Local Civic Health Guide

Introduction to Civic Health

In this video, New Hampshire Listens explores the basics of civic health and its importance.
Local Civic Health: A Guide to Building Community and Bridging Divides

In this video, New Hampshire Listens explores the guide that provides communities with tools and resources to help them learn about their community’s local civic health and take action to strengthen it.

Local Civic Health

A Guide to Building Community and Bridging Divides

In the same way that doctors conduct an annual check-up to assess our health, we can collect information to assess the civic health of our communities. Civic health includes factors such as how much people trust each other, show up at public meetings, get involved, vote, and help neighbors. The Carsey School has designed a guide to help people at the local level collect data to better understand what factors bring people together or push them apart.

Our Hopes for Civic Health

We all want to live in a place we feel good about. None of us enjoy going to a public meeting filled with yelling and angry disagreement. In times of crisis, we want our neighbors to help each other navigate the hard times.

Civic Health information is helpful in supporting communities and democracy at the local level. If we understand the civic health of a community, we can reduce polarization and encourage trust, resiliency, and connection. We have created a guide that gives communities different tools and resources to help assess local civic health and strengthen it.