This article describes a year-long participatory arts project carried out as part of a community--university partnership in the South of England. The research sought to examine the relationship between the 'user-led' ethos of the Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project (BUCFP) and emergence within it of creatively working and self-managing…

Police trainings at museums have been a small but strong program within the museum field. Programs that provide youth and police the opportunity to engage one another in structured learning environments can enable those participants to share personal experiences, explore negative stereotypes, and discuss mutual perceptions of controversial topics…

This research stems from our work at the University of Hong Kong that explores new ways to develop high-quality teachers, arguably the most influential element in any education system. Set against a complex backdrop of globalization, high-stakes comparative studies of educational systems, and increased demands on teachers at primary and secondary…

Intergenerational community members engage in making a mural to create a visual identity and document a legacy of care and hope.

Arts and cultural practice are gaining attention in numerous disciplines and sectors as a vehicle for community building, and to promote wellbeing and social change. In this article we overview the links between community and liberation psychologies, community arts, and public pedagogy. We put forward the notion of community pedagogies to capture…

Extension programming often strives to achieve maximum impact on a minimum budget, but when it comes to sourcing local produce, asking farmers to donate sellable commodity can result in a dip into their profits. By connecting community partners, Extension can facilitate collaborations that work in the favor of all participating parties and…

This study examines how a grassroots educational enrichment program in a small urban economically depressed area builds and uses civic capacity. Using qualitative data collected through a case study of the Legacy Academic Enrichment program in Middletown, Ohio, I identify factors that make Legacy sustainable and successful in a community that has…

This paper examines how the structural features of engineering engagement programs (EEPs) are related to the nature of their service-learning partnerships. "Structure" refers to formal and informal models, processes, and operations adopted or used to describe engagement programs, while "nature" signifies the quality of…

Often, the conversation about Detroit features the same words used over and over again: poor, broken, abandoned, blighted. But the authors' experiences in the Motor City have shown them something completely different--a community that, in the face of overwhelming challenges, maintains a profound commitment to making Detroit a better place. This…

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) often have difficulty demonstrating appropriate communication, social skills, behavior, and sensory responses; thus, it can be challenging for families, particularly those in rural areas, to find suitable community-based opportunities. The Au-some Evenings program was developed at a local children's…

Understanding resources available in a community is essential before any 4-H youth development professional can begin addressing local needs. Conducting a community assessment generates valuable information about the unique components and resources of a specific community. This information then provides a foundation for identifying specific…

Agricultural literacy programs are effective pathways to informally teach the public about agriculture through stakeholder (attendee and exhibitor) interaction. Such programs are generally evaluated using attendee feedback but fail to include exhibitors' experience. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a local community agricultural event by…

Drawing from the theory of academic momentum, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between what happens before, during, and after an alternative break (AB) experience and students' reported gains in diversity and social justice orientations 1 year after their AB. Findings point to the importance of considering how these types…

The shift from the No Child Left Behind Act to the recently authorized Every Student Succeeds Act could beckon a renaissance of K-12 arts education in the U.S. Over the past decade, NCLB's increased emphasis on accountability testing in core subjects has coincided with a notable decline in school-based arts exposure. Recognizing this trend and…

Disaster preparedness is a national public health concern. The risk of individuals and communities affected by a natural disaster has increased, and unfortunately this trend is expected to continue. College students could play a primary role in responding to and recovering from a major disaster if they have sufficiently prepared for a disaster. A…