Here at CivicsEDU, we believe in the power of listening. In all of our efforts, our team strives to hear the communities we serve and understand their needs. In 2024, we launched a pilot of our Civic Pulse Survey, a data collection tool designed to help us as an organization and as a collective community to better understand the civic perspectives and behaviors of residents in the Central Carolina region. We are sharing some of the results, learnings, and next steps to demonstrate both transparency and our commitment to approaching strengthening civic engagement as a community effort that we are undertaking in partnership with all our stakeholders and community members. Our survey results offer a valuable learning experience and guidance on how to best move forward. 

The Limitations

While we had hoped for a more statistically significant sample to analyze, the results reveal some intriguing data that we are exploring through other means. In many ways, the survey worked exactly as it should have as it revealed gaps in our reach, disparities in representation, and the work that still needs to be done to ensure that our community’s voices are all reflected in our work.

One of the key findings of the 2024 Civic Pulse Survey was the overrepresentation of certain demographics. Nearly all respondents identified as either African American or White and held a bachelor’s degree or higher, and a majority reported household incomes at or above the regional median. That tells us we reached an educated and successful group, which is a great start, but it also highlights who we missed. Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Asian, and other multiracial communities were underrepresented, as were young adults, and seniors. These insights are significant to our team as they show us exactly where we need to focus future outreach efforts. In light of this, we want to be clear – the team at CivicsEDU views the survey results not as a setback but as a jumping off point to plan our next moves strategically.

The Insights

Despite its limited scope, the survey also offered some fascinating insights into civic behavior. While nearly three quarters of respondents said they vote in every election, most reported attending local government meetings either sometimes or not at all. Many expressed interest in learning more about civic education and how to get involved but said they didn’t know where to start. For us, these are not dead ends, they’re openings! Members of our community are showing a desire for education and connection, and we are here to help.

Looking ahead, we’re excited about how we can grow. The lessons from this survey will shape a more inclusive and representative approach to our work in the future. Before we release the next survey, we will conduct focus groups with community members to delve into what has shaped their interest or disinterest in civic engagement. We’ll use this to plan targeted outreach to grow participation and we’re looking into conducting more data driven projects to give a clearer picture of our diverse community’s needs. We’re also thinking creatively about how to engage younger generations and elders alike.

The 2024 Civic Pulse Survey may not have told the whole story of our region’s civic life, but it gave us a crucial starting point. It showed us who is engaged, who wants to be, and how we can help bridge that gap. In data, as in civic life, every response matters, and every insight brings us closer to the communities we’re working to build. We’re grateful to everyone who participated, and we’re more ready than ever to continue the conversation and take on the new challenges that await. So, to our civic community, we promise to keep listening, to keep reaching further, and to continue building what we all want: a better world.

What’s Next?

Thank you to everyone who participated in our pilot survey, as you have modeled what it means to be engaged and helped us develop our work at the same time. Looking into 2025, expect more community outreach, focus groups, and opportunities to get civically engaged. Stay tuned for an update in the coming months on our next Civic Pulse Survey in 2026.