Understanding the Active Citizen Framework – Part 2

This week, we will continue with our discussion of the Active Citizen Framework – your step-by-step guide to the process that helps Jaycees create and execute projects and development opportunities that empower young professionals and benefit their communities. By offering a specific framework, providing examples on how to best utilize the information, and ensuring sustainable local impacts, we challenge you to use the Active Citizen Framework to change the world.

Last month we addressed Step 1 – Needs Analysis. In case you missed it, you can read that post here.

Step 2 – Formulate Sustainable Solutions

Following the development of a comprehensive needs analysis, thought should be given to creating ideas that promote sustained engagement that drives a community towards prosperity. The Active Citizen Framework identifies three stages of integration for effective development. Below is a listing by JCI of the different stages and a brief description of each.

Health and Wellness – Whether it’s hunger and poverty or childhood obesity, all communities face challenges in health and wellness. By ensuring that people are living happy, healthy lives, projects can lay the foundation for prosperity, success and future development. Here is a resource for you to review: HealthyPeople.gov

Education & Economic Empowerment – Everyone deserves a fair chance at realizing their dreams, but unfortunately, many don’t get it. Providing continuous educational opportunities and equitable economic conditions gives individuals the chance to lead productive careers with a high quality of life and opens the door to future development. Here is an interesting resource from the United Nations.

Sustainability – There’s only one planet we call home and we must preserve it for future generations while also developing communities to support an ever-growing population. Both environmental and economic sustainability are essential to building stable, productive, prosperous cities and towns, and neither one can come without the other. Here is a resource for you with articles on sustainability all over the globe: Sustainable City Collective!

With modules designed to work either independently, or as a set, the JCI Active Citizen Framework is your guide to ensuring successful, long-term projects, providing an immediate positive impact to the community.

Next month is Step 3 – Taking Action with Partners. Feel free to post a project update on JCI’s Facebook and Twitter pages. We’d really like to know how your efforts are succeeding.