Civic engagement a way of life in Idaho

By Robert Velasco II and David Gray Adler

Idahoans are civically active in a rich variety of ways. Every day, people in the Gem State demonstrate their strong commitment to improving their communities and leading by example. It was no surprise then, that the nationwide Civic Life in America report -released last week by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship-featured a particularly strong showing by the state.

Idaho placed in the top half of the nation across four key civic engagement indicators: working with neighbors (5th), volunteering (10th), participating in community groups (17th), and voting (25th).

The national survey is designed to gauge the health of America's communities by measuring how often residents engage in a variety of civic activities. It also helps civic leaders identify ways to strengthen the participation of citizens in making a positive impact in their communities.

Deepening meaningful citizen participation is a goal of the McClure Center for Public Policy Research, based at the University of Idaho. The center works to advance understanding of the Constitution and promote civic engagement and political civility. In Idaho, encouraging residents to participate in improving their communities is never a hard sell. Time and time again, residents demonstrate a "culture of interest" and a sense of pride in service, initiative and civic responsibility. Teachers routinely take time out of their personal lives to attend workshops to learn information and tools for teaching the rights and responsibilities of living in a democratic society. They then take this knowledge back to the classroom and instill a sense of interest and civic activism in their students-the next generation of volunteers and community leaders. Students also participate in "We the People" competitions that simulate congressional hearings on various issues and deepen their understanding of how our country is governed.

This interest in learning and participating in communities is not limited to teachers and students, members of the public show up at seminars across the state to learn about topics in public affairs and participate in bipartisan discussions about the importance of civic engagement-an area of agreement between the right and the left.

Another organization working to strengthen the fabric of civic life is Serve Idaho, which is responsible for engaging citizens in service to address critical needs in local communities. Through AmeriCorps, citizens make a deep and sustained impact through activities such as mentoring students, providing health services, restoring public lands, and helping returned veterans find employment and reintegrate back into the community. Nearly 5,000 seniors in Idaho also contribute their time and talents through Senior Corps - serving one-on-one as tutors and mentors, helping homebound seniors maintain independence in their own homes, and more. Altogether, more than 390,000 Idahoans volunteer each year, providing 60 million hours of service worth more than $1.3 billion to Idaho's communities.

We are proud of the many ways people in Idaho selflessly contribute their time and talents and work together to tackle problems in the community. This year's Civic Life in America report confirms what many of us already know-civic life is a way of life in Idaho. You can learn more at Civic.Service.gov - or, to become a part of the solution to the challenges facing your community, find a volunteering opportunity at Serve.gov.

Robert Velasco II is acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service

David Gray Adler is the director of the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research