WGIL Radio
December 10, 2010
The Illinois Civic Health Index 2010, published by the Citizen Advocacy Center, based in Elmhurst, finds that the regularity with which Illinois residents engage in civic participation is below the national average. Such participation includes voting, registering to vote, contacting public officials, attending meetings, belonging to organizations, taking community leadership roles or taking to the streets in protest.
Illinois even ranked 46th in the nation for the frequency with which we exchange favors with our neighbors or eat dinner with our families.
Maryam Judar, a community lawyer for the Citizen Advocacy Center , says the state’s two-century history of corruption has resulted in Illinoisans developing distrust in government and a deep seated concern about corruption.
She says local government is the place where citizens will find it easiest to get started participating and where they’ll be able to make the most difference. The study says many Illinoisans are optimistic that the state’s civic health can improve.