Thank you to the Citizen Service for highlighting our America@250 workshop in their newsletter!

For more about the workshop, see

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/11/public-lecture-america250-opportunity.html

For more about the Citizen Service, see https://thecitizenservice.org/

A Global Leap from the U.S. to Uganda

Citizen Service Leader Shares Solutions-Focused Leadership

Dr. Judithanne Scourfield works with Ugandan education leaders at Makerere University

This month, The Citizen Service proudly celebrated a milestone in the global reach of Power Civics! Dr. Judithanne Scourfield, Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, Fulbright Scholar, and longtime Citizen Service partner, delivered a public lecture at Makerere University in Uganda—the oldest and most prestigious university in the country.

Dr. Scourfield’s lecture, America@250: Opportunity for Civic Renewal in the U.S., was part of the U.S. Embassy’s America@250 programming, supported by the U.S. Department of State. More than 65 faculty, administrators, and students attended the event, reflecting significant interest in strengthening civic engagement and leadership development.

This wasn’t Dr. Scourfield’s first time bringing Power Civics abroad—last year, she presented our No-Blame, Problem-Solving training to citizens, students, and teachers in Zimbabwe. Uganda now joins a growing list of countries where The Citizen Service’s No-Blame, solution-focused leadership training is resonating with citizens and educators.

In her own words, Dr. Scourfield shared:

“I have had great success incorporating the Power Civics/10 Steps of No Blame Problem Solving curriculum into my courses at the University of South Florida. I wanted to share this Citizen Service resource with the faculty and students at Makerere University—and to brainstorm the ways in which this method could be adapted in the Ugandan context.”

Dr. Scourfield emphasized a key insight that bridges cultures and continents:

“Keeping the focus on problem-solving—and encouraging every single person to take responsibility for making improvements for the greater good in their communities—is always an effective and productive and positive approach.”

Dr. Scourfield’s initiatives represent the global reach of The Citizen Service when we “Share the Power”. You, too, can Share the Power. Learn more about Dr. Scourfield’s Experience!

Successful Solutions

Improving YOUR Community with Pragmatism

Citizen Leader, Steven Brown, with USF St. Petersburg students and faculty, Pinellas County Commissioner, and PSTA employees. Photo by Todd Post.

Dr. Scourfield’s global work sharing Power Civics—from the USA to Africa—continues to demonstrate a powerful truth: when citizens are equipped with the right tools and training, real solutions follow. One of the best success stories began right in her own classroom—when her student, U.S. Navy Veteran Steven Brown, turned a course project into a policy that improves the lives of thousands of veterans.

Steven and his classmates tackled the issue of veteran access to public transportation. After seeing veterans at the Bay Pines Veteran Affairs bus stop struggle to get around, he proposed a bold solution: free bus rides for veterans.

Steven and his team presented their policy proposal to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Board—and won an overwhelming vote to adopt his solution. Thanks to their work, since November 10, 2023, all veterans in Pinellas County now ride PSTA buses for free.

When reflecting on his journey, Steven said, “It’s the least we can do… giving back to the veteran community … should be at the forefront of this country's conversation.”

And we know his advocacy wasn’t just about transportation—it was about dignity, service, and giving back.

Today, Steven is focused on scaling his success: he’s working with policymakers, veterans’ organizations, and community leaders to expand the free-transit model beyond Pinellas County.

His story is a powerful reminder that real civic change begins with having the courage, practical problem-solving know-how, and skills to gain adoption of pragmatic solutions. At The Citizen Service, we believe that everyone can be a problem-solver with the power to lead like Steven.