Defining civic engagement, democracy, civic renewal, and related terms

defining civic engagement, democracy, civic renewal, and related terms « Peter Levine:

"My post entitled “What is the definition of civic engagement?” gets lots of traffic. It does not actually present my definition but a compendium of alternative versions. I have volunteered to draft some new definitions for a particular purpose. This is what I am thinking:"

Several civics definitions are presented.

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You don’t have to be a hero to be a helper

Idealist Blog » Blog Archive » You don’t have to be a hero to be a helper:

• Back in April, we posted about professor Adam Grant’s endless capacity for helping and his research on the positive effects of generosity. We also listed some ways to get ahead by giving from Grant’s new book “Give and Take.” One thing we haven’t talked about, though, is the underlying feeling that may keep many of us from boarding the give-and-gain train.

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Introducing Congress for iOS app

Introducing Congress for iOS - Sunlight Foundation Blog:

• Now it is easy to learn more about your member of Congress, contact them directly and see their activities right from your phone. Follow the latest legislation, floor activity and even get a breakdown of votes with just a swipe and tap. The new Congress app for iOS has many more features in development and complements the immensely popular version for Android.
• Sunlight offers a number of apps for iOS and Android devices, such as the award-winning Sitegeist, the localized Open States and the innovative Ad Hawk.

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July 22-23, 2013 Citizens’ Civility Symposium

NCDD Community News » You’re Invited: Citizens’ Civility Symposium next month:

The Citizens’ Civility Symposium will take place in DC on Monday, July 22nd and Tuesday, July 23rd, and members of the NCDD are encouraged to attend! 

The symposium is a bi-partisan gathering of national and community leaders examining the importance, challenges, and opportunities for practicing civility in the current culture of partisanship and polarization. Come learn about the civility landscape, hear from experts and practitioners in the civility movement, and listen to past and present members of Congress discuss civility on Capitol Hill.

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Report: Civic knowledge is the leading factor in political civic engagement

From the Intercollegiate Studies Institute report Enlightened Citizenship: How Civic Knowledge Trumps a College Degree in Promoting Active Civic Engagement

This is the fifth report to the nation issued by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's (ISI) National Civic Literacy Board. While each past study has had a different point of emphasis, all share a common thread of examining the relationships that exist between higher education, civic knowledge, and citizenship. 

ISI asked its randomly selected sample of 2,508 Americans ten electoral questions to assess how engaged they were in electoral activities. With this data in hand, ISI employed multivariate regression analyses to determine the independent influence that earning a college degree, acquiring more civic knowledge, and other factors have on the political participation of American citizens.

Below are our findings.

• A College Degree Fails to Promote Active Civic Engagement Beyond Voting. 

• Greater Civic Knowledge Trumps a College Degree as the Leading Factor in Encouraging Active Civic Engagement

• Civic Self-Education Increases Active Civic Engagement; Video Games Detract

• Greater Civic Knowledge Discourages Elective Office Holding

Conclusion: The Successful Study of America's History and Institutions is the Key to Informed and Responsible Citizenship.

The mission of Activism Today is to educate and share the latest news on political civic engagement, an essential role of American citizenship.

A 10-point plan for national civic renewal

A 10-Point Plan for Civic Renewal

Peter Levine's 10-Point Plan: 

1. Choose one grave national issue and use federal policy to support participatory, deliberative solutions. 

2. Pass the Fair Elections Now Act or a close equivalent. 

3. Make voluntary national service a means to develop civic capacities. 

4. Prepare a new generation of active and responsible citizens. 

5. Put citizenship back in the civil service. 

6. Support charter schools, Community Development Corporations, watershed councils, and Federal Qualified Health Centers. 

7. Give the public a voice in policymaking. 

8. Use the Internet to make the regulatory process more deliberative. 

9. Launch a Civic Communications Corps. 

10. Incorporate immigrants into civic life.

This is an occasional public engagement to-do list by a national leader, Peter Levine. Let's get busy-- all citizens on call!