Since its establishment in 1681 by William Penn, Pennsylvania has played a pivotal role in our nation’s democracy and civic life. It was in Pennsylvania’s largest city, Philadelphia, that the two most significant documents in our nation’s history were drafted and signed: the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. In nearby Valley Forge, during the harsh winter of 1777, our nation’s first volunteer army was formed, and Philadelphia served as our nation’s capitol from 1790-1800. As one of the thirteen original colonies, Pennsylvania played a major role in the formation of the union, and it has continued to play an important role in United States history ever since. Throughout this long history, the spirit and dedication of the Founding Fathers has been reflected in generations of everyday Pennsylvanians who, when called upon, have served their communities and their nation as volunteers and engaged citizens. These Pennsylvanians understood the importance of active and engaged citizenship and are as much a part of Pennsylvania’s civic heritage as the Founding Fathers themselves.

Pennsylvania consists of a diverse landscape of large metropolitan areas, small cities and townships, rich farmland, and vast expanses of largely undeveloped wooded and mountainous areas, valued mostly for their timber and other natural resources or their recreational uses. Philadelphia, in the Southeast corner of the state, draws visitors worldwide to Independence Mall, the birthplace of American freedom; to its vibrant artistic and cultural attractions; and to the famous cheesesteak establishments in South Philly. As home to several Fortune 500 companies, the City of Brotherly Love is also a major financial center and a former railroad and industrial hub that has evolved into a center for health education and research. Pittsburgh, in the western part of the state, was once known as Steel City but in recent years has reinvented itself as “a 21st-century leader in education, computer science, medical research, sports entertainment, and boutique manufacturing.”(1) In between these two large metropolitan areas are smaller cities and towns, rolling hills, vast forests, and millions of acres of productive farmland. Pennsylvania also has one of the most complex systems of governance in the nation, with 4,871 local governments including 66 counties, 1,016 municipalities, 1,546 townships, 1,728 special district governments, and 515 school boards.(2)

Pennsylvania, like much of the industrial northeast, has suffered economically from the dramatic decline of the manufacturing sector over the past 40 years.(3) The state was also hit hard by the Great Recession of 2007-2009, driving up unemployment and poverty rates and creating a $5.9 billion budget shortfall in fiscal year 2010.(4) In 2011, Pennsylvania’s economy was on the road to recovery, with unemployment falling to 7.6% in December 2011 as compared with the annual average of 8.7% in 2010.(5) Yet many families in Pennsylvania still struggle to make ends meet and reliance on public assistance remains high. With unemployment still widespread, overall work hours down, and more people losing their health insurance, the demand for cash assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, and children’s health insurance was significantly higher at the end of 2011 (in the case of food stamps, more than 50% higher) than when the recession began in 2007.(6)

In addition to these economic challenges, Pennsylvania faces difficult problems with its crumbling infrastructure,(7) an aging population,(8) and the availability and affordability of health care and health care insurance.(9) It also faces a variety of environmental problems, ranging from the effects of acid rain(10) and acid mine drainage,(11) to the protection of the Chesapeake Bay watershed(12) and the reclamation of brownfields and other environmentally tainted industrial sites.(13) Perhaps the biggest challenges Pennsylvania will face in the coming years involve the economic, environmental, and social impacts of Marcellus Shale. In 2009 alone, drilling in the Marcellus Shale brought more than 23,000 jobs and an estimated $3 billion in economic activity to Pennsylvania,(14) but it also has raised concerns about the potential contamination of drinking water, stresses on Pennsylvania’s roads and infrastructure, and other environmental and social problems.(15)

Whether Pennsylvania succumbs to these challenges or thrives in the new millennium will depend, in large measure, on the state of its civic health. If the people of Pennsylvania build on the strengths of their civic profile—their relatively high levels of community engagement and political participation—they can not only elect good political leaders but also play a significant role in shaping their own destiny. If, on the other hand, they fail to take care of their civic health, they risk making ill-informed choices and having little say about the future of their Commonwealth. In the final analysis, it is up to each and every citizen to decide whether to get involved and invest in the civic infrastructure and the educational programs necessary for a healthy democracy.