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Our Fellow Americans, What is citizenship? Is it voting, volunteering or giving? Is it learning about our Founders and staying engaged with current events? How about protesting a government action or boycotting a brand – is that citizenship? Is it attending a public meeting, working with your neighbors to solve a community problem or just inviting a new friend over for dinner? What about staying in touch with classmates on MySpace, tweeting about your favorite newspaper columnist or television commentator, or starting a cause on Facebook – do those count? In some measure, being an American citizen in 2010 is about all of these things; all are indicators of our civic health and the growth – or decline – of our social capital. Indeed, tracking, measuring and promoting these and other activities is the work of the National Conference on Citizenship, the sole body chartered by Congress focused specifically towards strengthening American citizenship. Through its programs, events, and reports, NCoC expands understanding of citizenship and its contemporary practices. Working with hundreds of organizations devoted to national and community service, American history and civics education, and political engagement, NCoC is at the forefront of what we believe is a new era of citizen involvement. Using private funding, NCoC introduced America’s Civic Health Index (CHI) in 2006, the definitive annual measure of the quality of our civic life. The data it explores has helped legislators, nonprofits, and foundations develop policies and programs that increase our country’s civic vitality. In 2009, NCoC also worked with six states to develop their own statewide reports, a number expected to double in 2010. Just three years later, conducting an annual “civic health assessment” has been written into law as part of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009, the largest single expansion of national service since the New Deal. As directed by the Act, NCoC will work with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Census Bureau to expand these measures and produce a broader and deeper report. It is no secret that 2009 was a challenging year for Americans, who struggled with the loss of economic security, jobs, and trust in many of the institutions that have been pillars of our society. America’s CHI told us that, in response to economic strains, many individuals pulled away from civic institutions, others reduced their volunteering and giving to charities, and many simply ceased to rely on major corporations or government entities to solve the problems facing their community. America’s CHI also showed that citizens were engaged in more personal and intimate actions, as individuals everywhere opened their closets, their kitchens, and their homes to provide clothing, food, and shelter to members of their communities in need. Despite economic challenges, the past year also bore witness to the result of historic breakthroughs in voting, volunteering, and giving, and in doing so, perhaps gave us all a glimpse into a renewed sense of what it means to be a citizen. An estimated 1.8 million Americans flooded the National Mall to witness the inauguration of the fifirst African American President, after more than 130 million participated in the presidential election. Across party lines and geographic divides, citizens are answering the President’s call to improve their communities. Amid pressing problems, we are being challenged to assume personal ownership of community well-being and being asked to serve as social innovators and civic entrepreneurs. As discussed at NCoC’s Annual Conference in 2009, Americans are demonstrating that social innovation is a growing trend. Increasingly, citizens are recognizing that there are numerous and evolving avenues towards addressing community problems beyond the more traditional avenues of government entities; Americans are using the full force of their time, treasure, and talent to make things better. America’s CHI also tells us that fifinancial institutions and major companies, which once held high levels of the consumer confidence, now occupy the “basement” of public trust. This also is redefining our relationship with the private sector. Citizens are calling for greater corporate social responsibility, and saying they are willing to spend more, invest more, and looking to go to work for companies that value and promote corporate citizenship. Building on these key findings, in 2010 NCoC will launch the Civic 100, a tool to gauge ways corporations are creating civically healthy employees and giving back to the communities they serve. In these and other ways, Americans are saying they are ready, willing and able to act. NCoC remains committed to supporting their growing engagement. As a bridge between partners in the public, private and non-profit sectors, we can help build a more active and engaged citizenry and unlock the power of our nation’s most valuable resource: our citizens. In service, Michael Weiser, Chairman David B. Smith, Executive Director On behalf of the NCoC Board of Directors and Staff If you like this kind of content, sign up for an NCoC.net account and we'll customize your homepage recommendations based on your interests..
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