Why civic life works differently in America’s rural south

Why civic life works differently in America’s rural south Learn about why civic life works differently in America’s Rural South with Rebecca Nesbit and Laurie E. Paarlberg. Why do some rural communities develop strong traditions of volunteering while others struggle to sustain civic participation (Paarlberg et al. 2022)?. Many explanations focus on individuals – their education, income, or personal values. But our research suggests that local organizations and community culture also shape whether people volunteer. Churches, nonprofits, schools, businesses, and local governments all influence how people connect to one another and respond to community needs.