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Media

Contact: David B. Smith
dsmith@ncoc.net
202-729-8038 office

Title	Date
Civic Health Index Finds America in the Midst of Civic ForeclosureStudy Finds that God, Friends and Facebook are Important Factors for Fostering Civic Engagement	August 27, 2009
President Obama Signs the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America ActNCoC to play a leading role in studying and measuring the value of service to the nationWith the signing today by President Obama of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, America takes another step toward more fully supporting both the capacity and the willingness of its citizens to serve.	April 21, 2009

News

In addition to having a new look on our website, NCOC will be adding new programs and services in the near future. Please check back to see announcements of our new initiatives and how they benefit us all in the civic engagement field.

Title	Date	Type
Quality of candidates turned off votersThe Miami Herald	September 1, 2010
Social innovation: Let’s hear those ideasThe EconomistEconomist article discusses how America and Britain governments hope that a partnership with “social entrepreneurs” can solve some of society’s most intractable problems	August 13, 2010
Web Users Increasingly Rely on Social Media to Seek Help in a DisasterNew Red Cross survey shows 74 percent expect response agencies to answer social media calls for help within an hourA new American Red Cross survey shows many web users would turn to social media to seek help for themselves or others during emergencies—and they expect first responders to be listening-- 74 percent expected help to come less than an hour after their tweet or Facebook post.	August 9, 2010
Companies donate employees’ time, service instead of cashUSA TodayThe Chronicle of Philanthropy and USA TODAY surveyed the largest corporations in the USA to find out how much money they give to charity and to which causes. More than 100 companies answered the survey, and The Chronicle analyzed tax data for other companies for a total of 162.	August 9, 2010
Study local, think globalSydney Morning Herald	August 5, 2010
Obama to award 13 citizens for their good deedsAssociated PressPresident Barack Obama on Wednesday was to recognize him and 12 other people with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest honor that can be conferred on an American civilian.	August 4, 2010
With a quick swipe, retailers are making it easier for charitable donationsThe Kansas City StarMore and more, retailers are making it easy for you to support your favorite causes — and theirs — by asking for contributions at the cash register. Charities find it an effective way to raise money, and retailers use it partly to burnish their image.	July 26, 2010
Food bank worker finds happiness in giving backWSBT.comJerry Griffin said he ended up homeless after a destructive life of drugs and alcohol. Now, sober and employed, he continues to give back by donating money to local organizations and motivating others to do good for their community.	July 22, 2010
Social Networking Affects Brains Like Falling in Love Fast CompanyNeuroeconomist Paul Zak has discovered, for the first time, that social networking triggers the release of the generosity-trust chemical in our brains. And that should be a wake-up call for every company.	July 14, 2010
Compassion Across BordersThe Huffington PostAs President Obama made clear in his first major policy speech to the international community in Cairo, Egypt, the world must unleash its collective imagination through social innovators, entrepreneurs and citizen diplomats to contribute to global development, respond to natural disasters, and initiate interfaith action to tackle preventable diseases like malaria. The moment is now.	July 13, 2010

Releases

Title	Date	Type
U.S. Civic Health Shows Broad Decline Amid Signs of Recovery According to First-Ever Index Released TodayThe civic health of the United States has steadily declined over the past 30 years, according to the Civic Health Index, the first-ever index of key citizenship measures unveiled today by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC).	October 31, 2008
History of the Oath of OfficeWhen President-Elect Barack Obama stands before the nation on January 20, 2009 and takes the Oath of Office as the 44th President of the United States, he’ll carry on a tradition that goes as far back as our Founding Fathers.	December 22, 2008
NCOC Urges Civic Commitment During InaugurationNCoC offers history of the Oaths of Office and introduction to the Citizens Oath	December 23, 2008
President Obama Signs the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America ActNCoC to play a leading role in studying and measuring the value of service to the nationWith the signing today by President Obama of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, America takes another step toward more fully supporting both the capacity and the willingness of its citizens to serve.	April 21, 2009
Civic Health Index Finds America in the Midst of Civic ForeclosureStudy Finds that God, Friends and Facebook are Important Factors for Fostering Civic Engagement	August 27, 2009
Media Advisory: 2009 National Conference on Citizenship56TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON CITIZENSHIP TO EXPLORE CIVIC HEALTH IN HARD TIMES AND ISSUES AFFECTING CIVIC FORECLOSURE	September 2, 2009
Recession May be Adding to Florida’s Civic WeaknessA new report released today by the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship shows that Florida’s civic culture is in failing health, indicates that tough economic times are making the illness worse, and highlights the need for immediate action to treat the malady, said former U. S. Congressman Lou Frey, former Florida Governor and U. S. Senator Bob Graham and Michael Weiser, the chairman of the National Conference on Citizenship.	October 14, 2009
THE 2009 OHIO CIVIC HEALTH INDEX REPORT: Civic Engagement in Hard Economic TimesOhio's Civic Health Index Report was released at the 2009 Ohio Civic Health Symposium held at the Statehouse in Columbus and shows 80% of Ohioans surveyed say they have cut back on time spent volunteering, participating in groups, and performing other civic activities in their communities during the past year while the economy was shrinking.	November 10, 2009
All Volunteer Force: Civic Lives of Our Newest Generation of Veterans	November 11, 2009
New Report Reveals Disappointment and Disengagement Among Illinois Citizens A new report shows that Illinois citizens are disappointed, frustrated and disillusioned by recent political scandals and the pressures of the recession. The report, co-sponsored and funded by the Chicago-based McCormick Foundation and the McCormick Freedom Project, reveals a badly fractured civic culture, with Illinois ranking 40th in the nation. The study also found that young people in Illinois are significantly less engaged than those in other states.	November 18, 2009

Op-Eds

Title	Date	Type
Don’t underestimate the younger voterSeattle TimesSome political analysts say that older voters have the biggest sway in this fall's election. But Seattle Times’ guest columnists Thomas Goldstein and Thomas Bates argue that younger voters are increasing in participation and influence. Don't underestimate the political punch of the Millennial Generation.	August 18, 2010
Apple and Google could network better with their local communitiesMercury NewsA look into how well Apple and Google interact with and help the communities where their headquarters are located. After all, interaction is what both of these companies are all about, right?	August 2, 2010
Nurture good citizensEmphasizing civics education will create a more engaged citizenry and stronger republic.Editorial in the Orlando Sentinel discusses the state of Florida’s civic learning and says informed and engaged citizens are the bedrock of American democracy.	March 20, 2010
Students need civics lessonsSt. Petersburg TimesEditorial in the St. Petersburg Times calls for more civic learning in Florida Schools.	March 20, 2010
Fulfill King’s goal with a call for global serviceBy Michelle Nunn and John BridgelandOp-ed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution calls for honoring MLK legacy with global service commitment.	January 18, 2010
How joblessness hurts us allUSA TodayA December 2009 USA Today op-ed by Thomas Sander and Robert Putnam, two members of the Civic Indicators Working Group	December 10, 2009
We should do our civic dutyby Michael WeiserNCoC Chairman Michael Weiser reflects on the work and dedication of two fellow Floridians and public servants, Bob Graham and Lou Frey.	October 19, 2009
Our Common Obligation to Give of OurselvesSpotlight on Poverty and OpportunityA September 28, 2009 Op-Ed: Civic Health in Hard Times, By Peter Levine, Director of CIRCLE, and John Bridgeland, Chair of the National Conference on Citizenship	September 28, 2009
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick makerThe Washington TimesAn op-ed by Bob Graham and Michael Weiser on the 2009 Civic Health Index	September 21, 2009
Civic Health in Hard TimesHuffington PostA Huffington Post op-ed by John Bridgeland and David B. Smith on the 2009 Civic Health Index	August 28, 2009

Publications

Title	Date	Type
An Evolving RelationshipExecutive Branch Approaches to Civic Engagement and PhilanthropyA new white paper from Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement outlines Executive Branch approaches to civic engagement and Philanthropy. “An Evolving Relationship” provides a broad overview of Executive Branch approaches to civic engagement, participation, and service over the past two decades. It also describes how philanthropy has worked with the federal government on these issues over the same time frame.	May 17, 2010
Disrupting Philanthropy: Technology and the Future of the Social Sectorby Lucy Bernholz, Edward Skloot, and Barry VarelaThis monograph by Lucy Bernholz, Edward Skloot, and Barry Varela explores the immediate and longer-term implications of networked digital technologies for philanthropy.	May 11, 2010
Creating Spaces for ChangeWorking Toward a “Story of Now” in Civic EngagementCreating Spaces for Change: Working Toward a "Story of Now" in Civic Engagement, a new report from the Deliberative Democracy Consortium and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is an attempt to describe the areas of convergence in civic engagement philosophies, and the remaining differences, so that the people who advocate, support, or practice civic engagement might better understand one another and decide how to work together more effectively.	April 23, 2010
Annual Report 2009NCoC Year in ReviewNCoC is proud to announce the release of our 2009 Annual Report. Last year brought us many successes, thanks in large part to our many partner organizations that allowed us to expand the scope of our programs. Among the highlights of our report are a recap of our Annual Conference, our expanded Civic Health Index reports, and our plans for 2010. Thank you to our partner organizations for your invaluable contribution to the success of NCoC. We are excited for what 2010 holds, and look forward to working closely with you and your colleagues to continue building an active and engaged citizenry.	February 1, 2010
An Inequitable Invitation to CitizenshipNon-College-Bound Youth and Civic EngagementThere has been considerable effort to engage college-bound students in public life, but much less attention has been paid to the 50% of youth that are not on the secondary education track. Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) recently released its report which examines the gap in public and civic involvement between college-bound youth and non-college-bound youth.	December 8, 2009
Paths to 21st Century Competencies Through Civic Education ClassroomsThere is an expectation that students will have mastered an essential skill set by the completion of their education. In an economy that is globally connected and rapidly changing, the required skills are also evolving beyond the basics of mathematics and literacy. The “Paths to 21st Century Competencies Through Civic Education Classrooms” report from the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools illustrates how those students that experienced civic education were better equipped with these essential 21st century competencies than their counterparts who were not exposed to civic education programs. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army	December 1, 2009
All Volunteer ForceCivic Lives of Our Newest Generation of Veterans“All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service,” a report written by Civic Enterprises, and underwritten by Target and the Case Foundation, finds that the overwhelming majority of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan want to serve again on the home front, and those who have opportunities to serve again have better transitions than those who do not . However, they feel disconnected from the communities to which they return home. This first ever nationally representative survey focused on their transitions home and civic lives highlights that only 13 percent of veterans strongly agree their transitions are going well.	November 11, 2009
Funding and Fostering Local DemocracyWhat Philanthropy Should Know about the Emerging Field of Deliberation and Democratic GovernanceAs the philanthropic community grapples with the question of how to support innovative and effective forms of democratic governance, PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement) has released a guide that provides a detailed description of how local civic engagement has grown and developed over the past decade. The guide describes some of the most influential models and processes, as well as the possibilities, and limitations, of various approaches to working with the public.	May 19, 2009
The Quiet Crisis in the Nonprofit SectorA March 2009 report, found that even as Americans struggle through the current recession, the nation’s nonprofit organizations are facing a triple whammy: the evaporation of wealth has decimated charitable donations; the state and local budget crunch is costing nonprofits their foremost paying clients; and the human need for nonprofit help is skyrocketing as nonprofit resources shrink. Last week’s signing of the Serve America Act was a leap forward in overcoming the “Quiet Crisis,” but there is still work to be done. What suggestions would you offer for recovery in the nonprofit sector and in what ways do you think civic engagement and public participation can step up to meet our society’s most pressing needs in this challenging time?	April 28, 2009
Engaged for Success	Apr 1st, 2008

Video and Downloads

Title	Date	Type
Serve America Act: One Year LaterIndividuals recognize Edward M. Kennedy legacyLast April, President Obama signed a large piece of federal legislation to support service and civic engagement initiatives, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The Act received truly bi-partisan support and is meant to support programs and initiatives that help communities better harness the civic power of their citizens in order to solve social problems. To celebrate the anniversary of the Act’s passing, our friends at Service Nation asked individuals everywhere to submit videos about what the late Senators service meant to them.	April 26, 2010
Engaging Citizen 2.0Two panels at the afternoon session of the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship explored “Why Social Media is Important for Civic Engagement?” and “How Can Organizations Best Utilize Social Media?”	October 2, 2009
Presentation of the HOOAH AwardThe inaugural HOOAH Award, commissioned by the Major George A. Smith Memorial Fund, was presented to Lt. Eric Greitens at the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship	October 2, 2009
Conversation with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia2009 National Conference on CitizenshipThe keynote address of the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship was a one-on-one conversation with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Antonin Scalia.	October 2, 2009
Social Innovation in Civic LifeA 2009 NCoC PanelThis panel at the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship explored the role of social innovation in civic life.	September 25, 2009
Civic Health in Hard TimesA 2009 NCoC PanelThis panel at the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship explored the impact of the economic crisis on the civic health of the states, using the 2009 America’s Civic Health Index findings.	September 25, 2009
2009 NCoC in ReviewThe 2009 National Conference on Citizenship was held September 9 in the Library of Congress. Perhaps the most notable difference between the 2009 event and year's past was the proliferation of social media, or Web 2.0 technologies, that allowed the conference discussions to go beyond the walls of the Library of Congress to engage hundreds of individuals across the country. Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers who staffed our social media stations, our conference more than doubled its attendance by allowing online participation.	September 14, 2009
The Internet: Civic Polarizer or Unifier?There's an old saying, ”Great minds think alike.” Or is that just what we tell ourselves when we find people who think as we do? Sean Parker, William Galston and Joe Trippi conclude their dynamic discussion on civic engagement and the Internet. This time they answer the question: Is the Internet a divider or a “uniter?”	November 26, 2008
Gatekeepers and New MediaDuring the 2008 National Conference on Citizenship, panelists Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution and Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook, agreed to disagree on the subject of gatekeepers in media. Bill Galston surmised that perhaps, decades ago, newspaper editors may have provided an environment for elevated discourse by deciding what news should or shouldn’t be fodder for public consumption? Were Americans better off several decades ago not knowing all the peccadilloes of their political leaders? Is more information equivalent to better information? Do we need to resurrect the gatekeeper in a high tech information society where every citizen with a cell phone, pocket video camera or other device has the potential for breaking news?	November 20, 2008
Can Facebook Replace Face-to-Face? The 2008 National Conference on Citizenship raised this provocative question with Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook and Bill Galston of the Brookings Institute. Parker and Galston discussed, and sometimes debated, the impact of the internet on political and civic involvement. Political advisor and internet innovator, Joe Trippi moderated the discussion that delved into the impact of social networks and other online experiences on civic and political involvement. Can Facebook replace face-to-face? Is that even the right question?	November 14, 2008

Blogs

Title	Date	Type
What Can YOU Do? An Update on the Situation in LouisianaBy Stephen Jordan and Gerald McSwiggan, BCLCA guest post by the Business Civic Leadership Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, explores opportunities to help with Gulf Coast recovery after the BP oil spill.	August 25, 2010
Transforming high expectations into great impact: Corporate America is getting itEvan Hochberg on the Case Foundation blogEvan Hochberg guest blogs at the Case Foundation about the results of Deloitte’s 2010 Volunteer IMPACT Survey.	May 5, 2010
Bolstering the Economy by Serving the Common GoodHuffington Post By John Bridgeland and Alan KhazeiJohn Bridgeland and Alah Khazei in the Huffington Post on the role of national service to bridge the employment gap and invest in our people at low cost to the taxpayer.	April 21, 2010
Supporting a Nation of Social Inventorsby John BridgelandIn a piece originally appearing on the Huffington Post, NCoC Advisory Board Chairman John Bridgeland discusses the importance of moving government from status quo funder to catalytic partner of social invention. Bridgeland suggests the Administration could catalyze civic invention through development of social innovation offices in government agencies, bipartisan agenda support, and signature summits, among other actions.	March 22, 2010
What nonprofits need to know about social mediaSmartBlog on Social MediaIndividuals who attended the “Engaging Citizen 2.0” discussions co-hosted by NCoC, PACE, and the Case Foundation at the 2009 Annual Conference might find helpful this interview with Beth Kanter on SmartBlogs about what nonprofits should know about social media use.	March 15, 2010
Blame Their Parents, Not Usby Morley Winograd and Michael D. HaisWhat most distinguishes Millennials from other generations is the type of community activities in which they are involved.	February 4, 2010
New Hope in Africa to End MalariaJohn Bridgeland in Huffington Post	December 11, 2009
How joblessness hurts us allUSA TodayA December 2009 USA Today op-ed by Thomas Sander and Robert Putnam, two members of the Civic Indicators Working Group	December 10, 2009
State’s Civic Health on Life SupportHuffington PostA Huffington Post blog by Shawn Healy of the McCormick Freedom Project on the Illinois Civic Health Index	November 19, 2009
America’s Civic Health Index 2009: Hard TimesServiceNationA ServiceNation blog post on the 2009 Civic Health Index	August 31, 2009

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