Defining Civic Engagement: Josiah Golson

As we prepare for our latest Causeway Challenge, we’ve had the pleasure of hearing some very different perspectives on the words “civic engagement.” Every week between now and the end of July, we will be sharing a different person’s thoughts on what it means to be civically engaged.

Josiah Golson is a local artist and attorney. Born and raised in the Chattanooga area, Josiah continues to invest in his community and in the people who call this place home. In 2015, he won a Challenge Grant through our Diversity and Inclusion Challenge with his project 800 Collective, a diverse artist collective that engages Chattanooga through unique artistic experiences reflective of our communities.

We can all look up the definition of “civic engagement,” but what does it mean to you personally?

I define civic engagement as being actively aware of your community, including its history, dynamics, and challenges, while making your abilities assets in the work to solve those challenges.

How has your concept of civic engagement been shaped, and how has it informed your work and daily life?

My concept of civic engagement has been shaped largely by history and heroes (both celebrated and unsung) who worked diligently and with genuine care for their communities. These examples understood creativity as a means of making the most out of the smallest of resources, and filling in the community needs with their appropriate talents. It informs me in my own work and life to listen, learn, and try things. It’s also best to provide a soundboard than a speaker when you seek to create genuine engagement and change. Great ideas and work will come about through care, consistency, and experimentation.

Let’s talk about failures. What are we getting wrong about civic engagement as a city?

As a city, we need to learn how to begin conversations with all communities. This requires opening access for new voices at the start and putting aside some of our preconceived notions of what solutions, and effective civic engagement look like, as they could be totally off-base from what we need. This requires humility, persistence, and thoughtfulness from our leadership, activists, and institutions.

Let’s talk about potential. Tell us about something happening that gives you hope, or that could grow into something good?

In light of its continuing growth and development, Chattanooga has citizens who seek the authentic connections and intimate work necessary for sincere and sustainable civic engagement. Keeping these citizens engaged, encouraged, and supported will ensure their continued presence and enable them to pour their passion into a lively and evolving culture of civic engagement.