Blog 2: Community Participation and Citizens

Blog Topic #2: What do you know about the relationship between citizens and your CP? On what levels do they interact? How can citizen participation affect your CP – use research on / conversations with your CP + the concepts outlined in your textbook to answer this question.]

               I am working with Initiative for Leadership Engagement and Development (ILEAD) for my community project. ILEAD is a program designed to help citizens become more engaged in their community, local government and leadership roles. There is a direct relationship because ILEAD is educating the community to become more engaged in their civic duties. ILEAD is also creating a path for some of people in their program to get internships working in a government building. The active/constructive participation tools ILEAD uses are discussing political issues, campaign work, participation in neighborhood groups, participation in demonstrations, speaking well of the community, promoting voting and showing support for the community by attending public functions. These tools are useful in promoting community engagement. Right now, East Palo Alto does not have strong civic engagement and ILEAD is hoping to create that.