Celebrate Civic Awareness Month

September is Civic Awareness Month, an annual observance dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education and participation in the democratic process.

Local civic engagement is a pillar of our democracy. It’s your chance to be informed, make your voice heard and help shape our local community. Registering to vote and voting are among the most important ways you can be a part of local civic engagement, but community involvement goes beyond voting.

Here are some of the ways you can engage in civic life in our area.

Participate in Local Meetings and Events

Attending town halls, school board meetings, board of trustees and planning commission meetings is a direct way to see local democracy in action and to voice concerns during public comment periods. It is a great way to stay informed and share your voice.

Canton’s Board of Trustees meetings are held every Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Canton Administration Building. Canton’s Planning Commission meets every first and third Monday of the month at 7:00 PM, also in the Canton Administration Building. If you can’t attend these meetings in person, you can watch them later on Canton Community Television (CCTV), channel 12 on Comcast, channel 10 on WOW cable.

Canton Public Library’s elected Board of Trustees meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM. Board documents, including the agenda and minutes, are posted on the library’s website.

Many local officials hold regular town halls or listening sessions. Attending gives you a chance to discuss the issues with them and voice both concerns and possible solutions. You can also participate in county or township-sponsored events, festivals and public forums, which foster civic pride along with networking opportunities with local leaders and fellow citizens.

Join Local Boards, Commissions and Groups

Canton Township regularly seeks residents to serve on advisory boards and commissions, such as the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and various task forces. These roles allow citizens to shape local policy and development. You can also look into joining the Downtown Development Authority or local Chamber of Commerce.

High school students can join the Canton Youth Advisory Council which gives teens a chance to advise the Township Board on youth-focused policies, participate in community service projects, lead special events and award grants to organizations that benefit Canton youth.

There are civic opportunities to participate in community organizations besides local government. Many local groups welcome new members interested in making a difference. These include neighborhood associations and service clubs, such as the Rotary, Kiwanis and United Way, as well as advocacy groups like Western Wayne NAACP and the League of Women Voters.

Volunteer and Advocate

If joining an organization isn’t for you, you can do your civic duty by supporting local causes or advocating for issues near and dear to your heart. You can volunteer with local nonprofit organizations, schools, youth sports or environmental initiatives. You can mentor youth, support local food banks or help at a community center. You can work with groups advocating for causes or issues you believe in, like environmental sustainability, social justice or public safety.

Not sure where to start? Check out the Michigan Nonprofit Association. 

Stay Informed

There are many ways you can keep up on what’s going on in our community. Here are some of them.

• Canton Focus Newsletter
  The official Canton Township site has an ongoing newsletter outlining what’s going on in our community.
• Canton Community Television (CTV)
  As mentioned earlier, CTV tapes the Board of Trustees and Planning Commission meetings. They also cover special events and have programs like Canton This Month and Canton Contact.
• Plymouth-Canton Patch
  Our local Patch offers hyperlocal news, event listings and updates on community issues.
• CodeRED Alerts
  You can sign up to get community notifications, including crime and weather alerts, traffic hazards and more.
• Canton Public Library Resources
  In addition to civic literacy workshops and Constitution Week activities, we provide 24/7 online access to newspapers such as the Canton Observer, the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News.
• Social Media
  Follow Canton’s official social feeds as well as other township and community organizations on social media.

No matter how you get involved in local civic activities, when you play an active role or just keep up with local news, you are helping to build a stronger, more informed and engaged community.