NCoC Response to 2012 State of the Union Address
January 24, 2012
In tonight’s State of the Union address, President Obama spoke of the harsh and complex realities of today’s political and economic climate, and the need for cooperation. He noted, “No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team.”
NCoC believes that in solving even these complex problems, the actions of citizens themselves can be the key to ensuring our country’s success and vitality. The President noted the way civic participation and public projects revived America after World War II and the Great Depression; it can be the case again.
In 2011, NCoC explored the connection between civic engagement and economy vitality. In partnership with nonprofits, researchers, and government advisors, we found that five measures of civic engagement can help protect communities against the ravages of unemployment. In September, we released a brief entitled “Civic Health and Unemployment” which can be found at ~1@BODYURL[id=114kcurl265]@
Why does the relationship between civic engagement and unemployment exist? NCoC believes that effective civic learning and participation in civil society helps develop the skills, confidence, and habits necessary to help make individuals employable. Civic participation helps strengthen the networks that help find jobs. It helps cultivate trusting and effective governance structures that invest in economic growth. Like the President, we believe that “to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier.”
Our report’s findings, underscored by the President’s message, demonstrate the urgent need to understand the vital role civic engagement and education play in our society—not merely as something “nice” to do, but as critical vehicles through which pressing social and economic issues can be addressed.
That’s why NCoC has dedicated this year to further exploring this connection and demonstrating the role that civic participation plays in building thriving economies. We look forward to sharing more details about our 2012 activities with you shortly.