North Carolina's young people — the future leaders of our state and our communities — are, unfortunately, the least civically engaged of any age group in North Carolina. This is similar to the national trend. The state's Millennial generation, those born after 1981, reported the lowest rates of participation in all ve indicators of civic engagement: They are the least likely to have volunteered in the past year, worked with their neighbors to x a problem in their community, participated in a non–electoral political act, contributed $25 or more, and, among eligible voters, to have voted in the 2008 election.

Just 2% of North Carolinians ages 18 to 24 have worked with neighbors to x a problem in the community; this is 6 percentage points below the state rate. Moreover, in 2008, nearly 90% of young people ages 18 to 24 report that they did not participate in non–electoral political activities during the past year. Such activities include attending a meeting where political issues were discussed, buying or boycotting a product or service, taking part in a march, rally, protest or demonstration, or showing support for a candidate or party by donating.

The civic health of North Carolina lies in the balance. Without improved civic engagement among our state's young people, we risk losing a generation of leaders.