Taking the theme “Redefining America’s Social Compact”, the NCOC, took place in Phoenix for the first time out of Washington D.C on Sep., 22 – 23, 2011, delved into several important topics and mainly on the revised roles of the citizenry, business, nonprofits, and government in a 21st Century democracy. The conference was a unique opportunity to meet leading representatives of all these sectors and to earn remarkable learned lessons. Along with the data I knew during the conference, I learned a lesson on how to think critically and how to raise questions that lead, actually to the development of our societies, such as: How to lead people to come together? How to make the people involve in “Civic Engagement”? Who is responsible for public good? How far do we need to take advantage of each other? What are the “Great communities”? How “Servant Leadership” can be achieved? What do you want to teach? What do you want to learn? Who is responsible for ”Public Good”? How to act as a leader while you are leading, also, “leaders”?
(photos of Professor Lattie Coor, CEO and Chairman, Center for the Future of Arizona)
Actions that Build community: How Arizonans compare to the Nation and rank to other states?
Among several publications, the attendees of the NCOC received a thorough and comprehensive index, published by the Center for the Future of Arizona. Among the indicators that are revealed by “2011 Arizona Civic Health Index”, there are some that reflect actions that build community such as, how Arizonans (families, friends and neighbors) are connected together and how far they participate in Civic life. “The more connected people are, the more likely they are to participate in civic life..”
Connect with family, friends and neighbors:
2011 Report (2010 Data) Nation Arizona Rank
Eat dinner together most days 88.1 % 87.4 % 34th
Talk with family, friends online Frequently 54.3% 58.3% 16th
Talk to neighbors frequently 42.3 % 43.9 % 22nd
Do favors for neighbors Frequently 15.2 % 17.9% 9th
Participate in Civic Life
2011 Report (2010 Data) Nation Arizona Rank
Belong to one or more groups 33.3 % 31.5 % 40th
Attend meetings about local Issues 9.2 % 9.4 % 29th
Volunteer 26.3 % 23.9 % 41th
Work with neighbors to Fix something 8.1 % 8.3 % 28th
Make charitable contributions
Of $25 or more 50 % 51.3% 29th
The very well-organized NCOC is truly one of the most important conferences I have ever attended for several reasons. They include, but not limited to, the important of the topics discussed, as mentioned above, the importance of the figures attended, the importance of the ceremonies it witnessed.
For one of the most important ceremonies took place during the NCOC, mainly the Naturalization Ceremony, I will dedicate one of my coming week’s blogs to cover such a unique event..
Finally, it is worth-mentioned that the Conference was organized by the NCOC in collaboration with the Center for the Future of Arizona and with support from the Case Foundation, the Bipartisan Policy Center and ASU.
