Hardly anyone can have failed to pick up on the recent flurry of stories in the national press about the Big Society, sparked off by Dame Elisabeth Hoodless's remarks that funds for volunteers are disappearing at an alarming rate, and that this is undermining the very idea of a "Big Society". At the same time, under the government's…

This paper critiques the notion of community capacity building (CCB) and the way it is increasingly being invoked in social policy as a way of tackling disadvantage. The paper argues that CCB and a number of its derivative terms are not as straightforward as they appear. Superficially, CCB presents as a useful way of approaching school and…

The purpose of this article is to argue for a social activist stance in educational leadership that fundamentally addresses social change and human emancipation. This call for social activism is framed within neoliberal, neoconservative, and authoritarian populist discourses in the USA, which to social justice educators and leaders had devastating…

A pervasive anti-statism often blinds us to the democratic victories in the past and thus to possibilities in our future. This article argues that big government can democratize society and uses historical investigation to make the point. The study of history emancipates us from the tyranny of the present. Progressive social change has come about…

Informal women's education must be seen within a wider context. It has outcomes for women, local community development, social policy, and adult education. (SK)

New initiatives, administrative changes, and funding levels are discussed in this position paper. Among the recommendations are: better implementation of existing policies; better utilization of existing funds; improved targeting of funds; additional public service employment funding; revenue sharing reforms; and improved housing and community…

Presents an interview with the President-Designate of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges in which Parnell discusses community services, continuing education, and community development with respect to needs for national policies, legislation, and institutional support; potential new roles; and individual college programs…

Analyzes rationales for governmental intervention in child care and parent education. Considers response to social trends, enhancement of parental competence and child development, provision of support to families, equal opportunity for women, and community development as areas through which social goals may be achieved by incremental changes. (GC)

In 1995, Appalachian Catholic bishops released a pastoral letter stating that Appalachia, the nation, and the world stand at a crossroads concerning future development. One direction continues down the path of ecological and social devastation. The bishops encourage the path of sustainable development based on religious values of respect for…

This speech examines how people perceive relationships among families, communities, and governments, and how these perceptions influence current family and community policies and programs. It also suggests new ways of understanding the nature of the social world and offers examples of policies and programs that stem from traditional beliefs and…

Seventeen people from various parts of South Africa gathered at the Workshop for Gender Trainers to enhance their training and to focus on the gender and development approach. Sessions 1-2 on the second day dealt with gender training nightmares. During session 3, participants discussed what could have been done either to avoid the problems that…

Discusses proposed changes in housing appropriations by Congress in the fiscal year 1996. Two key factors are missing from the debate: (1) lack of public awareness and vocal constituency for funded projects; and (2) lack of understanding that affordable, safe, nontransient, and habitable housing is fundamental to meeting all basic needs. (FC)

Highlighting the need for a redefinition and redirection of social services for children and families, this report proposes a new model for social services that can enhance the development of children and the functioning of families. Two essential and interrelated components of the model described and discussed are: (1) supporting and expanding…

Some instructive experience about the potential and limits of a meaningful role for African universities in the 1980s is discussed. The challenge of the 1980s is to convince African governments and national populations that university contributions to national development lie in the ability to train minds and a thinking society. (Author/MLW)

This paper discusses the use of gender analysis to ensure that economic development policy has equitable consequences for women and men, and describes the role of nonprofit community organizations in promoting such analysis. Gender analysis assumes that role differences between men and women are socially defined and therefore open to change.…