Terms and Definitions

Civic Engagement

“Actively taking part in and progressing the lives of those in one’s community through various actions, knowledge and skills with the goal of increasing a community’s quality of life and social cohesion.” (Youth.gov, 2021)

A morally civic individual understands and recognizes that a community has diverse interests, stakeholders, and systemic inequities that are indoctrinated into the fabric of our society. Their goal is to make life a better place for all.

Key Related Concepts

Social and cultural factors that affect public understanding of civic engagement in diverse communities.

Why are these topics so important? They are concepts that encompass who we are and how we navigate the human experience. It is important to note that these concepts are not separate from each other, but intersectional (and sometimes interchangeable).

Race: How does race affect power and privilege in America? How does race change what it means to be an American? How does racism reveal itself systemically in our society?

Gender: How does gender affect power and privilege in America? How does gender change what it means to be an American? How does gender bias reveal itself systemically in our society?

Class: How does class affect power and privilege in America? How does class change what it means to be an American? How is class a central force in social difference, inequality, and conflict?

Citizenship/Americanization: What does it mean to be an American citizen? How do you achieve American citizenship? Who has the power to define what it means to be an American citizen?

Taboo: What makes a concept taboo? Who perceives a concept as taboo? (e.g., etiquette: how individuals are supposed to behave in different settings)

Religion: How does religion affect power and privilege in America? How does religion change what it means to be an American? How does religious discrimination reveal itself systemically in our society?

Kinship: How do kinship, and family structures and values affect an individual? How do kinship, and family structures and values influence communities? How do communities uplift each other?

Heritage: How does knowledge of one’s own heritage affect an individual? How does knowledge of one’s own heritage influence communities? How can heritage uplift a community? How can the loss of heritage knowledge harm an individual or community?

Health and Medicine: How does access to healthcare and affordable medicine benefit an individual? What happens to an individual when that is taken away? How do food accessibility and affordability affect communities?

(List curated by Jasmine Mathis and Caleb Craig)