The Covid-19 pandemic marked a global shift in how the world operates and what the role of the individual should be in their community. When referring to civic activities, some may view getting the vaccine as one, yet this depends on the particular person. Since the pandemic, other civic activities have emerged that encapsulate the resilience and commitment to community well-being from the effects of the pandemic. Civic engagement has been reshaped since the pandemic, showing that to be civically engaged there are many opportunities.

The pandemic restricted us from physical contact, making events often done in-person hard to do from the comfort of one’s home. Technology has been a major contributor to this accessibility, allowing for virtual engagement. I think virtual volunteering became a big civic activity throughout the pandemic and has prevailed ever since into post-pandemic life. What I mean by virtual volunteering, I am referring to digital fundraising and donation to those in need. The pandemic saw much of this in both community support and even social activism that took the world by storm during the pandemic. The majority of virtual volunteering offers a digital hub for civic engagement that transcends barriers.

This form of virtual volunteering also takes the form of support for students who may have struggled during the pandemic. In present day, online tutoring has emerged as a great avenue to serve those in need and providing said services. Many students did not have the necessary resources at the beginning of the pandemic due to a lack of knowledge regarding online resources, Since then, however, many tutoring and websites, like Khan Academy, have helped thousands of students across the nation in their education. Taking advantage of the resources at hand help young people to civically engage in order to become well-rounded adolescents.

Another form of civic engagement has been support for local businesses that had been struggling during the pandemic. Yes, technology had proven to be a fantastic resource for many, and online shopping even surged because of this. Due to this, local businesses suffered as many people would order from companies like Amazon since many could not leave their homes. Many initiatives have urged citizens to shop local and support the owners of these local businesses. These initiatives not only help the owners but the surrounding community at large as more economic flow is brought into the community.

The Covid-19 pandemic indicated a much needed shift that the world, unbeknownst to many, very much needed. The pandemic allowed people around the world to look inward and understand what may not be working in the world. The above activities embody the civic commonplaces of spreading and acknowledging new information while supporting and aiding one’s surrounding community. Engaging in civic activities is important to being an active citizen and being aware of one’s own individual role in their life and world.