Poverty and unemployment aren't spread evenly across cities or regions, but rather are concentrated in disinvested urban neighborhoods and rural communities around the country. These communities are home to the nation's most vulnerable children and families. Despite some signs of improvement in economic conditions for families in the United…

This article outlines an early childhood leadership model that senior Anangu and Yapa (Aboriginal) women, living semi-traditional lifestyles in the remote desert regions of central Australia, have identified as a positive and important way forward for their children, families, governments and related professionals. The initiative--Warrki…

In this article, the author describes the leadership class that she created for the family and consumer sciences (FCS) department. The class, "Family & Consumer Sciences Issues & Applications," focused on family and community action for improved quality of life. It included in-depth laboratory experiences, service learning activities, and the…

Notes that community youth development is a challenging approach to youth work that focuses on the incorporation of new values at the practice, management, and community levels. Explores the implementation of a community youth development approach within the context of learning organization theory, and describes experiences of three youth-focused…

The CICERO (Community Initiatives in Citizenship Education Regionally Organised) combines a British Workers Education Association project with European Social Fund support. It focuses on citizenship education, social inclusion, and trans-Europe issues. (SK)

The Iowa Community Betterment (ICB) program provides support to communities attempting to maximize their own resources and create development. In two ICB projects, Edgewood citizens developed badly needed affordable housing and built a golf course, and Greene residents boosted tourism by building a paddlewheel riverboat and supporting local…

Childcare centers are business organizations and are subject to some of the same issues and problems as any small business. Many childcare administrators have little or no business training, and are unable to embrace change in order to help their programs survive economic problems. This article describes how one community saved their childcare…

Across the country, cities and regions have used community-wide partnerships to improve the educational attainment of their citizens. The most established of these partnerships have seen substantial education gains during their tenure. The community of Louisville, Kentucky has embarked on a similar effort to improve educational attainment. Nearly…

"Perspective" is a monthly e-newsletter presenting news and views from Achieve. This issue contains a report on the highlights of the fifth annual American Diploma Project (ADP) Network Leadership Team Meeting in Washington, D.C. Achieve's most well attended annual meeting, but also its most successful to date. While a variety of topics…

Making progress toward a more sustainable world will require education programs that foster informed, empowered, and just societies and opportunities for lifelong learning. Non-formal community education is an important component of lifelong learning and is crucial to raising awareness, building partnerships, and influencing action to engage…

To represent adequately the general public interest, it is crucial that the quality of citizen participation on boards of directors of community mental health agencies be improved. This can be achieved by providing board members, through training, with appropriate knowledge and skills. This article describes one such training program. (Author)

A program started during a drought in Zimbabwe involved the cultivation of drought-resistant crops. The program made the women less dependent on their often-absent husbands and changed the relationship between men and women in the village. (JOW)

Outlines six steps for building local coalitions aimed at stopping community dioxin exposure. Discusses the dangers of dioxin exposure and the advantages of coalition-building. (LZ)

The Communities in Crisis project in Manchester, England, trains volunteers to undertake community improvement. The activities of a tenants' and residents' association illustrate the empowerment through education of individuals as community activists. (SK)

The Police Neighborhood Resource Center is a collaboration among police, educators, and social services to accomplish crime reduction in high-risk areas. Residents increase problem-solving skills and community-police relations improve. (SK)