Working to make a difference in the lives of a community is what civic engagement is all about. When different people’s skills, knowledge, and values are brought together, what develops can be truly inspiring. We need civic engagement to better the quality of life for everyone in a community. There are paid and unpaid forms of activism, community service, and environmentalism through both political and non-political processes.
Civic engagement involves four major categories.
Voting
This is probably the most obvious form of civic engagement. To truly promote change and see our communities represented in government we have to research candidates and make informed decisions before voting. It’s important to find out when you can register to vote, where to go, and when the voting takes place. It sounds simple, but can affect true change.
Paying taxes
Many people truly despise paying taxes. However, the money taken from taxes is actually supposed to better communities. Taxes are the only civic duty that is mandatory. Since everyone pays taxes, this is the civic engagement with the most participation. However, a shocking number of people in the United States do not understand taxes. Advocacy to better our communities and raise our quality of life cannot take place until everyone understands how we pay taxes, who pays for what, and how it’s all impacting our lives.
Petitions
By signing a petition for something that matters to you, you are practising civic engagement. It could be a petition to force someone out of office, invoke a change in the community, such as hours of a park, or asking for more parking spaces. Each name on a petition adds legitimacy to a campaign. It demonstrates to the decision maker which issues matter to most people and can add necessary pressure to the process of change.
Community Service
There are never-ending forms of community service. Everyone just needs to find one that is right for them. Volunteering your time to help improve the community can have a fantastic impact on not only your life, but the lives of those around you. Find something that you think you’ll enjoy. Whether it’s cleaning up a park, creating a community garden, walking dogs for an animal shelter, or working at a food bank; these tasks help to bring people together.
Everyone who has ever paid taxes has already participated in civic engagement, whether they have been aware of it or not. There are large numbers of people that would like to feel more involved and see positive change brought into their communities and everyday lives. By being aware of the four types of civic engagement people can find ways to become more engaged and promote the creation of a better future.