Civic engagement includes a wide spectrum of public interactions that make it possible for citizens of all ages to participate in decisions and actions to improve the life of their communities.

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Civic engagement makes the civic life of our communities strong and healthy. When civic life is healthy, communities have the civic capacity to create and sustain community life and public policies that are purposeful and self-directed.

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In a healthy community, civic engagement never ends. People want to make a difference. A reality of community life is that before people can act together, they need to be able to talk together. They need to engage in dialogue and deliberation.

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Deliberation is key to civic engagement work as well, enabling people to discuss the consequences, costs, and trade-offs of various policy options, and to work through the emotions that tough public decisions raise.--Used with Permission from the West Virginia Center for Civic Life.

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DELIBERATION

Long careful consideration or discussion.

The process of thoughtfully weighing options.

Discovering shared directions guided by what we value.

Listening, exploring ideas,  seeing eye-to-eye.

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No single person or group has the answer to societies toughest problems. Patient deliberation leads to change.

 

Deliberation is like diversification in stock portfolio management. Communities that deliberate have more stable economic outcomes and growth.--Georgetown University study