Civic health is the foundation of thriving communities, shaping how residents connect, trust institutions, and engage with their surroundings. Strong civic health leads to better physical health, higher employment, and greater resilience, while weak or unequal civic while weak or unequal civic health deepens division and inequality. By strengthening civic infrastructure, communities can foster collaboration, overcome differences, and build a more inclusive and connected society.
Introducing State-Specific Civic Health Action Guides
The Center for Democracy Innovation at the National Civic League is working to create civic healthy action guides tailored to the unique needs of each state. These 30-50 page guides are practical, user-friendly resources packed with actionable strategies to build and sustain strong civic infrastructure.
Existing state-specific civic health action guides:
Interested in creating a civic health action guide in your state? Creation of statewide guides, which includes staffing, formatting, and travel, starts at $40,000.
What’s Included
- Civic Health Assessment Tools – Map the current state of civic health and identify key organizations working to strengthen democracy and social capital.
- Attitudinal Research Tools – Gain insights into citizens’ preferences on how to enhance democracy and civic infrastructure.
- Cross-Sector Leadership Groups – Recommendations for creating local leadership groups, including engagement commissions and more.
- Engagement Strategies – Tools and strategies for engaging citizens in decision-making and problem-solving through through in-person deliberative processes, digital tools, hybrid strategies, sortitional processes like citizen assemblies, and participatory budgeting.
- Recruitment and Communication Strategies – Reach diverse groups of people and engage them meaningfully.
- Cross-Sector Leadership Programs – Create or strengthen citizen academies and local leadership programs.
- Legal Framework Support – Model ordinances and state laws to provide a supportive legal framework for public engagement;
- Online Civic Infrastructure – Assess and improve hyperlocal online networks and enhance digital civic life.
- Youth Civic Leadership – Foster and support youth leadership through civic education.
- Sustaining Grassroots Groups – Provide tools for sustaining and growing community groups like neighborhood associations, service clubs, and parent groups.
Our Commitment to Your State
We’ll collaborate closely with state leaders and stakeholders to ensure that the content of your state’s civic action guide reflects your unique needs and goals. Our work will include:
- Video calls and in-person meetings with key stakeholders.
- Tailored action steps that meet the specific needs of your state.
Email [email protected] to invest in the civic health of your state and help create a more resilient, engaged, and connected community.