Is this the Answer Mayors Have Been Looking For?

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New research connecting civic engagement and economic prosperity

As mayors search for solutions to address youth unemployment, high drop-out rates and increasing youth violence, there is an interesting body of research that connects the dots between civic engagement and economic resilience.  A recent report released by Opportunity Nation and their research partner Measure of America examines the correlation between social capital, civic engagement and upward mobility – and the results could launch new thinking about civic tech and how communities innovate around youth.

The report holds the premise that social capital, defined as “the intangible networks, relationships and personal interactions that enhance information sharing, cooperation Volunteerism-and-Disconnected-Youth-Graph-With-Sourceand collective problem-solving” and which is known to be a leading indicator of income and economic mobility, should be a goal in all communities.  The research then outlines how civic engagement defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as “volunteering; group membership; participation in a civic or service organization; working with neighbors; and doing favors for neighbors” has a research-based connection to building social capital in youth, which leads to greater educational success, job preparedness and economic empowerment.  In short, community-engaged kids do better educationally and economically.  Moreover, the report indicates that there are both individual and collective/community benefits to civic engagement, and that the state should focus on civic engagement for its collective wellbeing and long-term prosperity.

The report does not delve into every aspect of civic engagement, like voting and national service programs, and it only briefly mentions technology and social media.  The report does acknowledge MIT’s development of an app for real-time, location-based civic reflection and participation.  They also site Participatory Budgeting Project’s (PBP) work in Boston to get 1,700+ teens and young adults to engage in the first ever youth participatory budgeting process in the U.S., which allocated $1M from the city budget.  But this topic of how technology can fundamentally change and empower youth engagement is not yet center stage.

Today’s youth are digital natives and their approach to civic participation will surely look different than anything we have seen before.  Since we know how important this engagement is for upward mobility and since so many cities are hosting hackathons to address city issues, it is striking that we’re not yet seeing the innovation, entrepreneurship and major civic tech focused on youth and civic engagement.

For the complete report click here.