A new report released today finds that California’s tough economy is causing cities, towns and counties across the state to rethink how they tackle some of their toughest challenges. The result is a new collaborative approach to governance. The report, “Golden Governance: Building Effective Public Engagement in California,” identifies seven communities across the state that have reacted to the current financial situation by rethinking and restructuring governance and their approach to citizen engagement.
During this difficult economic period, New York residents score at or above national rates on social connectedness and access to local information. Using recent data from the Siena College Research Institute (SRI), they trust people and local institutions with some trepidation while still consistent with national trends. However, New Yorkers are somewhat less likely than the average American to volunteer, give to charity or participate in the duties of citizenship including voting or attending community meetings or events, according to the 2011 New York State Civic Health Index released today.
An alarming new study of civic health shows that Florida’s young adult population is less engaged in voting, volunteerism and public debate than their counterparts in other states. The results have prompted several former state leaders to set a goal of increasing the voting rate among Florida’s Millennials by 10 percent in the next election.
Undergraduates at Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP), located at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, have joined with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) in releasing a report on the civic health of Massachusetts’ citizens. The 2011 Massachusetts Civic Health Index findings are based on analysis of U.S. Census Current Population Survey (CPS) data by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).
NCoC (the National Conference on Citizenship) is excited to announce a 2012 partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation building upon our shared missions of developing communities that are informed, connected, and engaged.
NCoC is honored to work with Knight Foundation to explore the connections between community attachment, civic engagement, and economic prosperity. This partnership will expand existing research initiatives conducted by the two organizations.
The 2010 California Civic Health Index examines two broad categories of civic health. “Social civic engagement” includes activities such as volunteering, working with neighbors on local problems, dining with family and group membership. “Political civic engagement” examines matters such as voting, registering to vote, and discussing politics with others.
The Oklahoma Civic Health Index shows that, while Oklahoma outperforms national trends for family and community building, some forms of civic involvement, such as voter turnout, may be lacking.
Oklahomans invest in private sociability and volunteer and exchange favors with neighbors at high rates, often above the national average. These personal activities form a strong basis for increasing the other foundations of civic involvement, such as voting and non-electoral political activity.
During this difficult economic period, New York residents score at or above national rates on social connectedness and access to local information. They trust people and local institutions with some trepidation while still consistent with national trends. However, New Yorkers are somewhat less likely than the average American to volunteer, give to charity or participate in the duties of citizenship including voting or attending community meetings or events, according to the 2010 New York State Civic Health Index.
The civic health of Illinois, and the Chicago region in particular, is ailing. Two reports show that Chicago-area and Illinois residents are less likely to vote, attend a public meeting, and pitch in with neighbors compared to national averages. However, although national averages in accessing news and information are appallingly low, residents of Illinois and the Chicago region compare favorably on this measure.
The first-ever look at Maryland’s civic health – how state residents work together for the common good – shows a Free State that fared above average in each of nine major indicators evaluated, but scored lower than researchers anticipated due to the state’s higher-than-average median income, strong education systems and location.
If Pennsylvania needs a wake-up call that its residents need to be more active citizens, it just got it. The Commonwealth’s first ever Civic Health Index reveals that Pennsylvania’s civic health is suffering. Results show that Pennsylvanians have fallen behind in voter registration and turnout, ranking 35th among all states in voter registration rate and 39th in voter turnout. During the historic presidential election of 2008, when record numbers of voters went to the polls, Pennsylvania actually saw a drop in voter registration, voter turnout, and voter fulfillment, falling slightly behind the national average.
A new report released today shows Miami is the least civically engaged in the country compared to Minneapolis-St. Paul, the most engaged metropolitan area. The report helps to shed light on the contributing factors behind each city’s civic engagement in an effort to improve civic health. Researchers say that while the two areas differ demographically those differences do not explain the gap between their civic engagements.