1 OKLAHOMA CIVIC HEALTH INDEX 2010 Strategies for Strengthening Oklahoma’s Civic Energy

 History of the Civic Health Index  Oklahoma Research Team  Summary of Oklahoma Civic Health Index  Call to Action  Small Group Discussions  Shared Challenges and Solutions OVERVIEW

 National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) founded in 1946 and chartered by Congress in 1953 – charged with the mission of strengthening the nation’s civic health  Produces annual national report  State reports started in 2009 (six states)  Oklahoma Civic Health Index (first report in 2010)  Oklahoma’s Process  Plan for the future HISTORY OF CIVIC HEALTH INDEX

 “..working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community through both political and non- political processes.”  Thomas Ehrlich in Civic Responsibility and Higher Education CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

 Partnership between Oklahoma Campus Compact and the University of Central Oklahoma  Faculty and student research team  Civic Scholars  Convergence of theory and practice – students engaged in community-based research with dissemination plans that include publication and community forums RESEARCH TEAM

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 Oklahomans invest in family connections and private sociability.  Social actions such as working with neighbors to solve community issues help strengthen communities.  Civic responsibility is an important tool of democracy  Oklahomans with more education tend to be more civically engaged.  Oklahomans continue to increase their commitment to volunteering and service. FIVE KEY FINDINGS

8 Politics in Oklahoma

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 Eating dinner with family  Exchanging favors with neighbors and talking with friends  Communicating with family and friends using the social media and Connecting with Others

 Belonging to and leadership in groups  Native Americans  Religion in Oklahoma Group Association and Leadership

 Service statistics for Oklahoma  Students  Faculty and administration  Community partners  The mission of higher education  Correlation between education and civic engagement Role of Education

 Serves as an incentive and guide  Oklahoma City ◦ Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) ◦ MAPS for Kids ◦ 54% of voters approved a one-cent sales tax for seven years and nine months to support MAPS 3.  Tulsa ◦ Oklahoma Main Street Program ◦ Oklahoma Academy ◦ 60% of voters approved a one penny 13-year sales tax to support a growth package of 32 projects Public Policy

 We invite you to think creatively and work together to propose ways we can renew the civic health of our communities and our state  How can we strengthen state and community ties?  What can we do on our campuses? CALL TO ACTION

The Challenges We Face  The Unique Heritage of Oklahoma  Educational Aspirations  Health Care Aspirations  Political and Social Aspirations  Business and Industry Aspirations  Leadership Aspirations 15

 As an Individual: ◦ 1. Identify the area in which you would like to make a change within your own discipline. ◦ 2. Identify the change you would like to make. ◦ 3. Identify the challenges that would prevent you from doing this work.  As a Group: ◦ 4. Share the solutions you or your campus have envisioned for the future or have enacted already. ◦ 5. Select one or two problems and solutions to share when back in the large group. Small Group Discussions

 When we come back together, the groups will share a summary of their discussions and pose questions or solutions to the larger group for feedback.  Results will be recorded and shared with the group in an electronic format. SHARED CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

18 To access the Oklahoma report, please visit: Oklahoma Civic Health Index