NCoC: Social Capital

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Social Capital

The most powerful force in American democracy is the connection among citizens. NCoC aims to understand how socio-economic and demographic factors, time spent with family, friends, and neighbors, and elements of trust and connectedness affect the process of civic engagement.

NCoC believes to address community issues and challenges in any area, research must be collected, discussion must occur, and solutions must be proposed. Here, you can see research, discussion, and solutions associated with social capital. This is meant to help explain and animate that focus area, as well as facilitate the process of moving from information to action within it.

Social Capital Issues:Research | Discussions | Solutions

Social Capital Research

Title	Date	Type
Main Trends in Civic Engagement are DownAll available data, however, point to a decline after 2003.	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
Our Civic CoreWe believe that most of the forms of engagement measured in the Civic Health Index should be common practices among the people. For example, virtually everyone in a democracy should vote, follow the news, ...	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
"Citizen-Centered" EngagementDiscussing and ActingOur most active citizens both attend public meetings on community issues and work with other people directly on public problems.	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
NetizensEngaging OnlineA dramatic recent change in civil society is the opportunity to participate via computers and digital networks.	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
Deliberating41 Million Engaged with Diverse GroupsWe define public deliberation as talking civilly and constructively with others who have diverse views about important issues. It is a crucial complement to voting, volunteering, and activism, because ...	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
An Appetite for Civic ParticipationMost people are not participating today. That could be because they do not have opportunities or encouragement to work on public issues, because of a real or perceived lack of time, or because Americans ...	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
Millennials EmergeA New Civic Generation?According to the Census, in 2007, living Millennials outnumbered living Baby Boomers: 77.6 million to 74.1 million. They have a distinctive political and civic character that will be important for America's ...	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
Gaps in ParticipationThe Power of A Good EducationEducation marks the great gap in civic participation today. Overall, the differences by race, ethnicity, and gender are small. But this study, like much previous research, finds that Americans with more ...	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index
Political Activity And Expression Are RisingSigns of HopePrivate volunteerism is dwarfed by public spending in areas that affect critically the character and provision of important needs. However, government works better and leaders are held more accountable ...	Sep 18th, 2006	civic health index
People Follow The News Less, Although Political Knowledge Seems To Have RisenSigns of HopeThomas Jefferson wrote: “I know of no safe depository of the ultimate power of the society but the people themselves.” This of course depends on people who know enough to be wise holders of ...	Sep 18th, 2006	civic health index

Social Capital Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
The Civic Acceleratorby Sara Johnson, Village Capital Program AssociateThis fall, Village Capital in partnership with Points of Light will launch the Civic Accelerator. This twelve-week program is an opportunity for nonprofit and for-profit ventures focused on civic engagement ...	August 9, 2012
We are CitizensLast night, the President offered a powerful reminder of the values, privileges and rights that bind us together through our role as citizens. In his State of the Union Address, the President called upon ...	February 13, 2013
Volunteering and Civic Life in America 2012 By the NumbersAre Americans Bowling Alone?Group participation is a central component of community involvement and broader civic health. Volunteering and Civic Life in America, presented in partnership between NCoC and the Corporation for National ...	February 26, 2013
Volunteering and Civic Life in America 2012 By the NumbersHigh levels of neighbor engagement means strong communities. How often do we talk with one another, help each other out, and how much do we trust the people in our communities? Our latest data shows there’s ...	March 14, 2013
Providing Authentic Opportunities for Youth Engagement in Local Governmentby Leon AndrewsWhat makes youth civic engagement “authentic?” How can cities move beyond token levels of youth participation in local decision-making toward efforts that truly prepare and empower youth to ...	September 1, 2010	discussion
Unlocking Social CapitalWhat is the role of digital communication and diversity in increasing civic engagement?The definition of social capital varies, though as buzzword its usage is climbing faster than the economy. As it relates to civic engagement, the idea is that social capital is what individuals build-up ...	October 15, 2010	discussion
Is Journalism an Act of Service?Rick Stengel remarked in his NCoC speech last month in Washington, DC that “journalism itself is an actual act of service…In a democracy you need a robust exchange of ideas.” If ...	October 19, 2010	discussion
Closing the College Completion GapA Guide for Faith CommunitiesA degree beyond high school has become an essential element of opportunity in America and is a proven pathway out of poverty. However, the majority of our nation's young people, especially low-income ...	November 1, 2010	discussion
New Generation Of Veterans Gains Strength And Support From One AnotherLove for country, service and sacrifice are certainly at the heart of military service, and the 2010 Civic Health Assessment found that veterans are more likely to be involved in their community than ...	November 4, 2010	discussion
Wrap Up: Global Youth Service DayCongratulations to our friends at Youth Service America (YSA) for their successful 22nd annual Global Youth Service Day, celebrating children and youth who improve their communities through service and ...	May 4, 2010	discussion

Social Capital Solutions

Title	Date	Type
Changing the Status QuoIntentional Succession Planning Through Leadership DevelopmentMany think of succession planning as a one-time process that only occurs when an organization considers how it will continue to thrive after a senior leader moves on. The 2010 American Express NGen Fellows ...	November 3, 2011	publication
Closing the College Completion GapA Guide for Faith CommunitiesA degree beyond high school has become an essential element of opportunity in America and is a proven pathway out of poverty. However, the majority of our nation's young people, especially low-income ...	November 1, 2010	discussion
Providing Authentic Opportunities for Youth Engagement in Local Governmentby Leon AndrewsWhat makes youth civic engagement “authentic?” How can cities move beyond token levels of youth participation in local decision-making toward efforts that truly prepare and empower youth to ...	September 1, 2010	discussion
Civic Engagement and Recent Immigrant Communities“Civic Engagement and Recent Immigrant Communities,” a new guide developed by the National League of Cities, presents local officials with the first steps and directions for efforts toward ...	August 18, 2010	discussion
Creating Spaces for ChangeWorking Toward a “Story of Now” in Civic EngagementCreating Spaces for Change: Working Toward a ”Story of Now” in Civic Engagement , a new report from the Deliberative Democracy Consortium and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is an attempt to describe ...	April 23, 2010	publication
Funding and Fostering Local DemocracyWhat Philanthropy Should Know about the Emerging Field of Deliberation and Democratic GovernanceAs the philanthropic community grapples with the question of how to support innovative and effective forms of democratic governance, PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement) has released a guide ...	May 19, 2009	publication

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