The Community Challenge

Civic engagement is comprised of individual and collective efforts or processes designed to identify and address community needs and issues of public concern.  In a democracy, all segments of the community – businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and individual residents -- can and should be involved in civic engagement activities.

Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual volunteerism to organizational involvement to electoral participation.  It may involve individual action or group processes that result in positive community change and decision making that is more reflective of community needs and desires.

Taking responsibility for one’s own actions within the community and working to build an awareness of systematic positive change through activities such as directly addressing an issue, working with others in a community to identify and solve problems, interacting with -- and influencing – public and private decision makers, and developing skills through training and workshops that foster strong leadership are all examples of how one can become more civically engaged.

The Comunity Challenge: http://www.thecommunitychallenge.org/community_challenge.htm