Welcome to the first entry in the Civic Development Network Blog.Here we provide a description of our goals for this blog and a brief explanation of the different areas of the website.
The goal of this blog is to serve as a virtual forum for an exchange of ideas on research, scholarship, and news related to civic development. It is our hope that blog entries will range from scholarly essays on theoretical topics related to civic development to informational postings about upcoming civic-related events or funding opportunities.Scholars are also welcome and encouraged to share interesting or troublesome research findings, as well as theoretical and methodological questions.While we are hoping that the entries will cover a wide-range of topics, the success of a vibrant, useful blog will depend on active responses and participation from the scholars of the civic development community. Just as the blog entries will range from slightly more formal essays to informal queries, we want to create an environment where posted responses to blog entries can also be conversational.Our goal is to create a space that will mimic the discussions that take place after paper symposiums or in front of posters at conferences…only year round instead of once a year. A truly dynamic discussion will only be possible if both junior and senior scholars post responses, so we hope that all will feel free to post their thoughts and reactions to blog entries
There was a great deal of enthusiasm for such a blog at the civic development preconference in Denver a few weeks ago. We are hoping to capitalize on that excitement by soliciting blog entries from senior civic scholars over the next couple of weeks and continuing through the summer.In fact, these summer discussions could be helpful as civic scholars prepare submissions for SRA in Philadelphia.However, the first blogs will serve primarily to “get the ball rolling”, and we definitely encourage folks to contact us if they want to post original material. Obviously, we’ll be working out the kinks over the next few months, so feedback would also be greatly appreciated!
In addition to the blog, please browse the other areas of the civic development network site. We have posted information from our most recent preconference in Denver including notes collected from the small group discussions on the Developmental Questions we addressed and quotes from the participating youth activists.The civic development network directory has contact information and Keywords describing each scholar’s specific topics of research, which we hope will better facilitate discussion among researchers with similar interests.We also have posted information on how to join the civic development listserv and links to other civic research and policy groups.
Please leave us thoughts about the preconference, the website, or ways to build the network.
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