The media often paints Ohio as the very middle of America—a Midwestern state that represents what real American's think, feel, act and do. During election cycles, Ohio receives a great deal of attention because of our large population (Ohio has 11,542,645 3 people), our rural and urban centers, and the large number of Electoral College votes we retain. Ohio also has appeared in the media for the striking impact the recent recession has had on the state and the high unemployment and foreclosure rates sweeping across many counties. In 2008, the median household income of Ohioans was $48,011 compared to the national average of $52,029. Ohio is not particularly diverse as a state but does have a growing population of Latino/a residents. The statewide demographics look like this:
RACE AND ETHNICITY IN OHIO (2009)
Caucasian 84.7%
Black 12.1%
Native American/Native Alaskan 0.3%
Asian 1.6%
Hispanic or Latino origin 2.8%

Eighty–one percent of the state's adults aged 25 or older with at least a bachelor's degree live in Ohio's largest metro areas. 4 Ohio's population is also growing more slowly than the rest of the country's population. In 2009, the U.S. Census lists population growth in Ohio between 2000 and 2009 as 1.7% compared to a national rate of 9.1%. We have proportionately fewer citizens available to work on the problems facing us in the 21st century.

As Ohio faces these demographic and economic challenges, we must respond by making signicant changes to enhance civic and political life to ensure individuals have the opportunity and capacity to create change in their communities. To facilitate more effective policies at the community and state levels, this Report highlights the importance of civic and social engagement and recent Ohio legislation related to these activities; provides greater analysis of the 2010 Ohio Civic Health Index Report ndings, which detail how Ohioans can more effectively solve problems together; and, nally, closes with policy recommendations for improving the civic health of Ohio.