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Civic Engagement Project

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Civic Engagement Project

I never believed how in-depth the concept of civil engagement was until I participated in this class. I did not volunteer for Homer’s Heroes because of this course, however I do volunteer every year during the summer for the last 3 years. I have to admit my motives were selfish, in that the individuals help me more than I think I help them, while being a good person, I was not being a good citizen. (Etzioni, 1999) In this paper, I will describe why I chose Homer’s Heroes, the experiences I had, and how it related to this course.
Nineteen years ago, I gave birth to a son that was mentally and physically handicapped, he lived 6 days and passed away because of his birth defects. Nine years later my parents were …show more content…

My experience however demonstrated just how important it is to be a good citizen, and how that civic thread continues to flow through the fabric of our society. “. . . that the quality of public life and the performance of social institutions (and not only in America) are indeed powerfully influenced by norms and networks of civic engagement.” (Putnam, 1995) As demonstrated in this component civic engagement crucial to our society in so many aspects however it seems that like many other crucial items it is slipping away. The dynamics of our society have changed dramatically from the structure of our family, to the involvement of government in our personal life. All of the components in the series explain the changes that need to be made in our country, but how do you educate the population. Education is the conduit to action, and without action, nothing changes. People have to want to learn, want to change, and want to make a …show more content…

One of the strong strongest human needs is that of love and belonging. (Maslow, 1943) However if you look at what is destroying our culture it is the misguided direction that people are seeking to meet their needs. If we were to strive for a good society, we would start the transformation. “A good society, for instance, fosters trust among its members not solely or even primarily to enhance their trust in the government or to reduce burdens on the general public (for example, the problem of litigiousness), but rather to foster what is considered a bettersociety.” (Putnam, 1995) Trust, community, integrity, compassion, morality, tolerance, and family build a culture, a culture that encourages development, is more economically sound. It provides better schools, lower crime, and a more effective government. All of the topics we discussed, all of the literature that we read, brings it all to the point that as a person we must take the responsibility to own our decisions, educate ourselves on the issues, and be active participants in our society, as we are all interwoven

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