ABSTRACT
In an era of shrinking budgets and shrinking services, an engaged populace presents an opportunity for citizens to rebuild the social fabric that connects people to one another and strengthens a community. More traditional routes to engagement include time-and-talent volunteering for any number of non-profit and religious organizations, creating a group to meet a need in the community, voting, volunteering for political candidates and campaigns, or running for political office. Traditional engagement has often focused on engaging voting age citizens in community and local government processes. Changes in technologies and the interconnectedness of economic markets have provided new ways for citizens to be engaged. The utilization of new technologies for engagement and activism has led to an increase in concerns that we may be oversimplifying real-world problems. Engaging in volunteer activities with little to no interest is unlikely to instill a long-term desire for future engagement and could be met with resistance and animosity.
