January 6, 2009
“Civic Engagement” “Democracy ” “Social Entrepreneurship” What’s it all mean? To folks outside “the field” not a whole lot.
The 2008 America’s Civic Health Index indicated that “what we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” And while we certainly cannot resort to the methods used by Captain who immortalized those words in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, we do need to recognize that the words we use to describe what we do – what we are all so passionate about – fail to light a fire under a large section of America.
Almost one third of those surveyed felt they did not understand the phrase “Civic Engagement,” and forty-two percent of Millennials said they did not know what the phrase meant.
Thirty-eight percent were perplexed by the phrase “Social Entrepreneurship.” Even thirty-two percent of Millennials declined to answer the question.
The word Democracy elicited a 13% negative response. One in five noted democracy as having some kind of right or duty associated with it.
One may have to look long and hard to find a better and more well-known advocate for service than President-elect Barack Obama.
I am here today… to invite you to take hold of the future of your country. Because your own story and the American story are not separate – they are shared. And they will both be enriched if we stand up together, and answer a new call to service to meet the challenges of our new century.
While it may be hard to stay in your seat after hearing that call, many aren’t quite sure where that call might lead them. In the Civic Health Index survey, 27% said the word “service” had something to do with others and 26% mentioned military service. Yet 23% offered unique answers which leads to the conclusion that service has many definitions which is perhaps why President-elect Obama further defined what he means by service in the following quote:
"When you choose to serve — whether it’s your nation, your community or simply your neighborhood — you are connected to that fundamental American ideal that we want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not just for ourselves, but for all Americans. That’s why it’s called the American dream."
Obviously we have work to do when it comes to communicating clearly to the public, the media and perhaps even among ourselves.
How do you talk about what you do? Become part of the discussion by posting your tips, focus group data, or other research to help us tackle this issue.