 at a park cleanup or donate to a local food drive. You can lend a hand, check on an elderly neighbor, be a snow angel, show up with intention, or simply walk your neighborhood with fresh eyes and a sense of responsibility.

In a time when cynicism feels like the default setting of our politics, choosing to be a civic neighbor is a quiet act of resistance and a powerful vote of confidence in each other. It says, this place matters, and so do the people in it.

Because in the end, being a civic neighbor means more than showing up to vote. It means showing up, period.

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About Andrew Flynn

Andrew is a Mt. Lebanon commissioner, public finance and policy expert, volunteer firefighter, and community advocate committed to building safer, more resilient, and better-connected neighborhoods. Through public service and hands-on experience, Andrew works every day to make a positive impact in our community.

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