Against a backdrop of increasing localization of responsibilities for human services and community development, and in a climate of diminished resources for these activities, foundations have explored the comprehensive community initiative (CCI) as a strategy to direct support toward improved well-being for children and families. This discussion…

This handbook is designed to guide readers in developing a local assessment of the community's progress toward the National Education Goals. It is organized around those questions that the National Education Goals Panel has used to measure national and state progress in its 1991 report. Information in the introduction includes the history of the…

This paper describes how the trend toward building new schools on large sites far from existing development centers, called "school sprawl" or "school giantism," can have far-reaching impacts on school children, school districts, and the larger community.Educators and parents express concern that large schools reduce…

The Episode of Purposive Change Model was used to evaluate the statewide redesign of human services for vulnerable children/families. Significant findings included the following: (1) community context is important; (2) long-term change requires keeping the initiative on the community agenda; and (3) participants must remain focused on ultimate…

Approaches literacy work from feminist and community development perspectives, believing that the ability to utilize print and other forms of literacy is integral to increasing women's access to and inclusion in the language, work and power of institutions that inscribe their roles in families and communities. Suggests paying close attention to…

Presents historical trends toward rural development policy. Describes the agrarian perspective and the industrial and urbanization perspective as current visions which guide policy. Recommends a new vision focusing on "livability for people" and "viability of community systems." (KS)

Evaluated the impact of a civil remedy program, Beat Health (Oakland, California), on drug and disorder problems under experimental field trial conditions. Findings show some improvement in the experimental residential areas, but possible displacement of drug problems in and around the commercial experimental and control sites. (SLD)

More than 6,021 groups have been identified that work to bring peace to urban streets in constructive ways. Approaches that can help bring these groups together as exemplified by the Youth Peace Movement are discussed. The transcommunal approach of the Youth Peace Movement brings together many allies at the grass roots level. (SLD)

This document supports the following positions on building community: (1) as a society, there is a lack of a conceptual framework to engage in moral discourse, and a lack of a clear understanding of the notion of democracy; and (2) to build "real" community requires a means to engage in moral discourse, a clear understanding of…

There is a growing interest among organizations in identifying and nurturing Communities of Practice. Delineating what is and what is not a Community of Practice (CoP) is not a clear-cut task. One specific area of difficulty is distinguishing between a team and a CoP. Because there are strong similarities between the two, it is often helpful to…

Focuses on community-making and its construction in the classroom. Defines and describes characteristics of genuine communities and applies M. Scott Peck's community-making process and stages of community to educational settings. Combines the exploration of both principles and processes with information from members of cultures with rich community…

This article describes one institution's efforts to improve the sense of campus community. Two years ago, the institution determined that this was a key to achieving the campus's goal of improving retention. The article details the planning process, examples of projects, and assessments. The report discusses how goals were achieved or not…

An essential component of community-based rural development is the leadership and problem-solving abilities of local people. The Colorado Rural Revitalization Project--a joint venture of two universities and a state agency--provided educational, consultative, and technical assistance services for a 1-year capacity-building program in 47…

Examines Detroit's economic development policy-making culture and assesses its impact on the formation of the community development corporation (CDC) network that dominated Empowerment Zone (EZ) planning in the initial stages. Analyzes the importance of distrust between City Hall, business interests, and community residents in consolidating CDC…

This paper analyses a community theatre project initiated in 1991 in Ratones, a community in Southern Brazil. It began as an extension project of the State University of Santa Catarina and became an independent project coordinated by former participants, still in collaboration with the university. Aiming to evaluate the benefits of this theatre…