Reuters article promotes poll by United Healthcare and VolunteerMatch that finds 84 percent of people agree that volunteering improves physical health, and 95 percent said it may also have emotional benefits
John Bridgeland and Alah Khazei in the Huffington Post on the role of national service to bridge the employment gap and invest in our people at low cost to the taxpayer.
Stereotypically, Millennials are characterized as engaged, while their sibiling generation, Generation X is classified as apathetic. But statistically, this engagement gap could be questioned.
Both the generations are calling for increased transparency, accountability, and corporate social responsibility, and each are meeting community needs in their own ways. Does this suggest current engagement rates of both the pre-mid-life generations in America actually demonstrate both a call for public attention and a personal stake in increasing civic health?
Coverage of the 2009 Civic Health Index from The NonProfit Times
Coverage of the 2009 Civic Health Index from the Chronicle of Philanthropy by Caroline Preston
Coverage of the 2009 Civic Health Index by Stephanie Strom of the New York Times
The citizenship world lost a dear friend today. Senator Kennedy served in the United States Senate for 47 years and often authored landmark legislation.
Through the recently passed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, his work “will go on, his cause will endure, this hope will still live, and his dream shall never die.”
Today, we celebrate this by remembering and highlighting the passing of his namesake legislation, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
The recession may actually be prompting nonprofit organizations to boost their involvement in advocacy and civic engagement.
Recent studies have shown interesting and varied levels of correlation between community involvement around the United States and its direct connection to the economy. UCLA sociology professor Jennie Brand writes that when people facing layoffs and unemployment, they are much less inclined to volunteer their time at various social, community, and civic groups. This is not just due to the direct costs associated with being civically engaged, but also due to “embarrassment as a result of downward social mobility,” which leads to decreased social capital and increased isolation.
Which begs the question: In challenging economic times, what are the opportunity costs associated with being civically engaged? Can we afford not to be?
“Democrats in Washington say the nation needs more jobs. Republicans say the economic stimulus isn’t working fast enough.” In a Politico op-ed, NCoC advisors John Bridgeland and Alan Khazei present a simple, low-cost, bipartisan solution to both complaints: fully funding the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to allow for expansion of national and community service programs. Because the bottom line is, America needs economic recovery, and meaningful public engagement could be the solution to pulling us out of these tough times.
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