Civic engagement is a broad term and includes a spectrum of examples ranging from volunteerism and community service on one side to public policy and politics on the other. Democracy requires us to work collaboratively to solve problems. In a democracy, we have a responsibility to register to vote, to stay informed on civic issues and current events, and volunteer. The civic skills we develop and nurture in K–12 such as citizenship awards, recycling, and mock elections, should continue and be reinforced in higher education. Examples include practicing good stewardship, voting, and working together to solve community challenges. Civic responsibility should be practiced and strengthened in our daily lives as we renew our commitment to community and in our journey of lifelong learning.

CATEGORIES OF CIVIC HEALTH
The Oklahoma Civic Health Index measures the civic habits of our citizens across a wide range of indicators in an effort to strengthen citizen participation in our communities, state, and nation. Below is the executive summary of the leading ndings from the 2010 Oklahoma Civic Health Index , based on research conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2008 and 2009. We present the civic health of Oklahoma by looking at ve key indicators in national context: volunteering and service, political action, social connection, belonging to a group, and working with neighbors. While each indicator represents an important aspect of civic health in Oklahoma, no one indicator should be treated as the sole representation of the state's civic health.

FIVE KEY FINDINGS
1. Oklahomans invest in family connections and private sociability.

In connecting with members of their household, 92.3% of Oklahomans report that they eat dinner with their family at least a few times per week . It is very clear that Oklahomans value family mealtime and have a desire for sociability and maintaining family connections. Volunteers and non–volunteers alike eat dinner with family at least once a week.

2. In Oklahoma, social actions such as working with neighbors to solve community issues help strengthen communities.

In these challenging economic times, Oklahomans value the relationship with their neighbors. These kinds of social actions help strengthen communities across the state. Oklahoma ranks 20th nationwide in the number of people age 18 and older who exchange favors with neighbors a few times a week.

3. Civic responsibility is an important tool in a democracy

Although voting is an important democratic tool, successful civic engagement requires more than just voting. Citizens need to be active in their communities, discussing politics, accessing civic information, and engaging in multiple forms of political activity. Oklahoma seems to be “in the middle of the pack” compared to most states. For example, Oklahoma ranks 31st in the rate of people 18 and older who talk about politics with friends and family at least a few times a week. In Oklahoma, those who have low access to information and do not discuss politics or current events with others are far less likely to vote than their peers who are more well–connected to information. Those with access to information in Oklahoma were also far more likely to volunteer than others. Moreover, Oklahomans who engaged in political discussions with others are also more likely to x something in the community with neighbors.

4. Oklahomans with more education tend to be more civically engaged.

Education makes a big difference in how Oklahomans participate in politics: 53.4% of college graduates 25 and older were likely to have performed any non–electoral acts, but only 18.9% of those with a high school degree did so. Those who assume leadership roles in community groups are highly involved in all other forms of civic engagement, but make up just 8.5% of our total population. In Oklahoma, keeping up with news and engaging in political discussions are related to higher rates of voting.

Membership in religious, neighborhood, school, or sports groups is an important indicator of civic health. Oklahoma ranks 32nd in the nation. In addition, Oklahoma surpasses the national average in the number of people who take a leadership role in an organization by serving as an ofcer or serving on a committee. Religious–and faith–based organizations have long been a catalyst for civic participation in Oklahoma, with Oklahoma ranking 7th in the importance of religion and participation in worship, according to The Pew Forum (2009).

5. Oklahomans continue to increase their commitment to volunteering and service.

Oklahoma ranks 19th in the nation for volunteering among residents ages 16 and older in 2009 . An estimated average of 824,000 Oklahoma residents volunteered between 2007 and 2009. Nationally, Oklahoma has a strong spirit of service as it ranks 5th in the nation for volunteering. Volunteers in Oklahoma are also more likely to use social media to communicate with family and friends.

THE CHALLENGE
The Oklahoma Civic Health Index invites each Oklahoman to think creatively and work together to propose ways we can renew the civic health of our communities and our state. As a state, we tend to connect on the family level, so how can we strengthen state and community ties?

DEFINING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
What is civic engagement? Civic engagement, according to Thomas Ehrlich in Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, “means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non–political processes.” 1 This denition thus includes several components. First, it recognizes that civic engagement is about communities and their civic life. This denition ties directly into Robert Putnam's idea of social capital, or the benet that accrues from people being with other people. Putnam recognized that social capital, just like physical capital (buildings and equipment) can inuence the productivity of groups and individuals. Second, this denition also recognizes that civically engaged individuals have many attributes: They have “knowledge, skills, values, and motivation” they can use to help their communities. Civic engagement not only includes a wide range of activities, but it also is expected that citizens will move back and forth between these activities, emphasizing some over others and some not at all. 2

These civic engagement activities bring many benets to society. For individuals, civic engagement can lead to personal enrichment and promote a strong sense of social trust. It can also encourage personal happiness and provide a strong sense of personal, political, and social empowerment, thus improving the quality of life. For the community, civic engagement can create higher social capital levels which can foster a sense of community. Higher social capital levels also can lead to better health, higher education levels, and lower crime levels. Moreover, with such high community involvement, there can often be less conict, and thus a greater consensus on policy priorities because of more involvement in the discourse. At a macro–level, higher civic engagement levels have been shown to promote economic stability, to discourage famine and societal destruction, and to strengthen state capacities.

It is important to recognize that there are some barriers to full civic engagement. For example, other responsibilities of citizens, such as job, work, and family, can take time away from civic involvement. People who work full–time and/or have long commutes may have less time to volunteer and participate than those who are working part–time or working closer to home. Thus, successful civic engagement has a strong economic component; it may be hard for citizens to be civically engaged when they are worried about shelter and getting food on the table. Second, civic attitudes are also important to the success of civic engagement. Citizens may believe their contribution may not make a difference, and therefore, they may be less willing to participate in the community. They may not have the confidence to participate or may feel that they are disconnected from society. Third, civic engagement can be weakened when there are large numbers of transitory citizens, as it takes longer for citizens to get connected when they are moving more often. Fourth, the type of population can have an effect on the level of civic engagement. Lower educational attainment and religious attendance levels typically lead to lower civic engagement. Civic engagement is also more difcult when there are strong social stratication and community cleavages along income, religious, and racial lines. Similarly, civic engagement can be easier when the citizens are healthy and have fewer medical issues. Finally, structural elements in a society and/or government can impact civic engagement. If a society imposes barriers to political participation, such as making it harder to get registered to vote, then civic engagement levels will be lower.

Civic engagement might not always lead to a positive outcome. For example, while civic engagement encourages extensive participation in citizens by community groups, not all community groups may be helpful to society. Civic engagement also requires a substantial investment upon the part of the individual, the community, and even society as a whole.

One can see civic engagement in Oklahoma by looking at the civic energy of this spirited state. A diverse population makes the state differ in landscape and in activity as onlookers pass through. In the state's capitol, Oklahoma City, urban development has been greatly increasing in recent years. Bricktown has been a work in progress over the last decade and is now a “must see” tourist destination and a local hangout for those who live nearby. With the gain of an official (NBA) basketball team, the Oklahoma City Thunder , Bricktown has quickly become the place to be on the weekends. It has a wide selection of restaurants, a 16–screen movie theatre, and a new bowling lounge. In Bricktown, you can also nd the stadium for the OKC Redhawks , the city's minor league baseball team. Oklahoma City is also gaining a (AHL) hockey team, the OKC Barons , who have replaced the longstanding Blazers . Tulsa now has a (WNBA) women's basketball team, the Tulsa Shock , enabling the city to make recent headlines as well. Tulsa is a growing city that provides many jobs and opportunities for citizens, as well as a vibrant downtown area with attractions that interest tourists and locals alike. In other notable cities, military bases keep the communities up and running. Lawton, Enid, and Midwest City all serve as grounds for large military bases that bring many soldiers into the state. Oklahoma is also known for having numerous small towns. There are many rural communities which continue to thrive off of high school sports, church activities, and morning gatherings at the local cafes. Oklahoma has a large Native American population and the Indian Fair is held every year in the “Indian Capitol of the Nation” in Anadarko. Every August, Native Americans from across the country gather for parades, powwows, and a week–long festival to proudly showcase their culture to visitors. No longer is Oklahoma a bland state with few attractions. It is quickly becoming a hot spot for travelers across the Midwest.