ISCV

Mission

The Institute for the Study of Civic Values was established in Philadelphia in 1973 to build a new politics of community focused on the fulfillment of America's historic civic ideals.

At a time when political leaders and commentators are calling for greater attention to the nation's values, we are demonstrating how to build community and examine public policy within the framework of America's civic values--the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

We are using the principles of the Preamble to the Constitution to negotiate social contracts between citizens and government defining how how we can work together to build better neighborhoods and schools. We contend that the Preamble represents the de facto civic framework for community throughout the United States.

We work to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity" by supporting programs that enable welfare recipients to find meaningful work through subsidized community service.

Above all, we seek to strengthen democracy--the "consent of the governed"--through youth civic engagement and get-out-the-vote campaigns in major elections.

Fundamentally, we work to build a politics of community that can revitalize grassroots democracy throughout the United States.

National Projects

Civic Values Campaign-Launched in 2005, the Civic Values Campaign works to build broad recognition that America's civic values are the values that we share. To this end, we have developed a ten point Civic Values Index that community groups and local governments can use to measure the civic values of their communities.

Our Social Contract Project has been helping citizen organizations in Philadelphia and throughout the country negotiate social contracts with government and schools that define how "we the people" can build communities that "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity" and "promote the general welfare."

Civic Education Programs: ISCV has been a national leader in promoting civic education at every level of education. We work to develop programs that apply our civic values to the major issues facing us today.

NeighborhoodsOnline: This is ISCV's pioneering web site serving neighborhood and community activists throughout the country. It provides fast access to federal agencies, national organizations, and data relevant to building community and strengthening America's neighborhoods.

Our build-com listserv has built a national network of community activists and public officials sharing information and ideas on solving neighborhood problems. Our civic values listserv has developed a parallel network of active citizens discussing public policy within the framework of America's civic values








			Philadelphia Projects "PhillyNeighborhoods.org"--is using listservs and the web to build an online community of activists in Philadelphia with fast access to City agencies and departments. We also manage the "Neighborhoods" Page on the City of Philadelphia's web site-- http://www.phila.gov/neighborhoods. For more than a decade, we have been among the first grassroots activists to use Internet to promote civic engagement and strengthen democracy at every level of government. NetActivism, written for O'Reilly and Associates by ISCV President Ed Schwartz in 1996, remains a seminal work in this field. PhillyBlocks: ISCV is working to build leadership on blocks in Philadelphia committed to making neighborhoods clean, safe, economically viable, and decent places to raise our children. Through PhillyBlocks, community groups coordinate meetings between block leaders and City agencies on neighborhood issues and problems, while block activists throughout the City use the "Phillyblocks" listserv to share information and ideas with people in government on how best to meet community needs. PhillyCorps: This is ISCV's community service jobs program that helps TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) recipients gain work experience provided by a network of more than 150 community organizations and human service agencies throughout Philadelphia. ISCV has helped more than 8,000 TANF recipients gain paid work experience through this program since 1999, helping them achieve the "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" that is promised to us in the Declaration of Independence. Civic Literacy Program-ISCV helps more than 150 adult learners each year strengthen their basic literacy in reading and math, with an emphasis on materials associated with political and social issues. "YouthRAP"--Youth Urban Renewal Arts Program--helps middle school students apply America's civic values to the the problems they face in their own neighborhoods. We help them identify the issues, understand their rights dealing with them, and present their concerns to elected officials and leaders in our community. Urban Voters Campaign: ISCV launched the "Urban Voters Campaign" to help neighborhood volunteers mobilize voters on their blocks in Philadelphia during critical elections. Activists working directly with the Institute on the Urban Voters Campaign have consistently produce turnouts 10% higher than the city-wide average. In the 2003 Mayor's race, the Institute sponsored mock elections in 10 high schools that also served as polling places for the election. In 2004, we developed an online support system for grassroots canvassers that provided fast access to voting division turnout targets for every division in the City. The site was featured on the City's Phila.gov web site and attracted 5,000 visitors during the month prior to the election.

			If you want more information on the Institute for the Study of Civic Values, contact Ed Schwartz at 1218 Chestnut St., Rm. 702, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107, 215-238-1434. Or email us at edcivic@libertynet.org


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