Local Civic Engagement: Why We Should All Get More Involved in Our Local Communities

Local Civic Engagement: Why We Should All Get More Involved in Our Local Communities

The New York Times defines civic engagement as “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.” They argue that “it means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.” More generally, civic engagement means getting involved in your community and participating in efforts to affect positive change. To execute this definition of civic engagement, which is by no means easy, the one consistent requirement are community members’ participation. 

Here are some of the ways to up your civic engagement and why it matters:

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You are helping people who need it

Civic engagement aside, helping others is the root of why we volunteer our time and the reason you are actually going out and getting involved. There is a staggering amount of nonprofits that need help. In the United States, there are over 1.5 million non-profits and many of these organizations need volunteers. Whether you can become a weekly volunteer or have free time come up, volunteering is a great way to spend that time. You do not need to qualify helping those in need, it is just a good thing to do and you will feel better for doing it.

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Help local governments create lasting solutions 

Local governments cannot solve social issues plaguing local communities by themselves. For a solution to be complete and lasting, community members need to get on board. Sure, local governments can play a big role in a community’s health, but partnerships with social organizations and community minded individuals make it easier for the government to affect meaningful change. Democracy only works if private citizens get involved in the process. When people get involved, they feel a greater connection to the community and projects they have helped with. Take the recent passage of a law that provides free lunch for all public school students in New York. While this law was passed in part because of a national outcry against "lunch shaming," which describes the bullying and social ostracization many kids who can't afford school lunch experience, the groundwork for the passage of the law was already well underway due to highly engaged activists and citizens in New York, This connection between community and residents is key to driving up voter turnout as well. Engagement increases voter turnout which leads to people feeling more invested in their communities. This is important now more than ever. Local government elections having surprisingly low voter turnouts and people often fail to realize that generating meaningful change often starts at right in your own backyard.

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Getting involved in local communities enriches society

Communities where civic engagement is a high priority are more likely to experience positive social change and promote equality. When people volunteer with their neighbors, they feel a sense of pride and ownership with a greater attachment to the area and the folks they share it with. When people feel more connected as a community, people are more comfortable discussing issues that might otherwise be avoided. The first step to solving issues in local communities is talking about them; volunteering and community service can stimulate these discussions. 

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You can inspire other people to volunteer

When your friends see you volunteering and helping others you can inspire them to give back as well. Whether you tell your friends about your experience or post on your DiveIn story, their interest can quickly turn into inspiration and then into action. The best part about this is the domino effect. When you inspire someone to do good, they often will inspire someone else and so on. Your effort has the power to exponentially increase the amount of people making an impact in your community.

During a time in our nation’s history when so many communities are divided, the simple act of volunteering with your neighbors can lead to much-needed local unity. Volunteering has an amazing effect on our communities. Most of the time, it is our differences that are emphasized, but when we volunteer, our similarities shine through. Acts of kindness, big or small,,can help renew our communities sense of unity at a time when we when bridging divides is desperately needed.