Noooo… not THAT kind of engaged. We’re talking about civic engagement here. But what does it mean?

An excerpt from Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, edited by Thomas Ehrlich, published by Oryx Press, 2000 states:

Civic engagement 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.

It means lots of things, both big and small:

• Volunteerism – giving time to a board, for example, or becoming a museum docent
• Being involved in the local political process – even if it just means attending a Zoning Board Meeting or something!
• Assessing the needs of your community and addressing them through grassroots and neighborhood efforts
• Helping out your elderly neighbor who can’t drive

We all have something to give that will make someone’s life a little better and giving back in some way is what gives our lives meaning and value. We’d love to hear how you are engaged. In a civic way, that is!