OKLAHOMA CIVIC HEALTH INDEX
2010
Strategies for Strengthening Oklahoma’s Civic Energy
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OVERVIEW
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History of the Civic Health Index
Oklahoma Research Team
Summary of Oklahoma Civic Health Index
Call to Action
Small Group Discussions
Shared Challenges and Solutions
HISTORY OF CIVIC HEALTH INDEX
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National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC)
founded in 1946 and chartered by Congress in
1953 – charged with the mission of strengthening
the nation’s civic health
Produces annual national report
State reports started in 2009 (six states)
Oklahoma Civic Health Index (first report in 2010)
Oklahoma’s Process
Plan for the future
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
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“..working to make a difference in the civic life of
our communities and developing the combination
of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make
that difference. It means promoting the quality of
life in a community through both political and nonpolitical processes.”
Thomas Ehrlich in Civic Responsibility and Higher
Education
RESEARCH TEAM
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Partnership between Oklahoma Campus Compact
and the University of Central Oklahoma
Faculty and student research team
Civic Scholars
Convergence of theory and practice – students
engaged in community-based research with
dissemination plans that include publication and
community forums
Research Team
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FIVE KEY FINDINGS
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Oklahomans invest in family connections and
private sociability.
Social actions such as working with neighbors to
solve community issues help strengthen
communities.
Civic responsibility is an important tool of
democracy
Oklahomans with more education tend to be more
civically engaged.
Oklahomans continue to increase their commitment
to volunteering and service.
Politics in Oklahoma
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Politics in Oklahoma
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Connecting with Others
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Eating dinner with family
Exchanging favors with neighbors and talking with
friends
Communicating with family and friends using the
social media and email
Group Association and Leadership
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Belonging to and leadership in groups
Native Americans
Religion in Oklahoma
Role of Education
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Service statistics for Oklahoma
Students
Faculty and administration
Community partners
The mission of higher education
Correlation between education and civic
engagement
Public Policy
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Serves as an incentive and guide
Oklahoma City
◦ Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS)
◦ MAPS for Kids
◦ 54% of voters approved a one-cent sales tax for seven
years and nine months to support MAPS 3.
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Tulsa
◦ Oklahoma Main Street Program
◦ Oklahoma Academy
◦ 60% of voters approved a one penny 13-year sales tax to
support a growth package of 32 projects
CALL TO ACTION
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We invite you to think creatively and work together
to propose ways we can renew the civic health of
our communities and our state
How can we strengthen state and community ties?
What can we do on our campuses?
The Challenges We Face
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The Unique Heritage of Oklahoma
Educational Aspirations
Health Care Aspirations
Political and Social Aspirations
Business and Industry Aspirations
Leadership Aspirations
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Small Group Discussions
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As an Individual:
◦ 1. Identify the area in which you would like to make a
change within your own discipline.
◦ 2. Identify the change you would like to make.
◦ 3. Identify the challenges that would prevent you from
doing this work.
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As a Group:
◦ 4. Share the solutions you or your campus have
envisioned for the future or have enacted already.
◦ 5. Select one or two problems and solutions to share
when back in the large group.
SHARED CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
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When we come back together, the groups will
share a summary of their discussions and pose
questions or solutions to the larger group for
feedback.
Results will be recorded and shared with the group
in an electronic format.
Oklahoma Civic Health Index
To access the Oklahoma report, please visit:
www.ncoc.net/OK
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