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
Mandatory service for the unemployed? Discuss.A recent, hotly debated proposed law in Georgia would require out-of-work residents to perform at least 24 hours of community service with a nonprofit in order to receive unemployment benefits. Supporters ...	December 15, 2011	discussion
The Gardens of DemocracyAn interview with Eric Liu and Nick HanauerEric Liu is an author and speaker who served as a speechwriter and policy advisor to President Bill Clinton. Nick Hanauer is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Together, they have authored two books, ...	December 12, 2011	discussion
Bringing Your Values to Work: Recent Data on Employee Engagement from CECPby Margaret Coady, CECPThe analysis of corporate giving trends make clear that companies continue to invest in programs that allow employees to bring their values to work. In light of CECP’s 2011 “Giving in Numbers” ...	December 6, 2011	discussion
Heart of the NationAn interview with John BridgelandJohn Bridgeland is the CEO of Civic Enterprises and former Assistant to President George W. Bush, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Director of USA Freedom Corps. He chairs NCoC’s ...	November 14, 2011	discussion
Embracing Risk and Celebrating Failureby David B. SmithDavid B. Smith reflects on a recent Aspen Institute Roundtable on Assessing Community Information Needs. The main topic of conversation was the Richard Harwood’s new white paper, “Assessing ...	October 25, 2011	discussion
Gerda Weissman Klein: A true story of liberation and becoming American The transcript of a speech given by Holocaust survivor, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and Citizenship Counts founder Gerda Weissman Klein at the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship, ...	October 10, 2011	discussion
Keynote Panel on Civility and Political Discourse66th Annual National Conference on CitizenshipThis panel was convened at the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship on September 22, 2011 in Pheonix, Arizona by NCoC and the Bipartisan Policy Center.	September 22, 2011	video
How do we build structures that allow for healthy dialogue on controversial issues?A Civic Connector Commentary by Sen. John McCainThe “Civic Connector” is a daily online forum during the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship. The September 21 commentator is United States Senator, John McCain. Senator McCain’s ...	September 21, 2011	discussion
When addressing public problems, is our goal always building consensus or finding common ground? Should it be?A Civic Connector Commentary by Bobbi SiltenThe “Civic Connector” is a daily online forum during the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship. The September 20 commentator is Bobbi Silten, Chief Foundation Officer of Gap Inc. and ...	September 20, 2011	discussion
How Do We Ensure Information Validity?A Civic Connector Commentary by Jim NewtonThe “Civic Connector” is a daily online forum during the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship. The September 19 commentator is Jim Newton, Editor at Large of the Los Angeles Times. ...	September 19, 2011	discussion