As usual, Leonard Pitts found a way to move through the current crisis in the police forces of American cities and ask the right question — “What can I do?” (Sun Journal, April 30).

Active citizenship is one answer. People can vote, speak up for what they believe is right, and give guidance to their representatives and senators.

The group I volunteer with, results.org, has been teaching effective ways to make a difference for 35 years. Right now, that includes building ladders out of poverty by creating support for the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit that lifted 8.8 million Americans out of poverty in 2013, but expire in 2017. Globally, working to end the 6.3 million deaths of children under five years of age and 289,000 pregnancy-related deaths of women.

What can people do? Take a active part in the nation’s democracy and use their voices to make a difference.

That is what they can do.

Willie Dickerson, Snohomish, Wash.