The pivotal question we hope to answer with the 2009 Civic Health Index (CHI) is how modern citizens respond to crisis—do individuals rise to the challenge and roll up their sleeves to meet the challenge at large, or do they detach from community to focus on caring for their family and personal matters?

Both responses are natural and justified. The Great Depression saw a decline in civic engagement as people tried to keep their jobs and feed their families, but the 21st Century responses to tragedies such as 9/11, tsunami tragedies, and Hurricane Katrina show a behavioral shift in the way society responds to our collective challenge.

The emergence of the Millennial generation (born 1980-1995) may also play a role in this shift. Often referred to as a the next great Civic Generation, the 2008 CHI found that “Millennials are showing strong interest in civic participation and reversing some of the declines” observed among past generations.

The scope of this economic downturn is global, but certain countries, states and even communities have felt more substantial consequences of this crisis. The 2009 CHI will explore how six specific states (CA, FL, OH, IL, MN, and NH) have responded civically to overcome these challenges.

It has been noted that anecdotally, we are seeing evidence that suggests that an economic decline could mean a rise in the level of civic engagement. We are excited that the 2009 CHI will provide statistical data to answer this question and to provide a baseline to help better understand the societal and emotional levers that inspire civic action and what can be done to sustain it.