Introduction - Civil Society and YouCommunity engagement is a type of public participation involving people in problem-solving or decision-making processes. It is a multifaceted, ongoing process.It is the process of working collaboratively with others who share geographic proximity, special interests or similar situations with respect to issues affecting their individual or collective well-being.Community engagement is key to designing and maintaining strong and responsive community systems of service and support. The importance of engaging the community is grounded in the belief that the public has a right and responsibility to participate. By using a community’s "collective intelligence" and by working together, it is believed that any system designed to address a community challenge will more accurately identify problems and develop more effective solutions. Additionally, conflicts identified will be minimized if people have had a chance to "buy into" the process.Everyone comes to engagements in their community with personal motivations for volunteering or contributing support.  What are your motivations for engagement? What role do you wish to play in strengthening your community? How will you educate yourself about the key issues? With whom will you work? How will you connect with them?DirectionsSubmit a three page (single-spaced) paper analyzing your motivations and commitments to civil society and to nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations (NGO’s). What specific role(s) do you play or intend to play related to the nonprofit/NGO sector?Is there a specific target ‘market’ about which you are passionate?Is there a service area that you think is critical? Cite resources to help you become better educated on specific nonprofit(s) or NGOs, their activities, support and impact in the United States and abroad and include information about how you will connect with others who are involved with your ‘cause’. [Show Less]