My friends, no one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death.

.	UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, Lisbon, August, 1998

The Journal for Civic Commitment is dedicated to growing and strengthening the discussion around service-learning, which connects the academic curriculum to service and civic engagement in communities, both locally and globally. Through service-learning experiences, students come to appreciate the importance of participating as responsible citizens in community life. Service-learning is the conduit through which community colleges help to create an informed, participatory citizenry.

Service-learning brings examples of current issues we face as a nation, and as a planet, to the forefront of academic curricula, and allows students to experience them firsthand. In addition, students examine their own roles, their own actions, in the preservation and maintenance of democracy.

The Journal for Civic Commitment offers research and theories, strategies, and tips and techniques to readers. It is dedicated to disseminating research-based and practical information to service-learning practitioners, coordinators, administrators and state Campus Compact directors.