Send Wilk a text with your feedback!
Most Americans have never actually read the Constitution — the very document that protects the freedoms we debate and depend on every single day.
My guest this week is trying to change that.
With degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology, and a background in social work, teaching, and nonprofit leadership, Joni Bryan launched The 917 Society to create a personal, lasting connection between young Americans and the U.S. Constitution.
From a simple idea — put pocket Constitutions into the hands of every 8th grader — The 917 Society has grown into a nationwide movement. Today they partner with schools and civic groups in all 50 states to ensure that Constitution Day (recognized in federal law as part of Public Law 108-447) is honored and taught meaningfully.
Their goal for America's 250th birthday in 2026:
✔ Why our nation is so divided — and how civic illiteracy fuels it
✔ The two major ways Americans interpret the Constitution
✔ Why Joni considers herself an originalist
✔ How limited government and state sovereignty are foundational principles
✔ The explosion of bureaucracy and what it means for everyday Americans
✔ Why some people push back against simply teaching the Constitution
✔ How The 917 Society equips students with knowledge, not ideology
✔ Why the Constitution is for everyone, not just one political camp
✔ How reading the Constitution can restore civic agency and responsible citizenship
✔ Why America’s 250th anniversary is a once-in-a-generation moment to reconnect with our foundations
If we want a healthier, more united country, we must understand the framework that protects our rights, shapes our responsibilities, and connects us as citizens.
The Constitution isn’t a partisan tool — it’s a shared inheritance.
Website: https://www.917society.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/917society
X (Twitter): https://x.com/917Society
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-917-society/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/917society/
Pick up a pocket Constitution.
Read it.
Share it with a young person.
Be part of strengthening the civic fabric that holds this nation together.
The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!
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*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.
Transcript is AI generated and may contain errors
[00:00:00:00] Wilk Wilkinson: Have you ever stopped and asked yourself, have I actually read the Constitution? Many, if not most Americans haven't. And yet, every freedom that we're arguing about today, every right that we cherish, traces right back to that document. This week, I'm joined by someone who's making sure that the next generation does not grow up disconnected from the very thing that holds this country together. Stick with me. Welcome back, my friends, for the Derate the Hate podcast. I'm your host, Wilk Wilkinson, your blue collar sage calming outrage and helping to navigate a world divided by fog and those who would spread that fear, outrage and grievance. The Derate the Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels, America's largest grassroots cross. partisan organization working towards civic renewal. This podcast amplifies the mission that we share to foster a more respectful and united America where civic friendship thrives even when we disagree. Each week, through the power of story, conversation, and connection with incredible guests, we work to build bridges instead of barriers, not to change minds on the issues, but to change how we see one another when we differ. Because friends, it really is about bettering the world one attitude at a time. We did not create the hate, but together we can Derate the Hate. So be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share it with a friend and visit BraverAngels.org to learn how you can get involved in the movement to bridge the partisan divide. Friends, I am so incredibly grateful that you have joined me for another powerful Derate the Hate episode. So let's get to it. In this episode, I'm bringing you a conversation that hits right at the heart of who we are as Americans. How often do you meet someone who has truly dedicated their life to reconnecting young people with the document that has shaped every freedom, every protection, and every guardrail that we rely on, regardless of your political, religious, or cultural worldview. My guest today is Joni Bryan, founder and executive director of the 917 society, an organization that has grown from a simple question. When was the last time that you read your Constitution into a nationwide movement? Joni and her team work with schools, teachers, civic groups and volunteers in all 50 states to put pocket constitutions into the hands of every eighth grader in America. Their goal for America's 250th anniversary in 2026 distribute 2.5 million constitutions and spark a generation of citizens who know enough to protect the freedoms that they inherit. In this conversation, we talk about why constitutional literacy has eroded, why so many teachers have never heard of Constitution Day, why some people push back against civic education, and how understanding our founding principles can help bridge divides instead of deepen them. This is not partisan. This is not about slogans. This is about our shared civic fabric. Let's get to it with my friend Joni Bryan. Here we go. Joni Bryan, thank you so much for joining me here on the Derate the Hate podcast. It's good to see you again today.
[00:04:10:16] Joni Bryan: Good to see you too, Wilk.
[00:04:12:16] Wilk Wilkinson: Yes, this is wonderful. when I found out about the 917 society, Joni and what you guys are doing bringing constitutional education, getting constitutions actually out to, to youngsters all over the country, helping to, reinvigorate that civic fabric that, that our constitution is such a big part of. I knew I definitely wanted to get you on the Derate the Hate podcast. So let's start Joni, with, What what brought you to this place where you thought, well, there's just not enough constitutions out there, but I've read the Constitution. I need to be the person to make that happen.
[00:04:58:02] Joni Bryan: So, Well, that's a good question. Wilk, you know, I'm the last person on earth that I would have thought would be doing something like this. My background. I actually have a degree in biology and chemistry, my minor psychology. And I was headed to medical school, and I ended up marrying my college sweetheart while I was in college. Had a baby not long after that, 11 months after we were married, and I shifted gears and I became a social worker. So I did that. And my husband was a public school teacher. And so fast forward, you know, many years later, I'm living in Nashville. You know, I was not one of those that was ever involved in anything political, I voted. But, you know, I was too busy, you know, with my kids and all of that and my career that, I didn't really, think much about it, you know, I would just vote and assume people would go and do what they're supposed to do. You know, it wasn't until I found myself divorced, starting my life over. And I was working at a retirement community, and one of the men who lived there was a he was, a former gubernatorial candidate in Tennessee in the 60s. And he had been involved in the civil rights movement. He had spent a lot of time with RFK, on a court case that was really interesting to hear about. So he and I would debate court cases. He would love to, you know, go back and forth. And he was just a very eccentric man, but brilliant, brilliant constitutional lawyer. And so one day we were debating a court case, the FEC, versus his and United, or Citizens United versus FEC, to be correct. And he was saying to me, he said, now you realize that that is going to make, you know, the individual vote is going to take away individual sovereignty. It's going to give corporations and PACs all this money that they can, you know, use in elections. And he said it's unconstitutional. And I'm like, okay. And he I didn't understand why, you know, I really didn't. And so he pulled the pocket constitution at his pocket and he put it in my face. Now you got to picture this. He's six foot five, muzzle five feet, and he's looking down at me. And he said, my dear, he said, when is the last time you read your Constitution? And when he said that, Wilk, I was like, oh my gosh, I never read it.
[00:07:19:08] Wilk Wilkinson: Never read the Constitution.
[00:07:21:04] Joni Bryan: Never read it. You know, I remember eighth grade bits and pieces. You know, we took a test on the Bill of rights, and I remember Mrs. Alexander's class, but then after that I don't remember much about it. And I didn't have any in college because of my, curriculum that I followed. And so I thought, wow. Well, maybe it's just me. I'm the one who fell through the cracks. So I started asking everybody. I asked the CEO of our company, I asked, you know, everybody in the office. I asked the workers, everybody there and people in the kitchen, you name it. And I was getting the same answer. I was, you know, was saying, when's the last time you read your Constitution? And they were like, what are you talking about? And another thing, when you said the word your Constitution, it really hit me hard because I never thought of this as mine.
[00:08:07:03] Wilk Wilkinson: This rule at home a little bit, didn't it?
[00:08:09:04] Joni Bryan: Yeah, it did, because it was just the Constitution. And I just, you know, thought of it as this old dusty document behind, you know, glass cover and Washington, you know, didn't think of it as mine. And so I thought, wow, it's not just me. It's a lot of people. And I actually did a survey back then and it was like 99 of 100 have not read it of all the different. And I took I talked with thousands of people. And so I thought, well, you know, I always taught my children, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. And here I was, I was part of the problem. And I thought, how are we going to really be engaged citizens if we don't even know what we're supposed to engage in, if we don't even understand what's in here? And I thought, wow, so we got a problem, and I knew I was part of it, and I knew I needed to try to fix it. And so I began thinking about it, and I started researching and I learned about the federal mandate. It's 108447. And it says all schools K-12 and all universities that receive federal funding are to have a program on the cost to teach on or around September 17th. And I thought, wow. And it also includes federal employees, but I'm going to focus on education. And I thought, well, so we have a we should be doing this. I don't remember anything about Constitution Day ever. So I started asking all the teachers I knew because I was connected to a lot of teachers in my, ex-husband's career and, and just meeting people through the years. So I started going to social study teachers conferences, and I would set up a little table and, I would, you know, had my little information there. And I would say, you know, if we had a program first, I would say, what do you do for Constitution Day? And most of the time they would just look at me like, well, we're in testing during that time or we're doing this during that time. So it was kind of brushed off and I said, well, what if we gave you a free program for Constitution Day? Would you like that? And they're overwhelmingly everybody's. Yeah. I mean, you mean nothing. You have to pay for anything. No. It's free. Totally free. So that's how the 917 society was born. And I wasn't rated neutral because it's not political in itself that even the Constitution gives us our rights or allows us, or God gives us our rights, but our Constitution guarantees our rights to, I believe, as we choose to believe and hold whatever political views, religious views we choose to have. I want it to be something very neutral. So the 917 society, I just I chose that because I thought, well, that's very neutral. And it also brings attention to the date September 17th.
[00:10:51:15] Wilk Wilkinson: So, Joni, let me ask you this, because this is this is what I find pretty fascinating, right? you named the the statute that says that, that every school that receives federal funding, K-12 universities, whatnot, that receives federal funding is supposed to have some type of program on or around Constitution Day. Constitution day, September 17th. My question is, how many teachers when you're when you're out there having these conversations with these social studies teachers and and things like that, how many how many would you say. And I'm sure you don't have the number, but but just just a rough estimate. Just a guess how many didn't actually even know that that 917 was the Constitution Day.
[00:11:44:01] Joni Bryan: Oh oh most most don't know. And it's not just because it's our legislators. It's everybody. It's never been honored or celebrated. It's if you notice when Constitution comes around, just as a nation, you don't hear anything about it. No you don't. And it's a blip. It's just a little blip on the internet. You know, I search, I will on Constitution Day. We put a lot of stuff out, but we're small and so we don't have the bandwidth. And that's, you know, why I'm so thankful we're doing this podcast? Because, you know, so many people don't know about us yet. And so we're very grassroots. You know, we started in Nashville. So, it's amazing how many don't because when I started this and this is, part of getting it going, I had no connections, no money, nothing. And so I didn't know, you know, well, how am I going to do this? So my first thought was, okay, I'll go see my congressman. I'm sure he will get excited about this. So I went to my congressman. I shared all this information with him. How I'd love to have a free program. All I wanted was him to, you know, just point me in the right direction of how to do it. And he tell me, he said, nobody cares about the Constitution, Miss Bryan.
[00:12:54:10] Wilk Wilkinson: Nobody cares about the Constitution.
[00:12:57:20] Joni Bryan: And when he said that, I was devastated because I really felt like, you know, this was something our kids need. Our country needs just something to honor that day. I mean, this is what, you know, the declaration we declared our independence, but this is what keeps us free. And I thought, we don't even do anything, you know, to make it a big deal. And it is a very, very big deal. And so I was so heartbroken. I left his office and I was in tears. I thought I'd been working on this for several months at the time, trying to get awareness raised. And I thought, if I can't get a congressman to care, how am I going to do this? But then he did something, Wilk, you never do. He made a southern woman mad because the more I thought about, oh, the more I That’s the truth, the more I thought about him sitting there drawing his salary after taking an oath of office to uphold the Constitution. And I'm working myself to death and my tax money paying that salary. I got mad. Yeah, yeah. And I said, and I said, I'm going to show you. And so up until that point, I really never even thought about it. You know, a lot of one thing I'm learning is I'm working with kids, you know, so many of our young people and our adults think the government has money. The government has no money. The government has our money. Yeah. You know, it's our money. And so I thought, okay, I'm going to show him. So I got busy and I was really fortunate to meet one of our local, Tennessee senators, Kenny Roberts. And he was wonderful, but he didn't know there was a Constitution Day. And he said, I didn't know that that mandate was out there. I said, yes, he said that this is amazing. So I'm going to help you. And so from there, I started meeting new people and getting people involved. And it's just grown and grown. You know, it's been very much a journey. You know, every year we grow a little more and a little more. You know, our first year in Tennessee, we were able to give out 25,000 constitutions to our local middle school kids. And we also have a resource page. And on that resource page, teachers have access to lesson plans, games, videos, anything they want. We want to make it all totally free. And so teachers don't pay a thing for our constitutions, and there's nothing in it either. That would be, biased in any way. It's strictly the Constitution, the declaration. And then on the last page is the oath of citizenship. Because, you know, if you're born here, you didn't take an oath. So we want our kids to see that oath. But like, there's no commentary. There's nothing to try to lead anyone in any deal or any way. We just want them to read it for themselves and make up their own minds. Right? And of course, we don't tell the teachers what to teach you how to teach it, because that's not our job. But we give them free resources, kind of a one stop shop they can go to, anybody can go to our resource page, and you can print out lesson plans from lots of different sources. You can play, you know, games, videos. We have, I think, on there right now a bill of rights. There's a ten series, video series on the Bill of rights and, you know, just lots of different things on there. And we're continuing adding like, right now is the 250th anniversary of our country, and there's a contest on there that America is running that kids can win field trips and fun things like that to landmarks. So we're always trying to add things, you know, and other groups have an essay contest, different kind of things, and we'll put that on there so that teachers can just kind of go there and find it. And it's not just public. We serve public, private and homeschool. So that first year growing from 25,000 kids, it was 2016, the first year I was driving my little Chevy Cruze and I had constitution boxes in the back of a truck, and I looked like, and you're probably too young to know what a bootlegger is, but I looked like a bootlegger. hauling constitutions across middle Tennessee. So Joni.
[00:16:46:15] Wilk Wilkinson: This, so I, I've just got a lot of questions rolling around in my mind. Wonderful. And a couple of things that come to my mind right away. I mean, first of all, when this when this congressman says nobody cares about the Constitution, I mean, that that's just a testament to to how ugly things have gotten in our politics, in this country. And hopefully that was anecdotal. Hopefully he's not, hopefully he's he's just, you know, one of a very few in our government that that believes that. But but I, you know, I came up with the phrase a while back, Joni, that says, those who represent us are far too often not the best of us, but but the reality is, is if we the people are not, holding our representatives accountable to that Constitution which requires a certain amount of, understanding on our part as citizens as to what that Constitution is. Right. And it's awfully tough to hold our our representatives accountable to what's constitutional if we as citizens don't understand the Constitution. So so I will say that first, and I like I said, I hope that's that's kind of anecdotal that that that particular congressman is one of very few who, who holds that belief that nobody cares about the Constitution because I think we need to and if we don't, I want to just say right away that what you're doing is, is, is incredible. Because bringing that constitutional awareness that constitutional education, to the youngsters in this, in this country and hopefully doing it through our schools, is is is right. I mean, I think the Constitution is something that needs to be, and it needs to be taught in schools. It needs to be taught at home. The, the, how it how it is part of our, our civic fabric and and our civic strength as a country. You know, we, I, you know, when I think about the, the Constitution and you mentioned in there and there's a number of things that I want to get to here, but, and then so I, I just, I want to kind of tie this up into a question, but when we, when, when you said that in the pamphlet itself or in that pocket Constitution itself, there's nothing extra you're not adding in any fluff, you're not adding in any commentary. But at the back of there is that oath of allegiance to, to the Constitution and, and our country and that citizenship, allegiance that that comes with becoming a citizen. Now, I don't think that excuses people that are born here from understanding what is in here and what that that civic pledge, that civic American creed is that we have, you know, we are among the most fortunate human beings on this planet to be born in the United States of America. I and I agree with you as a Christian, I believe our rights are given to us by God on our inalienable right are provided to us by God. And it's the Constitution that that guarantees those rights. And it's supposed to be our government that protects those. Right.
[00:20:05:02] Joni Bryan: Exactly.
[00:20:06:04] Wilk Wilkinson: And in order for and that that, that, that creed that we have, that responsibility we have as American citizens doesn't end with just knowing the Constitution, but holding our representatives accountable for what's in that Constitution, making sure that they understand it, and making sure that they are doing their part to help protect our rights given to us. So so here's my question then. Why do you think that there has been certain people, Joni, that have pushed back on you and your organization for, for trying to spread this constitutional awareness and, and bring it? I mean, I know I don't want you to ascribe motives to people, but I know you told me in a, in another conversation that we had that there's been pushback. There have been people that have harassed and criticized you for doing this thing that you're doing, which I think is very commendable. But talk a little bit about that, that pushback that you've received. And and again, I don't think we need to get into the, the ascribing motives or anything like that. But talk about the pushback, because when I think about that civic creed, that that citizenship, our responsibility to know the, the Constitution and then to know that there are people in this country that are pushing back on you for just trying to provide this as a resource, for people. It bothers me. So let's talk a little bit about that.
[00:21:42:17] Joni Bryan: Yeah. Well, the pushback, you know, it's I think what I have come to understand and I didn't understand it in the beginning because we just want our kids to read it for themselves and and we want them to hold it. And because it makes it real, it's their constitution. And so that's why we want to do a printed copy, not a digital copy, you know, not looking at their phones to hold it, to be able to carry it, to make it tangible and to make it real. And the pushback, I think for me, what I've learned these last several years, our country has become very divided. But there are also two very, very distinct views of our Constitution. And I consider myself an originalist. I believe it says what it says, and we have a process for amending it. You know that we can follow. So we have changed it 27 times already. We've made amendments to change it. So I believe in that process. But there is a view that if we don't, we don't like what it says or the government like it talks about in the Constitution. There's like 38 things basically our federal government can do. And the rest of the things are ascribed to the states, like for our 10th amendment, you know, and I think there are people who have this view of a very large government taking care of everything. And so I think that's where that big issue comes in, because if you read the Constitution, it is all about limited government, and it's about states having more rights. Our states are sovereign, our states should have more rights or our deal is constitution. But I think our federal government has become so overblown and so, bureaucratic in in its processes that there are people that truly do believe that the government. And I'm going to say this and it's going to sound strange, but this is what I feel from everyone I've talked to and the different issues I've dealt with. It's almost like government is God, you know, they want to push God out of. Yeah, the public square and we have a view, you know, we have a God is sovereign or the government is God, you know, and that is I think that's the biggest view, because when you notice taking prayer out of school, taking, you know, all these different things that infringe on our right to our, you know, free speech, our right to our, freedom of religion are those things. I think that's the basic essence of it. And it boils down to, you know, our First Amendment rights. And I think that that they're just two very polarizing views of that. You know, most of us get attacked a lot on, you know, missing anything about a god. You know, our declaration says we were dead by our creator with certain inalienable rights. But there are people that say there's God's not mentioned in the Constitution. God's not well, no, yes and no. You know, if you know our founders, if you know the hit, the true history, you know, I'm working right now on a project where, I don't know if I talked to you about Washington's walk.
[00:24:49:01] Wilk Wilkinson: I don't believe we talked about that. Now, tell me about Washington's walk.
[00:24:52:18] Joni Bryan: Okay, well, the 917 society, we're going to be going to New York on April 30th and for the 200th anniversary this year of our country. This is a moment in our history and our children don't really know about. And it's very important now, on April 30th of 1799, George Washington, you know, he believed in God. He prayed, when he was inaugurated, he and his Congress walked from the Capitol in New York at the time to Saint Paul's Chapel. And it was there that he dedicated our country to God. He he declared that it was God's providence. And so that gave us this nation. And so we are going to and it's called the Miracle of Saint Paul's Chapel. And I was woken up one night with that word. And I'm I'm a country girl. I drive around taking pictures of the little white chapels, and I love those things. And, working on a farm and I'm wanting to put a chapel on the farm. So one night I was woken up with that word, Saint Paul's Chapel, and I didn't know what it meant. And I kept looking through my pictures. Or did I take a picture of Saint Paul's Chapel when I went online? And when I typed in Saint Paul's Chapel, the first thing that came up was the miracle at Saint Paul's Chapel. But what is this? I didn't know anything about this, so I read through it. And that is the church that George Washington walked to after his inauguration and dedicated our country to God. But it it sits in the shadow of the Twin Towers. And when the twin Towers fell and everything around was destroyed, that little chapel didn't even have a window broken out of it. And they use that chapel during 911 for the rescue workers and the firemen. That's where they would sleep. That's where they would eat that little chapel there in New York. And so they call that the Miracle Saint Paul's Chapel, because it shouldn't have stood. But it did. And a lot of people believe, and I believe it's because it it served a divine purpose at the founding of our country. And so we're going to go up there with the George Washington, and we're going to recreate that moment in our history, at noon on April 30th. And we are inviting the president to come and join us and rededicate this country to God, because that is truly, I think, where the big division is coming. Wilk, is that, our country was founded, it was founded upon, biblical principles. If you read our founding fathers, the letters, the things they wrote, you know, you'll hear a lot of times people say, oh, the separation of church and state. Well, that came years and years later with the Supreme Court case. Our founders were very much, man of faith. Now there are different faiths, and that's the beauty of America. You know, only in America can anyone come of any faith or be an atheist or whatever they want to be, and they can live in this great country, but it's because of those principles that it welcomes everybody. Right? And so I think that is what we miss. A lot of times we look at it as, oh, if you think that our country was founded upon biblical principles, then you think everybody has to believe that way. Oh no, I don't, you know, and it allows because of those principles, we welcome everybody, right?
[00:28:08:11] Wilk Wilkinson: Right.
[00:28:09:02] Joni Bryan: And I think that's what's that's what's been missed. And that's so, that's something that we're going to be doing and we're going to be, you know, putting more out there. But I've got a petition going right now on our website, people can sign to ask the president to come and walk with us. And I also have, the letter that people can send. And so we're just trying to raise awareness for that moment because with this 250 anniversary and, and we're really excited this year because of the 250th anniversary we printed beautiful constitutions with a gold badge that says, I.
[00:28:39:07] Wilk Wilkinson: Got mine right here.
[00:28:40:07] Joni Bryan: We got America's 250th, 1776 to 2026. And so it's it's, on the front of it and it'll be a collector's edition. We say for the 917 society, our goal is to reach 2.5 million kids this year with these constitutions. And so we wanted to do that to honor and celebrate this country on April 30th, because it's something I never knew. And I thought, why did I not know that part of our history? Right. You know, it's a true part of our history that it happened. And I think we should talk more about, you know, the faith that our founders had in our founding and how it does make sure that everyone is welcome only in this country, you know, is everybody welcome and nobody is, you know, it's it's fine, whatever you want to believe or don't want to believe. But, I think that's a really strong part of what makes America so amazing and so exceptional.
[00:29:34:12] Wilk Wilkinson: I think. I think you're absolutely right, Joni. The I think religious pluralism, pluralism in general is, is a huge part of this, this country's, whether it be the, its founding or what makes this country strong. I am personally somebody who believes in pluralism in many different ways. thank you for sharing the story about Washington's walk with me. I had not heard that before. And every day I get to learn something new is is is just a very special day for me. So, I'm going to be looking.
[00:30:05:06] Joni Bryan: Join us. Come with us. Yeah.
[00:30:06:20] Wilk Wilkinson: I'm looking for. Maybe I will get a chance. April 30th. That I very well could come, come out there and be able to to, to spend a little time with you, to do, recreate the Washington's walk. That would be wonderful. You know, I but more than anything, Joni, I, you know, thinking about the history of this country, the history of our Constitution, the importance of our Constitution. especially, you know, you brought it up a couple different times, the 250th anniversary, of the, of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the, the birth of our country, July 4th, 1776 is coming up quick. 250th anniversary. And what better way for people in this, in this country, in this country that that, you know, we live in to celebrate the birth of this country than to truly dive in, lean in and understand the Constitution. That was, and I, I do believe, Joni, that that there was a large amount of divine providence that went into creating not only this country, but the Constitution that has helped this country to stand for now, 250 years. I unfortunately believe that it's going to take divine providence to keep us together. Now, with so many people bickering and fighting and the division that that comes along with just just the simple, you know, being able to honor the Constitution right there. There is a lot of bridge building that needs to be done. And, and I believe, I believe in my whole heart, Joni, that that using the Constitution to bridge those divides is a great way to do it. You know, it shouldn't be a partisan issue to say, I love my country and I love the constitution. That's excellent. You know, and we.
[00:31:57:23] Joni Bryan: Want to start a conversation.
[00:31:59:12] Wilk Wilkinson: About our individual rights. So as we approach the 250th anniversary, I would just encourage people, you know, check out the 917 society.org. It's this is this is a part of our country that that should never be ignored. It should not be, one of these things that people say, you know what? I've just never read the Constitution. I don't understand the Constitution. You know, people people, are so worried about all the different things that they can't do and they can't control and they don't understand. What we can do is we can pick up a pocket constitution and and read it. Read it, try to understand it, find somebody else to read it with, make it ponder, you know, make it part of your, your ritual. Because as a civic, you know, our, the civic fabric of our nation will only be repaired through action and action that we can do as individuals. This is a very simple way for people to, to kind of reclaim some of that agency that they felt they have lost.
[00:33:04:04] Joni Bryan: Absolutely. And they can be involved with us in that. We do reach out to all middle schools across the country, but it's hard sometimes to get through the filters, which is it should be because schools you know, need to be protected. And so we have volunteers. You can volunteer to help get these to the school. You know, we give them free to the schools. Doesn't cost shipping or anything to them. We just ask for donations for people across the country. We do not receive state or federal funds. I personally consider that, constitutional, but that's another conversation. But we, you can volunteer. So anybody listening can volunteer. You can go online. And starting in January, we'll start taking volunteers so you can volunteer to get your school district involved. And so it's very simple. We just ask that you reach out to the school, let them know about the free program. And then we have some training steps to help you to, you know, work with getting them to the schools. But and then we ship them to the volunteers we had. That's why we were at the moms for Liberty Conference when I was with you. We have and that's we have they are sa we have, you know, rotary, civic and all kinds of community groups and just individuals of people that just care. You just say, I want to get this to my school. And so we want everybody to get involved because that starts the conversation. And then we encourage all of our volunteers, once you get them to the school, hold a Constitution Day event in your town. We have resolutions online they can download for free and they can, you know, get their mayor involved, or they can just go to the park and have ice cream and hot dogs and just have a little celebration. Something to commemorate that day, because it is such an important day in our history that's being overlooked.
[00:34:44:05] Wilk Wilkinson: That's exactly right. So, so, so wonderful, the work that you're doing. Joni, I do appreciate you. The website again is, 917 society.org and, yeah, these pocket constitutions are amazing. The work that you're doing is fantastic. Joni. God bless you for all that you're doing. And, keep up the great work and we will talk to you again.
[00:35:07:05] Joni Bryan: Thank you so much for having me.
[00:35:10:14] Wilk Wilkinson: Friends, I want to thank you so much for tuning in. And if there's anything in this episode that provided exceptional value to you, please make sure to hit that share button. If you haven't done so already, please be sure to subscribe to get the Derate the Hate podcast sent to your email inbox every week. We really are better together, so please take a moment to visit BraverAngels.org and consider joining the movement towards civic renewal and bridging our political divides. This is Wilk wrapping up for the week saying get out there. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you've got. And remember, it's up to you to make every day the day that you want it to be. With that, my friends, I'm going to back on out of here and we will catch you next week. Take care.
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