Civic Engagement isn’t just about voting or going to a town hall meeting, but truly connecting with individuals and organizations in and around your community. While we offer a variety of opportunities to engage and network at our General Membership Meetings and Coffees with the Collaborative, our Civic Engagement workshops are centered around creating connection and engagement with local leaders and policymakers to continuously improve our communities.
Through our two spearhead Civic Engagement programs, Connecting Cobb Veterans (CCV) and Vote Your Voice (VYV), we collectively
address supporting and sheltering our unhoused veterans, and combat disinformation through non-partisan education opportunities
WHAT IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT?
Civic engagement is the act of working with local institutions and fellow residents to promote meaningful actions, movements, and relationships within a community or population. This can take many forms, from voter registration rates to talking politics with friends or family, and from trusting local businesses to participating in community groups. Some measures of civic engagement are political, some are social, and some are individual, but each reflects something important about a community’s civic health.
How Do I Get Involved in My Community?
- Hear from or spend time with family or friends
- Discuss political, societal, or local issues with family or friends
- Discuss political, societal, or local issues with neighbors
- Provide food, housing, money, or help for friends or extended family
- Talk with or spend time with neighbors
- Work with neighbors to do something positive for neighborhood or community
- Talk or spend time with people of different racial, ethnic, or cultural backgrounds
- Volunteer
- Charitable Giving
- Belong to a group (HOA, civic club, alumni association
- Vote
- Contact an elected official
- Share views
- Consume well balanced news
- Express political opinions
- Attend a Public Meeting with a discussion of Community Affairs
Civic Engagement training and workshop opportunities include:
- Connecting Cobb Veterans Quarterly Strategy Team Meetings & Info Session
- Non-Partisan Voter Registration Drive
- Legislative/Civic Workshops
- Non-Profit Capacity Building Workshops
About Cobb County
Cobb County is comprised of seven cities as well as unincorporated areas. Residents living in municipalities are represented by city council members as well as a county commissioner. Decisions such as zoning, building, code enforcement, amenities, etc. occur at the city level as well as the county level. The Cities of Marietta and Smyrna have their own fire departments separate from Cobb County, and all six municipalities have a police force. Additionally, the City of Marietta has a separate school system (Marietta City Schools) with a separate school board.
