Toward an understanding of civic engagement capacities within a municipal civic participation system

Abstract

ABSTRACT Neighborhood organizations are positioned to intercede between private interests and public purposes by facilitating citizen participation and promoting civic engagement in municipal governance. However, it is not clearly understood to what extent these organizations engage a more active populace and contribute to democratic outcomes. This article reports the findings from an exploratory and qualitative case study of a population of neighborhood organizations, or District Councils, within the City of Saint Paul District Council system, which is located in Minnesota, U.S. Study participants described dualistic and competing roles in managing their nonprofit organizations while meeting neighborhood needs, and accounts of diminishing civic participation. The findings also point to several organizational and neighborhood contingencies that might have influenced civic engagement capacities including the size of District Council boards of directors. Overall, this study revealed constraints on civic engagement capacities throughout the Saint Paul District Council system. This study contributes to extant research regarding civic engagement and public participation, and the findings bring attention to needed improvements within municipal civic participation systems.