Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning

Civic knowledge is:

The understanding of how the government functions, the principles that founded the country, and major political and social issues.

Civic knowledge also includes:

The importance of civic rights and responsibilities, such as voting, volunteering, serving on a jury, and the importance of ensuring a free press.

Civic knowledge can include:

• The understanding of how the government functions
• Major political and social issues
• Importance of civic rights and responsibilities, such as voting, volunteering, serving on a jury, and the importance of ensuring a free press

Civic Skills

Civic skills are the knowledge, values, attitudes, and abilities that allow people to participate in civic and political life and make a difference in their communities

Civic Skills Can Include:

• Critical thinking on political life
• Community collaboration within a group
• Determination to make a difference in your community

Civic Values

Civic values are shared beliefs that guide a community's members and are important for a society to function

Civic Values Can Include: 

• Honesty
• Respect
• Justice
• Service

Civic Action 

Civic action refers to steps taken together by a group of people whose goal is to enhance their condition and achieve a common objective

Civic Action can look like: 

Serving within your student government
Attending a Lobby Day

When I joined the IDPCE, I was given the opportunity to help educate and provide access to channels of civic duties to college students all across Virginia. I began working on a project called the Virginia Government Simulation, which allows students from any public, private, or community college across the Commonwealth to debate actual legislation in the Virginia House of Delegates Chamber. 

With this initiative, I hope to improve Democratic engagement among our youth through hands-on experience in the chambers where real-life law is made every year.

Verenda K. Cobbs, Senior Manager for Civic Innovation & Partnerships at VCU, is pivotal in fostering collaboration and creating pathways for students, faculty, and staff to engage in meaningful service and scholarship. 

As a Civic Ram, Verenda acts as a connector through her units, including the VCU Division of Community Engagement and the Office of Government Relations, by building strategic partnerships with organizations, city and county departments, and key stakeholders. 

At Virginia Commonwealth University, I proudly embrace my role as a leader in action through my involvement across campus. As the Undergraduate President of the Student Government Association (SGA), I listen to student voices and drive meaningful change to then bring that to the admin of our university. 

Through these experiences and others, I strive to inspire others and create a positive impact where students and the Richmond community can grow together.