How to Elevate Civic Participation in Your Communities [Video]

Civics, defined as the study of the rights, responsibilities, and duties of citizens and the workings of government and society, suffers from an alarming knowledge gap. An estimated 70% of Americans can’t pass a basic civics literacy quiz. 

At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 2024 Business Solves event, Damon Young, chief business officer at Kansas Leadership Center, led a special conference edition of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s National Civics Bee® quiz for those in attendance. Following the quiz, Hilary Crow, vice president of the U.S. Chamber Foundation, led a discussion with business leaders from Microsoft, Travelers, and :hire, who shared insights into the role of civic responsibility in their organizations. 

The Civic Health of America Matters to Business 

Dave Leichtman, director of corporate civic responsibility at Microsoft, highlighted the essential connection between democracy and business.  

“The civic health of the country matters to business because democracy is good for business,” he said. “We talk about that a lot on stages like this, but I think it’s …