CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DEFINED

What is “civic engagement?” There are many definitions of “civic engagement.” However, The Student Civic Engagement Campaign hopes to listen to students’ voices about how young people define civic engagement in their own lives and work.

Here are some ways civic engagement is being defined:

“Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. Civic Engagement can take many forms, from individual volunteerism to organizational involvement to electoral participation. It can include efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem or interact with the institutions of representative democracy. Civic Engagement encompasses a range of activities such as working in a soup kitchen, serving on a neighborhood association, writing a letter to an elected official or voting.”

"Civic engagement means an institutional commitment to public purposes and responsibilities intended to strengthen a democratic way of life in the rapidly changing Information Age of the 21st century."

"Adding ones voice to community conversations. Advocacy on behalf of others. Participation in public life. Encouraging other people to participate in public life. Joining in common work that promotes the well being of everyone."

How do you define civic engagement? Submit your definition to us.

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Raise Your Voice is
an initiative of Campus Compact
Brown University, Box 1975, Providence, RI 02912
2002-2005