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People of different ethnicities and religions came together Saturday to learn how to be involved in their government at the Lee County Spirit of Democracys Civic Saturday event at the Southside Center for the Arts in Opelika.

The organization is a non-partisan grassroots initiative that aims to seek solutions to "the problems of an unhealthy democracy" and to develop actions to educate the citizenry and encourage responsible civic involvement, according to its website. Civic Saturday was the organizations first public event.

We have a high responsibility to be informative and engaged in civil life, said Tom Penton, one of the co-founders of the non-profit organization.

The event featured a presentation from Penton about the organization, which was formed two years ago by a group of Lee County citizens who wanted to change the political landscape in Alabama.

Were planting seeds and growing a healthy democracy in Lee County, Penton said.

A divided nation, the demonization of government and anger are all symptoms of an unhealthy democracy, according to Penton.

We need to change perspectives and change attitudes, Penton said.

Penton gave the example of a bird to describe how republicans and democrats need to work together.

It takes both the left wing and the right wing to fly, Penton said.

During the event, some participants read quotes about liberty, education, involvement and democracy.

One of the participants was Jamie Lowe, a junior at Opelika High School and founder of the Young Spirit of Democracy (SOD) group.

Lowe, who is also a member of the Lee County Spirit of Democracys Informal Advisory Council, was motivated by the organization to start a group at his high school.

I want to energize my peers, Lowe said. I believe that we are the future.

Penton emphasized that citizen involvement is necessary for a healthy democracy.

It is time for us to get ourselves back in the forefront of the democratic process, Penton said.

The organization strives to help put citizens back in the forefront of the democratic process through civic education and action groups.

Dr. Gerald Johnson, one of the co-founders of the organization, said there will be more events in the future.

For more information, visit the organizations website at http://www.sodalabama.org.

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Group celebrates democracy at Civic Saturday event - Opelika Auburn News