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Last night at 10 p.m., my friends at the National Conference on Citizenship (NCOC) David Smith, Kristen Cambell and Morgan Corr released the long awaited results of America’s Civic Health Index, an annual report published to opportunities and challenges facing the civic health of our nation.

As a member of NCOC’s Millennial Working Group (and might I add, the aforementioned rockstars – although leading this organization steeped in rich and long-standing history, are also all millennials!), I was a loud voice for the need to shed a positive light on these disheartening statistics – 72% of Americans said they have cut back on time spent volunteering and only 9% of those surveyed had any faith in our banks and financial institutions. It’s been difficult to sugar coat the impact of our economic collapse on the hearts and minds of the American people but I wanted to add my editorial opinion to this important research. I am a young woman, honored to lead a millennial organization that has the opportunity to work, day in and day out, with the most innovative, creative, hardworking and inspiring members of this generation. I just want to reassure our readers, young and old of one important fact…

From where I stand amidst my generation, I promise that America’s Civic Health is resilient and growing. From a new generation of voters that went to the polls last November to young people who are talking to their elected officials. They are leveraging technology and engaging in peer to peer organizing for the issues that matter most in their lives like education, healthcare, unemployment, etc. As the Mobilize.org Democracy 2.0 Declaration (full text below) reads; “We are social networkers, we are multi-taskers, we are communicators and we are opinionated. The informality of our generation breaks down traditional barriers and opens doors for inclusiveness and equality. Most importantly, we are leaders in a society that yearns for leadership.” 

I assure you, this is a responsibility that we do not take lightly. If you haven’t yet talked to Decker Ngongang of Generation Engage–who is working hard to mobilize community college students to access power in their local government–I suggest you do. If you haven’t yet