NCoC: Discussions and Commentary

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Discussions and Commentary

NCoC engages in Research, Discussion and Solutions to real world issues. We apply this strategic approach in 6 primary civic focus areas, highlighted here.

NCoC believes addressing an issue occurs in three primary strategic phases: research, discussion, and solutions. The discussion phase is an important element in understanding challenges and animating research findings, as well as turning them into action plans and solutions in communities. This is why NCoC is committed to using our website as a platform for ongoing discussion and commentary about issues facing the civic sector.

Here, you will see a list of our featured discussions, broken down by focus area. Scroll over the title to see a brief description, and click to read the article and join the discussion.

For all featured discussions sorted by date, click here.

Ongoing Discussion Series are also generated on the following topics:
The Meaning of American
Can Engagement Strengthen the Economy?
Public Policy Chat

Discussions by issue area are here:

Title	Date	Type
Government: right-sized and in the right roleBy Karen Baker, California Secretary of Service and VolunteeringIn this guest post, Karen Baker explores the important role each sector can plan in tapping individual civic energy for social good in communities. “A multi-sector approach is based on the idea ...	May 17, 2011	expert commentary
Federal Reserve Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin Discusses the Importance of NCoC ResearchAt the 67th Annual National Conference on Citizenship, Federal Reserve Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin participated in a panel discussion exploring the link between civic engagement and employment. These are ...	October 22, 2012	expert commentary
There’s No Stimulus Like Serviceby John Bridgeland and Alan Khazei“Democrats in Washington say the nation needs more jobs. Republicans say the economic stimulus isn’t working fast enough.” In a Politico op-ed, NCoC advisors John Bridgeland and Alan ...	July 17, 2009	op-ed
Dear Shay, What It Means to Be an American...by Josh Fryday (Dad)A letter from father to one-year-old son regarding his rights and responsibilities as an American citizen.	January 13, 2012	op-ed
America: Built to LastNCoC Response to 2012 State of the Union AddressIn tonight’s State of the Union address, President Obama spoke of the harsh and complex realities of today’s political and economic climate. NCoC believes that in solving even these complex ...	January 24, 2012	op-ed
Paths to 21st Century Competencies Through Civic Education ClassroomsThere is an expectation that students will have mastered an essential skill set by the completion of their education. In an economy that is globally connected and rapidly changing, the required skills ...	December 1, 2009	publication
An Inequitable Invitation to CitizenshipNon-College-Bound Youth and Civic EngagementThere has been considerable effort to engage college-bound students in public life, but much less attention has been paid to the 50% of youth that are not on the secondary education track. Philanthropy ...	December 8, 2009	publication
Report finds significant decline in number of “Dropout Factories”A report by America’s Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises and Johns Hopkins University’s Everyone Graduates Center provides some of the first positive signs that America is making progress ...	November 30, 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
An Evolving RelationshipExecutive Branch Approaches to Civic Engagement and PhilanthropyA new white paper from Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement outlines Executive Branch approaches to civic engagement and Philanthropy. “An Evolving Relationship” provides a broad overview ...	May 17, 2010	publication