January 13, 2009
If we build it, will they come?
While a large number of Americans still remain spectators in the bleacher section of the civic engagement arena, those same Americans express support for policy changes that would institutionalize or mainstream civic engagement.
In 2007, NCoC convened a working group of civic engagement professionals and challenged them to develop a list of innovative ideas for changes in public policy that, if enacted, might lead to more civic involvement. Those ideas were incorporated into the survey for America’s Civic Health Index with respondents showing strong support for the following measures:
Tuition for service – 87%
A national deliberation – 80%
Service learning – 76%
Civic education – 67%
Federal support for non-profits – 61%
Local control over education – 55%
Expanding overseas programs – 52%
The list is far-reaching with the potential to impact the American image both here and abroad, but our work is far from finished. If these, or any other programs, are implemented will Americans step up to the plate? What more can we all do, as leaders in the field, to help transform Americans from spectators to highly engaged participants? With interest on service expressed by the upcoming Barack Obama administration, there could not be a better time to further augment our inventory of ground-breaking policies to encourage citizens to become more active in their communities and more committed to our democracy.
What programs would you suggest to encourage more civic engagement? Where should we invest our energies and our monies?
We want to hear from you. Submit your viewpoint to our online brainstorming session, otherwise known as our comment page.