Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone sounded an alarm more than two decades ago about the decline of civic
engagement in America. He warned that as people became more disconnected from one another; the risk of polarization and extremism would rise. While many hoped the internet might reverse this trend, social media has often deepened isolation instead of building connection.
The Civic Operations Group was created to push back against this disengagement by promoting real-world, face-to-face community involvement. Rather than allowing politics and governance to remain abstract and distant, the group works to make government personal, accessible, and proactive.
The COVID-19 pandemic magnified the problem of disconnection. Lockdowns and isolation left people cut off not just from one another, but also from public institutions and the services designed to support them. Out of this crisis, the Civic Operations Group developed a new approach: train local outreach teams to directly engage with residents, ensuring that communities knew what help was available and how to access it.
This model shifts government from being reactive—waiting for people to come forward—to proactive, where outreach workers meet residents where they are. Trained canvassers help even the most skeptical individuals navigate programs and services, reducing barriers and building trust.
One of the most important strengths of the Civic Operations Group is its adaptability. Community needs
change quickly, and the outreach teams are trained to pivot seamlessly. On one day, they may be informing residents about food assistance programs; the next, they might be helping seniors with property tax relief or connecting families to mental health counseling. This flexibility ensures that outreach remains relevant, timely, and effective.
Somerset County: A Model for Community Engagement
In 2025, under the leadership of Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson and the Somerset County Board of Commissioners, the Civic Operations Group launched the Somerset County Community Outreach Project. This data driven effort relied on tailored messaging to connect with residents in-person. Recognizing that municipalities face interconnected challenges, canvassers worked to provide information to residents with:
In 2025, under the leadership of Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson and the Somerset County Board of Commissioners, the Civic Operations Group launched the Somerset County Community Outreach Project. This data driven effort relied on tailored messaging to connect with residents in-person. Recognizing that municipalities face interconnected challenges, canvassers worked to provide information to residents with:
- Addiction and substance abuse counseling
- Behavioral health resources
- Food and nutrition
- Property tax relief programs
- Senior services
This work also paid a very rich dividend in creating opportunities to speak with residents about the role they could play in preventing opioid overdose deaths. More than 1,200 households were given life-saving Narcan kits and are better prepared to respond to future emergencies.
The project has gone beyond simply distributing resources. Somerset County Commissioners have joined canvassers in going door to door and meeting constituents directly at community events. From ice crea socials and minor league baseball games to National Night Out celebrations, these events have provided residents opportunities to connect in person with both government leaders and their neighbors.
The Civic Operations Group is also at work in other counties across the state:
- Burlington County – Outreach workers are helping residents register to vote and educating them about the benefits of Voting by Mail. Strengthening civic participation strengthens democracy itself.
- Hudson County – The outreach team is focused on ensuring residents are aware of the wide range of government programs available to them, reducing the gap between services and the people who need them most.
- Union County – Outreach efforts here have centered on connecting residents with housing resources
and utility assistance, addressing two of the most pressing affordability issues families face today.
The work of the Civic Operations Group reminds us that civic engagement is not just about elections or policy debates—it is about people. By showing up at doorsteps, community gatherings, and neighborhood events, these teams are rebuilding the very fabric of connection that Putnam once warned was fraying.
In Somerset and beyond, counties that embrace this proactive, human-centered model are seeing results: residents more aware of their options, families more connected to needed services, and communities strengthened by trust.
The Civic Operations Group’s mission is simple but powerful: bring government back to the people, one
conversation at a time.
