NCoC: Social Capital

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Social Capital

The most powerful force in American democracy is the connection among citizens. NCoC aims to understand how socio-economic and demographic factors, time spent with family, friends, and neighbors, and elements of trust and connectedness affect the process of civic engagement.

NCoC believes to address community issues and challenges in any area, research must be collected, discussion must occur, and solutions must be proposed. Here, you can see research, discussion, and solutions associated with social capital. This is meant to help explain and animate that focus area, as well as facilitate the process of moving from information to action within it.

Social Capital Issues:Research | Discussions | Solutions

Social Capital Research

Title	Date	Type
Young people of faith more likely to be engaged than non-religious counterparts A CIRCLE Fact SheetThrough the lens of religious affiliation, this report examines the ways in which Millennials participate in politics and in their communities. Overall, data indicate that young Americans of faith are ...	August 3, 2010	publication
The Arizona We WantAs part of The Arizona We Want initiative, citizens have been submitted questions to all candidates for elected office across the state. The Center for the Future of Arizona has undertaken a new study ...	July 27, 2010	news
Is 2010 the new 1517?In a TEDxPotomac talk, Craig Newmark referenced the reformation of the church based on the work of Martin Luther and suggested this decentralization was occurring again, nearly 500 years later, based on ...	May 20, 2010	discussion
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
Got to have it or got to lack it?What is the role of trust in motivating individuals to organize for change? With our financial and business institutions in uncertain standing, our stocks are not our only societal asset on the decline, so is our public trust. From town hall meetings to community rallies, ...	May 11, 2010	discussion
Federal Policy and Civic SkillsCIRCLE fact sheet notes that given the right skills, citizens can improve their communities, the government, and the nation through active civic engagement and collaboration.	April 29, 2010	news
Wrap Up: Global Youth Service DayCongratulations to our friends at Youth Service America (YSA) for their successful 22nd annual Global Youth Service Day, celebrating children and youth who improve their communities through service and ...	May 4, 2010	discussion
Creating Spaces for ChangeWorking Toward a “Story of Now” in Civic EngagementCreating Spaces for Change: Working Toward a ”Story of Now” in Civic Engagement , a new report from the Deliberative Democracy Consortium and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is an attempt to describe ...	April 23, 2010	publication
eCitizenship... LiterallyMan uses Twitter, flickr, blogs, video to share naturalization experienceDavid Chen took both eCitizenship and his naturalization ceremony to a new level when he used social media to share his experience of becoming a U.S. citizen. David used Twitter, flickr, personal ...	March 19, 2010	discussion
What’s in a Generation?Are stereotypes being replaced by a society-wide call to do good?Stereotypically, Millennials are characterized as engaged, while their sibiling generation, Generation X is classified as apathetic. But statistically, this engagement gap could be questioned. Both ...	February 16, 2010	discussion

Social Capital Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
Volunteering and Civic Life in America 2012 By the NumbersHigh levels of neighbor engagement means strong communities. How often do we talk with one another, help each other out, and how much do we trust the people in our communities? Our latest data shows there’s ...	March 14, 2013
Volunteering and Civic Life in America 2012 By the NumbersAre Americans Bowling Alone?Group participation is a central component of community involvement and broader civic health. Volunteering and Civic Life in America, presented in partnership between NCoC and the Corporation for National ...	February 26, 2013
We are CitizensLast night, the President offered a powerful reminder of the values, privileges and rights that bind us together through our role as citizens. In his State of the Union Address, the President called upon ...	February 13, 2013
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
The Invisible Dream: Creating a New Conversation about the American Dream and What It Takes to Achieve It Event Reflection by Alice MurphyThe Public Agenda and the GALEWiLL Center for Opportunity and Progress recently released new research documenting how the American citizenry regards the American Dream. Keep reading for highlights of the ...	October 15, 2012	event reflection
The Civic Acceleratorby Sara Johnson, Village Capital Program AssociateThis fall, Village Capital in partnership with Points of Light will launch the Civic Accelerator. This twelve-week program is an opportunity for nonprofit and for-profit ventures focused on civic engagement ...	August 9, 2012
Public Policy Chat: Mary Ellen ArdounyThis month, NCoC Communications Fellow Alice Murphy talks to Mary Ellen Ardouny about the connection between education, workforce investment, and environmental conservation and what this connection could ...	June 26, 2012	discussion
Civic Engagement and Employment: NCoC Continues the Conversationby Kristi Tate, Director of Community Strategies, NCoC	June 13, 2012	discussion
Discussion: Can Engagement Strengthen the Economy?6 Hypotheses on the Link Between Civic Health and UnemploymentResearch shows a connection between civic health and a community’s ability to weather a recession. We’ve posited 6 hypotheses about why this connection exists, and invite you to join in a discussion.	February 16, 2012	discussion
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

Social Capital Solutions

Title	Date	Type
Closing the College Completion GapA Guide for Faith CommunitiesA degree beyond high school has become an essential element of opportunity in America and is a proven pathway out of poverty. However, the majority of our nation's young people, especially low-income ...	November 1, 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
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
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
Creating Spaces for ChangeWorking Toward a “Story of Now” in Civic EngagementCreating Spaces for Change: Working Toward a ”Story of Now” in Civic Engagement , a new report from the Deliberative Democracy Consortium and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is an attempt to describe ...	April 23, 2010	publication
Changing the Status QuoIntentional Succession Planning Through Leadership DevelopmentMany think of succession planning as a one-time process that only occurs when an organization considers how it will continue to thrive after a senior leader moves on. The 2010 American Express NGen Fellows ...	November 3, 2011	publication