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OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION

AmeriCorps Evidence Webinar

What is Civic Engagement? Exploring New Paradigms

Webinar Abstract: In recent decades, scholars and practitioners have called for more expansive 

definitions of civic engagement that are inclusive to all the activities people engage in to make a 

difference in their communities. In this webinar, "What is Civic Engagement? Exploring New 

Paradigms," we introduced several frameworks for conceptualizing civic engagement, presented

novel findings from the longitudinal survey about civic engagement trends in the United States, and

shared insights on how civic engagement emerges through local mutual aid efforts. We concluded 

with a reflection about how national service can contribute to this broader understanding of what 

counts as civic engagement. 

Date and Time: Wednesday, March 15, 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET.

Webinar Introduction: Andrea Robles, PhD, research and evaluation manager, AmeriCorps

Presenters:

• Laura Hanson Schlachter, PhD, research analyst, AmeriCorps

• Kei Kawashima Ginsberg, PhD, Newhouse director, Center for Information and Research on 

Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University

• Penn Loh, director of the Master of Public Policy Program and Community Practice, Tufts 

University

The webinar highlighted findings and themes from a variety of resources related to civic 

engagement, which are listed below and organized by speaker.

Welcome and Introductions

Speaker: Andrea Robles

• The Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) at AmeriCorps 

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021_05_12_OfficeofResearchan

dEvaluationOne-Pager_ORE.pdf

• Data Driven: How ORE Supports the AmeriCorps Mission 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWi7sMaV1LA&t=2s

• Civic Engagement and Social Cohesion Report 

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18831/civic-engagement-and-socialcohesion-measuring-dimensions-of-social-capital

• AmeriCorps Research Grants 

https://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/research-evaluation/grantee-profiles
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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about civic 

engagement?

Speaker: Laura Hanson Schlachter

• AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America Research 

https://americorps.gov/volunteeringinamerica

• U.S. Census Bureau’s America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Series 

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/01/volunteering-and-civic-life-inamerica.html

• 2017-2021 CEV Datasets and Full Documentation 

https://data.americorps.gov/browse?q=cev&sortBy=last_modified&utf8=%E2%9C%93

• Formal Volunteering and Informal Helping in America 

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/CEV%20Volunteering%20Helping_

030123_final_508.pdf

• New Statistics on Volunteering & Civic Life with Dr. Mary Hyde 

https://tobijohnson.com/048-statistics-on-volunteering/

Youth Civic and Political Engagement

Speaker: Kei Kawashima Ginsberg

• Media-Making about Social and Political Issues Builds Confidence in Teens 

https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/media-making-about-social-and-political-issuesbuilds-confidence-teens

• American Views 2022: Part 2. Trust, Media, and Democracy 

https://knightfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/American-Views-2022-Pt-2-

Trust-Media-and-Democracy.pdf

• Gen Z, Aware of its Power, Wants to Have Impact on a Wide Range of Issues 

https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/gen-z-aware-its-power-wants-have-impactwide-range-issues

• Young People Created Media to Uplift their Voices in 2020 

https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/young-people-created-media-uplift-theirvoices-2020

• Youth Are Interested in Political Action, but Lack Support and Opportunities 

https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/youth-are-interested-political-action-lacksupport-and-opportunities

• Deeply Affected by the Pandemic, Youth Are Committed to Helping Others 

https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/deeply-affected-pandemic-youth-arecommitted-helping-others
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• AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America Research Summary 

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/volunteering-civic-life-americaresearch-summary.pdf

• CIRCLE’s Growing Voters: Building Institutions and Community Ecosystems for Equitable 

Electoral Participation Report 

https://circle.tufts.edu/circlegrowingvoters

• Study: 60 percent of rural millennials lack access to a political life

https://theconversation.com/study-60-percent-of-rural-millennials-lack-access-to-apolitical-life-74513

• The Republic is (Still) at Risk — and Civics is Part of the Solution 

https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/research/republic-still-risk-and-civics-part-solution

Mutual Aid as Civic Engagement

Speaker: Penn Loh

• Grounded and Interconnected in the Pandemic: Community engagement and 

organizing adaptations from COVID response efforts in Metro Boston 

https://pennloh-practical.vision/2022/11/03/new-report-how-community-responses-tocovid-in-the-boston-area-are-building-new-infrastructures-of-care-and-communityengagement/

• Lessons from the Pandemic for Building Resilience 

https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/lessons-from-the-pandemic-for-buildingresilience

• Pandemic Responses and Mutual Aid Are Building Climate Resilience and Justice 

https://www.progressivecity.net/single-post/pandemic-responses-and-mutual-aid-arebuilding-climate-resilience-and-justice

About the Office of Research and Evaluation

The AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) assists AmeriCorps and its partners in 

collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data and insights about AmeriCorps programs and civic 

life in America.

About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for 

Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, 

improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places 

more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service 

roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn 

more at https://americorps.gov/.