Describes strategies to build and support coalitions for services in an era of diminished public and private resources. It becomes necessary to redefine the client, the community, and the agency or organization to develop appropriate roles for each component in the current social and economic climate. (SLD)

Benefits to the helper are important to consider in a national-service program, along with the benefits to the recipient. Some suggestions are offered to ensure reciprocity in community service. Democratizing help giving, that is making it available to the widest possible audience, could help remove some of the pitfalls associated with help…

The national-service movement promises to become a source of democratic renewal. Participation can be seen as the practice of citizenship if the political realities are recognized. The movement could produce a new generation of public leaders with practical skills and concepts. (SLD)

How to expand to a larger scale a working community-service program using federal money is considered. Planning time is an essential, as are a focus on program culture and technical support. Adapting programs, rather than prescribing solutions, should help in the cautious move toward a national program. (SLD)

A major problem with the proposed approaches to national service is that they may draw attention away from the real causes of and the feasible solutions to critical problems. Community action should involve young people in sustained, long-term empowering activities, not in one-time experiences or in work that does not challenge current power…

Discusses a second kind of national debt, that of adolescents and young adults who do not reach their potential because of pregnancy or other consequences of sexual activity. Programs to reduce this loss of potential must be based on a desire-based climate of hopefulness and possibility for success. (SLD)

Lessons worth noting from existing community-service programs include the importance of reciprocity and benefit to the volunteer; accountability to the community; youth leadership; a multigenerational approach; crossing the color line; and open mindedness. The service movement provides real possibilities for mutual advantage. (SLD)

Describes new curriculum developments, supervisory strategies, and management techniques that were found to have improved educational outcomes in 16 urban school systems. (GC)