Rural and economic development efforts are inadequate responses to changing rural conditions. They fail because they are often top-down driven and few influential people are involved. Minnesota's Project Future is designed to help distressed communities take charge of their own direction. Developed on the principle of collective empowerment, this…

Citizens are encouraged to learn about and become involved in land use and growth issues in their communities. Intended as a follow-up of an earlier report by the Committee's Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth which outlined philosophical, legal, and policy aspects of land-use planning, the document suggests planning guidelines for citizen…

In an effort to understand the successful components of small community development projects in selected New York communities of less than 10,000 population, an analysis was made of the Sinclairville Project in Chautauqua County which rehabilitated an unused school building to function as a housing unit for senior citizens. Originally a group of…

ORIGINALLY CONCERNED WITH THE EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN A DEPRESSED NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM CHANGED ITS FOCUS IN 1961 TO STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DEAL WITH ITS OWN PROBLEMS. DURING THE FIRST YEAR, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT WAS IMPEDED BY STAFF TURNOVER AND RESISTANCE TO THE…

Three basic questions form the focus for this inquiry into the educational decision making process. First, can community groups which are or have been involved in educational issues be identified within local school districts and can they be classified for further inquiry? Secondly, do these groups have influence in educational decisions which are…

Contents of this report on Title I, E.S.E.A., include: the nature and purposes of Title I; the uses of Title I; Process for developing Title I proposals--responsible bodies: role of parents, community advisory committee, community school board, New York City Board of Education staff, State Department of Education; time-table for development of…

Discusses changes in education of Indian children in Alberta and Canada resulting from mobilization of Indian parents against integration of Indian children into public school systems. Changes include Indian control of local schools and parent involvement in school policies. Points out benefits of parent participation to schools, parents, and…

Describes the energy conservation management communication network in the Northeast Georgia Area Planning and Development Commission, a ten-county regional planning agency. The authors state that the use of local citizens and community leaders in the energy conservation planning and program activities demonstrates adult education in action. (MF)

Defines community service, which involves unpaid work to improve the community, and service learning, which blends academic study and community service. Offers a rationale for service learning at community colleges. Explains how to start a service learning program, document students' community involvement, and obtain funding. Discusses…

This step-by-step guide, developed by the Global ReLeaf organization, presents tree-planting advice and simple steps to organizing a successful community tree-planting and tree-care program. The text is divided into three parts. Part 1 introduces trees and discusses the role they play as components of the living urban environment. Distinctions are…

Community service is a voluntary contribution to the commonweal that teaches valuable lessons about the responsibilities of citizenship in a free society. Vital services are provided through thousands of organizations created to meet needs not otherwise provided for by government. Participation in these community service projects help create a…

The issues addressed in this paper include: (1) various views of what constitutes a community; (2) the controversy over the quantity, kind, and division of decisionmaking powers allotted to community action groups; (3) arguments against and in favor of community participation; (4) characteristics which prohibit citizen participation among…

REPORTED IS THE CONTROVERSY OVER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL 201 IN HARLEM--THE OBJECTIONS OF THE PARENTS TO THE SITE SELECTION, WHICH THEY FELT WOULD INSURE SEGREGATION, THE ROLE OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO OPPOSE THE OPENING OF THE SCHOOL. THE GRIEVANCES AND DEMANDS OF THE COMMUNITY…

The Philadelphia Commission on Decentralization and Community Participation offers plans for reforms on the school and district level. On the school level, three options are suggested: (1) informal community participation in decision-making; (2) advisory participation in the form of an elected or appointed committee from the community; or, (3)…

A case study was done of the community-based education reform group, Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools in Washington, D.C. Data for the study came from written records; from interviews with Parents United staff and officers, members of the Board of Education, and others familiar with public education in Washington, D.C.; and from public…