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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY
Empowering Individuals and Communities Through Civic Engagement
What is civic engagement and citizenship and why is it important for AmeriCorps members to increase civic engagement competencies? Aren't members civically engaged by virtue of their commitment to service?
Defining Active Citizenship To begin, there are many ideas and definitions of civic engagement. Most definitions include, in some form, at least three key components. Consider this definition from The State of Service-Related Research. The Grantmaker Forum on Community and National Service
Citizenship or civic participation consists of behaviors, attitudes, and actions that reflect concerned and active membership in a community. This includes the more traditional electoral citizenship activities, such as voting, serving on nonprofit boards or school boards, as well as less traditional forms of political participation, such as community organizing and social activism. It includes participation in small neighborhood-based efforts and the larger national and international movements.
Behaviors, attitudes and actions. These are the common principles of citizenship and civic engagement. Voting, serving, organizing and social activism are all expressions of active citizenship. And, while many individuals associate citizenship primarily, or solely, with voting, active citizenship clearly encompasses a broader range of involvement.
Active citizenship is about personal and community empowerment. Voting is a part of that package of empowerment, but only one part. Service is a part as well, but only a part. For individuals and communities to access legitimate power to promote and protect their interests and rights, they must also be able to serve, organize and to take action. By accessing as many sources of civic empowerment available, individuals and communities can impact their own lives, and the lives of others, in a significant way.
Voting alone is usually not sufficient. Service, by itself, is also often inadequate. Or organizing. Or even social action. But together they components of civic engagement can be very effective in not only addressing needs but also affecting change.
Well-trained AmeriCorps members can be significant influences and resources in helping facilitate an expanded awareness of active citizenship and civic engagement.
Roots of Active Citizenship Active citizenship has a strong tradition in this country dating back to its earliest days. In fact, the principles of active citizenship are embedded in this countryÕs founding document, the Declaration of Independence. This document outlines the fundamental rights extended to all individuals. The presence or absence of these rights is often referred to as social justice. To better understand the concept of active citizenship as expressed through civic engagement, one simply needs to reference the founding document that holds both a promise and a mandate.
Source: Corporation for National Service
Foundation and philanthropic support for voting in support of civic engagement from around the Web.
Foundation: Community Foundation of Sarasota County
There are nearly 750 nonprofit organizations in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties in Florida, providing everything from health and youth services to education and the arts, per a new...more
An Atlanta-area gas company is putting its money where its mouth is. Gas South has selected six nonprofit organizations as finalists for its second annual Impact Investment Award, in which the...more
"These prestigious awards celebrate the efforts of Pennsylvania high school students to register their eligible classmates to vote and to hopefully launch them on a lifelong habit of voting,"...more
The House is set to vote Monday on a bill that would make it harder for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. The SAVE Actshort for Safeguard American Voter Eligibilityis the brainchild of...more
The House is set to vote Monday on a bill that would make it harder for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. The SAVE Actshort for Safeguard American Voter Eligibilityis the brainchild of...more
When Sam Altman was ousted as CEO of OpenAI in November 2023, the tech start-up's entire board of directors resigned. Altman returned as CEO in March 2024, but the tech start-up has been mired in...more
In just four years, voters in 64 countries will go to the polls to elect their next heads of state, as well as elect members of parliament, in elections that will affect 447 million people around...more
The days of the plastic clam shell are over. A company called Sammi has replaced the shell on its sandwiches with fiber-based packaging made from forest products, and the result is what ProAmpac...more
Foundation: Marin Community Foundation
"What would you do with $2.5 million dollars to advance racial equity?" That's the question community members in Marin County, Calif., were asked as part of a pilot project to invest in...more
"Her advocacy, rooted in her personal experiences and her journey as a parent, has led to impactful and sustainable changes," Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement announcing the...more
Social Enterprise Network Sites
Civic Engagement News from...
Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Daniels Fund
Colorado Trust
Denver Foundation
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
San Diego Foundation
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
Arkansas Community Foundation
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
Halcyon Incubator Selects Inaugural Class of Fellows
Washington, D.C. based incubator for social entrepreneurs, Halcyon Incubator, has selected seven ventures to move into the newly renovated Halcyon House in September for its inaugural class of fellows.
