{"id":1984,"date":"2026-06-12T16:55:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/?p=1984"},"modified":"2026-06-12T17:26:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:26:16","slug":"community-engagement-ohio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/2026\/06\/12\/community-engagement-ohio\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Engagement: How Social Media Is Changing Civic Participation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1984\" class=\"elementor elementor-1984\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3355222 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3355222\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b12a478 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b12a478\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We all love social media and we are now living in a time where social media is doing more than helping people stay connected with family and friends. It&#8217;s also changing the way people get involved in our communities. From sharing information about local events to raising awareness about important political issues, online platforms are helping us to learn, organize, and take action. Today, <\/span><b>community engagement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can start with something as simple as a post, a video, or a shared message that brings people together around a common goal.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not long ago, getting involved in community issues often meant attending meetings, making phone calls, or waiting for information to be shared through traditional channels like TV\u2019s and newspapers. While those methods still matter, social media has created new opportunities for people to stay informed and make their voices heard.Your voice matters to those whom you love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-598e3db elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"598e3db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Community Engagement in the Digital Age<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-353c3f0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"353c3f0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01155ea elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"01155ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to find out who\u2019s running in any local election? You can now find out in seconds using google or ChatGBT. Want to share an issue happening in your neighborhood, one recording, post and now your thoughts can travel across the world. It\u2019s amazing the power we now possess to make sure everyone is informed. Technology has changed the way our communities connect. Social media gives us a chance to learn about local issues, share our experiences, and work together to solve problems. There is no reason why we all can\u2019t participate in community engagement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether it&#8217;s promoting a neighborhood clean-up, supporting a local business, organizing a community event, or raising awareness about a concern affecting residents, digital platforms make it easier for us all to participate.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e932fb elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7e932fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"779\" src=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-1024x997.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1992\" alt=\"Community Engagement\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-1024x997.png 1024w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-300x292.png 300w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-768x748.png 768w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-1536x1495.png 1536w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-700x681.png 700w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-500x487.png 500w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement.png 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24b45b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"24b45b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Social Media can help us all to Take Action<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55615c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55615c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I stated before, one of the biggest advantages of social media is how quickly information can spread. A single post can reach hundreds or even thousands of people within hours. Why not use your platform to make your voice heard. We all have people that we influence whether we realize it or not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital platforms can help us:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Share important news and updates<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promote local events and volunteer opportunities<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raise awareness about community challenges<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connect residents with helpful resources<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage people to speak up about issues that matter<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring neighbors together around common goals<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33ab5a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"33ab5a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Social media also gives you the power to tell your own stories. When community members share their experiences, it can help others better understand local challenges and inspire action.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31c8b53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31c8b53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Voices Have More Power Than We Think<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cbaabf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6cbaabf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of us believe we don&#8217;t have a platform because we don&#8217;t have thousands of followers. The truth is that influence isn&#8217;t measured by follower counts. It&#8217;s measured by impact.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think about it. Every day we share opinions, recommendations, experiences, and information with friends, family, coworkers, church members, and neighbors. Whether we realize it or not, people are paying attention to what we say.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means we all have the ability to influence how our communities think about important issues.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we share information about a community event, support a local business, highlight a neighborhood concern, or encourage others to vote, volunteer, or get involved, we are using our voices to make a difference.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2626189 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2626189\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Social Media Creates a Ripple Effect<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e19bdd5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e19bdd5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d1feaf elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2d1feaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"779\" src=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-2-1-1024x997.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1994\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-2-1-1024x997.png 1024w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-2-1-300x292.png 300w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-2-1-768x748.png 768w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-2-1-700x681.png 700w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-2-1-500x487.png 500w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Community-Engagement-2-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90f6dd8 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"90f6dd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One post may not seem like much. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what happens when ten of us share it? What happens when those ten people inspire ten more?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Information spreads quickly, but so does encouragement, hope, and action. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A single post can help someone discover a community resource. A shared video can bring attention to an issue that needs support. A personal story can inspire someone else to speak up or get involved.<\/span><\/p><p>Many of the conversations shaping our communities today started because ordinary people decided to share what mattered to them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-007f334 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"007f334\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Empowered Communities Start With Informed Communities<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc8fd30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc8fd30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong communities are built when we have access to information and feel empowered to participate.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we know what&#8217;s happening around us, we&#8217;re better equipped to support local initiatives, attend community events, advocate for positive change, and help our neighbors.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media gives us an opportunity to share knowledge that can benefit others. Whether it&#8217;s information about educational opportunities, small business resources, community programs, or local events, sharing useful information helps strengthen our communities.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc43782 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc43782\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Let's Be Intentional With Our Influence<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e82a1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e82a1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The question is not whether we have influence. The question is how we choose to use it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will we use our platforms to encourage others? Will we share information that helps our communities grow? Will we bring awareness to issues that deserve attention?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every post doesn&#8217;t have to go viral to make an impact. Sometimes the most important message reaches only a handful of people. But if it informs, encourages, or empowers someone to take action, it has served a purpose.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Community engagement starts when we recognize that our voices matter. Social media has given us a tool that can reach farther than ever before. When we use that tool with purpose, we help create stronger, more informed, and more empowered communities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our voices matter. Our stories matter. Our communities matter. The more we use our platforms to inform, encourage, and uplift one another, the stronger we become together.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d0ffe3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d0ffe3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Learn More About Community Engagement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cac2a7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cac2a7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;d like to learn more about community leadership, civic participation, and community empowerment, explore these resources:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/leadershipconferenceoncivilrights.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LeadershipConferenceonCivilRights.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/naacp.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NAACP.org<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1eae180 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1eae180\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ready to get involved? Visit our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/volunteer-in-ohio\/\"><b>Get Involved<\/b> <\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">page to learn about local initiatives and opportunities to make a difference.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all love social media and we are now living in a time where social media is doing more than helping people stay connected with family and friends. It&#8217;s also changing the way people get involved in our communities. From sharing information about local events to raising awareness about important political issues, online platforms are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[41,46,47],"class_list":["post-1984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ohio-community-support","tag-civic-engagement","tag-community-engagement","tag-social-media"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1984"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2001,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1984\/revisions\/2001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}