This was the AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation's first of four webinars in the Reigniting Civic Life Series following the release of the Current Population Survey, 2021 Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement.
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 15, 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET.
Webinar Introduction: Andrea Robles, PhD, research and evaluation manager, AmeriCorps
Presenters:
- Laura Hanson Schlachter, PhD, research analyst, AmeriCorps
- Kei Kawashima Ginsberg, PhD, Newhouse director, Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University
- Penn Loh, director of the Master of Public Policy Program and Community Practice, Tufts University
Remarks: Adrienne Andrews, deputy chief of staff for strategic engagement, AmeriCorps
Facilitated Question and Answer Discussion: Melissa Gouge, PhD, research analyst, AmeriCorps
Abstract:
In recent decades, scholars and practitioners have called for more expansive definitions of civic engagement that are inclusive to all the activities people engage in to make a difference in their communities. In our first webinar, "What is Civic Engagement? Exploring New Paradigms," we introduced several frameworks for conceptualizing civic engagement, presented novel findings from the longitudinal survey about civic engagement trends in the United States, and shared insights on how civic engagement emerges through local mutual aid efforts. We concluded with a reflection about how national service can contribute to this broader understanding of what counts as civic engagement.