Civic Engagement PCSCOR 325

Research and theory on mentoring.

This is a great place to look at what we can do to make change right here in MA. Granted, this is much more that needs to be done -- but as I look at this list it makes me wonder, "where do I fit in?"

These two links highlight the work of one of my former colleagues and friend Cynthia Loesch. Cynthia has been an advocate for her neighborhood of Codman Square (located in Boston) since her teenage years. She recently built a 100% green home inside her community which she used as a model to allow neighborhood residents to learn how to conduct green retrofitting ideas to be more energy efficient and to save money. http://www.81brent.org

Mayor Linda M. Balzotti announces that the Brockton After Dark summer program will start on July 2nd. Various activities will take place over the course of the summer at different locations throughout the city until August 24th. "Brockton After Dark accomplishes more than just keeping youth busy," said Mayor Balzotti. "The wide range of activities offered enables young people to take part not only in athletics, but also social and leadership development activities, learning skills that will stay with them for many years to come." Now in its ninth year, Brockton After Dark provides athletic and enrichment opportunities to youth, ages 13-20, at no cost, weeknights during the summer. Brockton After Dark will not be held Wednesday, July 4th. Various activities include basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, hip hop dancing, and art classes, as well as several other programs, which can be found on the City of Brockton's web site. Food will be provided at most sites. This is a great program to get these youth off the streets. I think many cites need to look into this and see if there city has funds for these programs.

This is nice Gwen! This program goes hand in hand with your community project! I also agree that if we had these type of programs available to our youth in more towns and cities, many lives would be changed for the better!

I found a great example of going above and beyond one's title in helping the community. In this case it happens to be the elderly community, and this Social Worker is doing her best to provide the best care possible.

Brockton achieved national recognition as one of America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING for its initiatives to help young people. The competition recognizes communities across the country that focus on reducing high school dropout rates and providing service and support to their youth. What I find funny about this site is that many people don't know about the resources Brockton has, so its word of mouth. I'm finding it hard to find structured programs for the youth to stay off the streets, but its the best communities for young people.

Wow, I see what you mean! Maybe it's something bias on ING's part, because that def doesn't make any sense. You're a resident, I'm sure you have a first hand look at everything. Good post.

Share your story of rising and broaden your social connections online, in Boston, and around the nation. Boston Rising does great non-profit work organizing against poverty in Grove Hall. This is one of their social media actions...

This is a very inspiring video. Though it doesn't delve deep into the things we've discussed this week, it does demonstrate the process of considering our past and present efforts in order to apply transfer learning for a proposed resolution.

While looking up the legislative process, I stumbled across this video and found it interesting. Are we looking at the current processes in place and really examining them? Are we slaves without knowing it?

Mothers with Courage is comprised of a group of mothers who have joined together to support one another in order to cope with the loss of their children through incarceration or murder. I think this groups is a great example of Civic engagement.

Interesting article in today's Globe about the impact that lobbyists have had on Corporate tax breaks.

This Website talks about the goverment can engage people throught the media.Are you ready to effectively engage your community in 2013? Next year, local governments want online civic engagement that allows them to listen, encourage feedback, increase transparency, and improve their image within their community.

There has been a longstanding narrative of youth political apathy and disengagement from democratic life. However, this perception is now giving way to a richer account, one that seeks to illuminate the dynamic ways in which young people are redefining expressions of "citizenship," "political engagement," and "democracy." As the currents of social, political, financial, and global change intensify, what is the future of participatory democracy, youth activism, and civic and political education? How are the practices and forms of participatory democracy evolving in the age of social, digital, and mobile media?  And what do these transformational practices reveal about democratic futures?

Marks an epic journey of one who wasn't scared to take risks to reach her goals.

This group just had an advocacy day on March 6th at the state house.

Great template for planning and executing a social campaign. Has great resources and case studies to learn from.

This is the website to a great program for those interested in learning more about the legislative process in Massachusetts. Its targeted towards introducing people of color and community workers and best of all it is totally free!

Great web site and article. Really short but introduces a variety of "services". Really great dialogue at the bottom of the page as well.

With summer four months away, the Boston-based Youth Jobs Coalition and more than 1,000 teens returned to the State House for an annual demonstration to push for job funding for young people. If you look at the got jobs sign, I am there with the green stripped hat but my head is turned to the side...

I think this is a great program for the community. I was actually speaking to my boss today about a Welfare program they had tried to introduce some years back that completely failed. The idea was to get people on Welfare to start working, and if certain agencies hired said employees then they would be tax exempt. But then the people hired had terrible attitudes towards the program because they didn't want to be at the job or other personal reasons. Bottom line, it was a good idea with good intentions, but since the actual people in the community weren't invested, it just couldn't work. Project QUEST seems like a much better solution because it deals with parties that have their best interests invested and best foot forward.