Florida’s Civic Health Index is intended to permit us to annually chart the condition of the state’s civic life. The Index has been developed in partnership with the National Conference on Citizenship and with the support of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University.

This year’s report considers indicators of the state’s overall civic health and, for the first time, explores the civic condition of Florida’s major metropolitan areas. It also examines the effects of the collapse of the housing market and the subsequent recession on civic life in Florida. Finally, it explores key factors that shape citizen engagement in communities where they live, work, and play. Results reported here are based on data provided by the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and on a random sample of 510 Florida citizens aged 15 and older.

Key findings are as follows:
Florida has a weak civic culture. It is, in fact, one of the worst in the nation. For 2008, Florida ranked
34th in average voter turnout;
49th in the percentage of its citizens who volunteered;
48th in the percentage of its citizens who attended a public
meeting; and
37th in the percentage of its citizens who worked with
others to address a community issue.

A preliminary estimate puts Florida at 44th in the nation in
the percentage of its citizens who contributed at least $25 to
charity in 2008.

Florida’s overall Civic Health Index for 2008 put the state at 46th in the nation. These results indicate no substantial change between 2007 and 2008.

The weakness of Florida’s civic health derives from weaknesses in the civic culture of its communities. Examining nine of the state’s largest metropolitan areas, this report found that:
• The civic health of most of Florida’s communities falls well below national averages and is far from benchmarks set by communities like Minneapolis, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, and Provo, Utah.
• The Miami–Ft. Lauderdale and the Sarasota–Bradenton areas have the distinction of exhibiting the weakest civic health in a state whose overall civic health is one of the worst in the nation. Miami–Ft. Lauderdale ranked 50th among the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas on three key civic indicators – volunteering, attending public meetings, and working with others in the community. Among 75 medium-sized metropolitan areas, Sarasota–Bradenton ranked 70th or lower on voter turnout, volunteering, and working with others.
• Some Florida communities – notably Palm Bay-Melbourne and Tampa-St. Petersburg – have developed stronger civic cultures than others in the state. These communities
demonstrate that it is possible – even with all of the challenges wrought by rapid growth and high levels of diversity – to do better and, in some cases, even excel in the
goal of fostering more engaged communities.

Our 2009 survey data indicates that the double hit of a collapsing housing market and a world-wide recession may be having negative effects on citizens’ engagement in their communities.
• 70 percent say that they have cut back on civic activities in the past year.

Not only do citizens report that they have reduced their levels of civic activity as a result of economic pressures, they believe that others in their communities are doing so as well.
• Only 17 percent told us that people in their community were responding to the economic situation by helping one another and serving the community more; and
• 70 percent believe that others in their communities are turning inward, looking out for themselves and their families.

There are some bright spots in this otherwise gloomy picture of the civic health of Florida and its communities.
• Many of those who are already engaged in their communities are doing more; 46 percent of those who were highly engaged in their communities over the past year reported that they are expanding their civic involvement rather than contracting.
• Institutions like churches that facilitate the development and maintenance of social networks are helping to soften the effect of the state’s economic challenges; 40 percent of those who attend religious services regularly are increasing their civic involvement.
• To help meet basic needs like food and shelter, many Floridians are reaching out to relatives and others with support in this time of economic difficulty:
15% allowed a relative to live in their home because they needed a place to live;
13% allowed a non-relative to live in their home because they needed a place to live;
42% gave food or money to a relative who needed it; and
50% gave food or money to a non-relative who needed it.

Despite some bright spots and evidence of personal compassion among some of the state’s citizens, it is clear that Florida’s communities face a significant challenge to not only improve
the state of their civic health, but to find ways to avoid further deterioration of citizen engagement.

In this era of economic readjustment, it is particularly important that communities throughout the state begin a dialog about concrete strategies to shape their civic destiny. The strength, vitality, and robustness of Florida’s civic infrastructure is not just a theoretical matter that pertains to an abstract, idealized view of what democracy should be. In myriad ways, the vitality of the civic networks in our cities, towns, and villages shapes the lives of our citizens – from food lines that serve the homeless to board rooms that drive community and economic development.

As communities across the state begin to consider their civic future, it is important to remember that there are several important factors that shape citizen engagement. Consideration of these factors may provide communities with strategic opportunities to strengthen their civic cultures.

Education makes a difference. Well educated citizens are more engaged in their in their communities. They are more likely to volunteer; they are more likely to be involved in governance; and they are more likely to work with their neighbors to help find solutions to community issues. In the long-term, strengthening the quality of our state’s education system and increasing rates of graduation and college attendance will pay great dividends to our civic infrastructure.

Florida’s seniors are an important resource. Over three million strong and already highly engaged, Florida’s seniors already have a significant impact on the quality of civic life in the state. At the same time, there is room for reaching out to seniors who are not yet involved. In addition, strategies for cross-generational initiatives that allow seniors to model engagement for younger citizens may be important.

Finding ways to facilitate and support social networks can make a difference. Churches, synagogues, and mosques are centers of social networks that give sustenance to the civic life of communities. Citizens who have bonds with their neighbors and who interact with them frequently, whether in religious settings or in other venues, are more likely to heed the call to civic action. Expanding opportunities for citizens to form networks and to build the bonds of shared interest will, like improved education, pay future dividends.

Internet technology may help level the civic engagement playing field. Social technologies that offer citizens new and innovative ways to connect with each other
are a rapidly growing part of the internet. Preliminary analysis suggests that citizens who make use of those social technologies are more engaged in their communities than those who do not. Moreover, internet technologies may provide a pathway to community engagement for those with lower levels of education who are often not a part of civic processes. Creative and strategic use of these technologies thus may strengthen the fabric of civic culture in Florida’s communities and provide opportunities for new voices to be heard.

Reshaping Florida’s civic destiny will require that cities, towns, and villages take action. It will require that communities be conscious of their civic health and set explicit, intentional goals that will foster citizen collaboration and engagement through a variety of mechanisms. Those goals will no doubt reflect the unique characteristics and settings of Florida’s diverse communities; but, if we are to improve the condition of the state’s civic health, the common thread must be to encourage Florida’s citizens to join hands and take responsibility for our collective future.