Lending the Self to a Community An Exploration of an Individual's Development of Commitment, Responsibility and Loyalty

Abstract

The following compilation of research examines developments which take place within the lives of ten individuals as they participate in a community based committee that has been founded through the support of a local non-profit organization. Specifically, the development of commitment, accountability, and loyalty that individuals experience through their community participation will be explored. Attention to the creation of such characteristics within an individual is essential in the understanding of civic engagement and citizenship as one must thoroughly understand an individual's experience to comprehend the dramatic influences of social capital within the American culture.