1. Strengthening our Communities: Strategies for Improving Civic Health in Michigan

2. Welcome! Robin Lynn Grinnell
Executive Director, Michigan Campus Compact
Michigan Nonprofit Association,
2015 Civic Health Index: publications/michigan-civic-health-index/file

3. Our Conversation Today

4. Background
Established in 1990, Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) is a statewide membership organization that achieves its mission by serving the diverse, statewide nonprofit sector in three primary ways:
Capacity Building
Public Policy
Civic Engagement
Committed to the concept that civically
engaged communities are stronger
communities
Provide thought leadership to the nonprofit sector and beyond

5. Definitions Civic Engagement – both an action and a value
Civic engagement is "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."
(Excerpted from Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, edited by Thomas Ehrlich, published by Oryx Press, 2000, Preface, page vi.)
Engaged Learning (k-12 and higher ed)
Volunteerism (lifelong)
Civic Participation (voter engagement; participation in nonprofit and community leadership; and nonprofit careers)
Civic Health is a measure of how actively citizens engage in their communities.
Periodically, a check up on Civic Health allows us to ensure all systems are operating as expected and problem areas are identified and resolved.

6. Civic Engagement Partners
Internal
Michigan Campus Compact
Volunteer Centers of Michigan
The LEAGUE Michigan
Statewide
Council of Michigan Foundations
Michigan Community Service Commission
Center for the Study of Citizenship, Wayne State University
National
National Conference on Citizenship
Corporation for National and Community Service

7. Project History 2012 Report Focused on setting a baseline
for civic health
Loose recommendations
Highlighted legacy infrastructure
of civic engagement

8. Goals of the 2015 Report
Understand how Michigan’s citizens participate in public life
Ignite conversations about civic health among Michigan’s citizens
Drive public policy decisions that foster positive civic engagement
Inform civics education in Michigan’s schools, from kindergarten through college graduation
Assist public and nonprofit agencies as they develop civic outreach strategies
Promote inclusive, people-centered public systems

9. Development Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey
Monthly labor statistics survey
150,000 U.S. households
2013 September Voting Supplement
2012 November Voting and Registration Supplement
2013 Civic Engagement Supplement
No “perfect source”; variance among reports

10. Analysis Social Connections Civic Engagement Political Participation
Confidence in Public Institutions
“A thriving Michigan requires active, knowledgeable citizens.
They build relationships and social network that are the foundation
for strong communities, successful democracies, and economic vitality.
It is therefore essential for us to measure the civic health of the state
and to develop methods for improving it.”

11. Key Findings
78% of Michigan residents registered to vote in 2012, ranking 8th nationally
Michiganders also rank high in “eating dinner with household members” frequently (91%, ranking 11th)
28% served as volunteers, ranking 19th, moving up from 32nd in 2012
Michiganders lag in talking with neighbors frequently (35%, ranking 48th) and doing favors for neighbors frequently (11%, ranking 43rd)
Of all the demographic traits analyzed, “educational attainment” demonstrates the strongest positive correlation to the greatest number of civic health indicators

12. 2015 Report Recommendations
Build Michigan’s Neighborhoods as Cornerstones of Civic Life
Access the Right to Vote
Connect to Millennials* as the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
Leverage the Experience of the Silent Generation
Activate Civic Engagement through Education
*While Millennials were specifically cited by the report authors, the Civic Engagement Partners agree that attention should be invested in all youth as civic leaders.

13. Key Actions Promote the report and its findings
Serve as convener, facilitator, and capacity builder to advance on recommendations
Investigate methods for measuring impact and telling the story
Advance strategic thinking and leadership with partners to continue momentum

14. Next Steps