Civic Engagement in Philadelphia
Posts on the American culture of politicos, challenges with the ANES and why we need to rethink civic education
We’re currently recruiting and interviewing individuals who’ve been a part of recreational sports leagues and protests. if you or someone you know is interested in chatting, and possibly having parts of their story on a podcast, get in touch!
Researchers at Stanford spent a year looking at how nonprofits, philanthropy and local government are engaging and learning with “lived experts”; people with first hand experience with their community’s unique challenges.
link: Making Civic Engagement Efforts Work: Stanford Social Innovation Review
key takeaways:
Using structured volunteer organizations, like advisory councils and friends groups, around parks, rec centers and libraries can be a source of meaningful engagement and an entry point for the development of new community leaders
Conventional volunteer models, without structure and careful consideration, can reinforce and entrench larger scale inequality. Typically, higher income residents are more likely to have more time for community organizing and fundraising. Moreover, successful organizations do not necessarily meet the needs of their communities with failures on either end of the spectrum: older, more well-entrenched organizations failing to meet a neighborhood’s changing needs, and new groups in gentrifying neighborhoods reflecting only a small demographic.
our thoughts:
What this report speaks to is the potential in broadening definitions of civic participation. When going to the park and checking in on the library are seen as civic activities, that opens the door to new ways to engage citizens and the opportunity to build new pathways for increased civic action.
Philadelphia’s 7 year, $500 million investment in a citywide civic engagement strategy shows that municipalities are aware of the problem, and that solutions need investment. But these investments need structure and a sensitivity to each particular community’s needs…
Philadelphia Participatory Design Lab 5 things you should know
Philidelphia’s Rebuild Program for parks, rec centers and libraries
If you think of feedback, suggestions, or people we should meet, please get in touch! You can email us at: 1stpersonprojects@thedifferenceengine.co