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
Is Journalism an Act of Service?Rick Stengel remarked in his NCoC speech last month in Washington, DC that “journalism itself is an actual act of service…In a democracy you need a robust exchange of ideas.” If ...	October 19, 2010	discussion
Unlocking Social CapitalWhat is the role of digital communication and diversity in increasing civic engagement?The definition of social capital varies, though as buzzword its usage is climbing faster than the economy. As it relates to civic engagement, the idea is that social capital is what individuals build-up ...	October 15, 2010	discussion
Citizenship for the 21st Centuryby Stanley Litow, IBMThe ideals of citizenship and volunteerism were deeply embedded in America’s founding documents, and recent legislation, public initiatives, and corporate investment have given these values renewed ...	October 6, 2010	discussion
Providing Authentic Opportunities for Youth Engagement in Local Governmentby Leon AndrewsWhat makes youth civic engagement “authentic?” How can cities move beyond token levels of youth participation in local decision-making toward efforts that truly prepare and empower youth to ...	September 1, 2010	discussion
Celebrating 90 Years of Women’s Suffrageby Elisabeth MacNamara, League of Women VotersAugust 26th is Women’s Equality Day and which signifies the 90th anniversary of the constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote. As we approach what could be a pivotal 2010 election, ...	August 26, 2010	discussion
Target 2020: My Education. Our Future.by Decker Ngongang, Mobilize.orgMobilize.org believes the Millennial Generation should play an active role in the future of education in our country and that one of the single most important factors in reversing generational poverty ...	August 24, 2010	discussion
Civic Engagement and Recent Immigrant Communities“Civic Engagement and Recent Immigrant Communities,” a new guide developed by the National League of Cities, presents local officials with the first steps and directions for efforts toward ...	August 18, 2010	discussion
Is Corporate Philanthropy the same as stealing?In a Wall Street Journal opinion article, Philosopher Jamie Whyte equates corporate philanthropy to theft. He outlines the implications corporate philanthropy has on shareholders, who are not guaranteed ...	July 23, 2010	discussion
Corporate Citizenship Highlight: B CorporationsAs part of our discussion “The Case for Corporate Citizenship,” NCoC is highlighting some ways corporations are engaging employees, giving back to communities, and integrating civically responsible ...	July 8, 2010	discussion
Corporate Citizenship Highlight: PhilanthropyAs part of our discussion “The Case for Corporate Citizenship,” NCoC is highlighting some ways corporations are engaging employees, giving back to communities, and integrating civically responsible ...	June 30, 2010	discussion