NCoC: Civic Engagement and Employment: NCoC Continues the Conversation

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Civic Engagement and Employment: NCoC Continues the Conversation

by Kristi Tate, Director of Community Strategies, NCoC

June 13, 2012

This year, NCoC is deepening our exploration of the connections between community attachment, civic engagement and economic prosperity, in partnership with the John S. and James L Knight Foundation.

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Kristi TateDirector, Community StrategiesKristi Tate serves as Director of Community Strategies for NCoC. In this role, Kristi is responsible for management of the organization’s Civic Health Index reports and initiatives.

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Employment solutions: Can a town’s good deeds lower unemployment?By Leda Hartman, Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor / June 3, 2012June 13, 2012

This month, The Christian Science Monitor ran a cover story featuring NCoC’s work on the connections between civic health and economic resilience. Check out the story, “Employment solutions: Can a town’s good deeds lower unemployment?”

The article features research released in 2011 by NCoC finding that five measures of civic engagement – attending meetings, helping neighbors, registering to vote, volunteering and voting – appear to help protect against unemployment and contribute to overall economic resilience.

This year, NCoC is deepening our exploration of the connections between community attachment, civic engagement and economic prosperity, in partnership with the John S. and James L Knight Foundation. We’re also engaging new voices in this conversation through the launch of our Civic Data Challenge and through our Civic Innovators Forum Conversation Series with the theme “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Exploring the Link Between Civic Engagement and Employment.”

The results of these conversations so far echo the message of the cover story—the impacts of an engaged and connected community are deeply felt in the lives of its residents. In the rich discussions we’ve had from Williamsburg, Virginia to Seattle, Washington to San Antonio, Texas, we’ve been hearing the following:

1. Given this research about the impact of civic engagement on the economy, there is now even more urgency to address the growing ‘civic gap’. How do we ensure that civic skills and learning are being cultivated for all of our citizens through K-12 education, community college, vocational programs, job training and colleges and universities?
2. While this research points to the economic value of civic skills and behaviors, how does civic learning and engagement stack up against other high-priority educational priorities like STEM? As a society, do we really value civic skills as essential to a globally competitive workforce?
3. There has been growing attention to the ‘strength of weak ties’ theory that suggests individuals often find jobs through friends of friends. Online networking sites like LinkedIn might help facilitate this, but how do we translate this knowledge into community strategies that create more opportunities?

NCoC will advance this dialogue in the months ahead, and will continue working to incorporate this feedback into our ongoing research and initiatives. We invite you to join us along the way. Contribute your thoughts to our online discussion series . Help us uncover new connections between civic health and community vitality by joining the Civic Data Challenge and bring your findings to life in new and exciting ways. And, join us for the release of the winning entries and our new research findings on these issues at the 67th Annual National Conference on Citizenship on September 14th .

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Civic Engagement, Civic Health, Economy