A study of the impact of school closures reveals "limited change/no deterioration" in the community. (IRT)

Describes the urban decay and deconcentration process in the St. Louis metropolitan area and its relationship to changes in local public schools. Offers evidence suggesting that schools are as much victims of urban decay as causes of it. (CMG)

A Boston (Massachusetts) school that is a symbol of the 1960s vision of a community resource still functions, despite financial problems and a changed community. (Author/MLF)

Examines the collapse of the rural community attendant on the demise of agriculture. Reports results of interviews of dairy farmers and their families in rural New York which suggest that farm problems exacerbate problems of rural poverty. Recommends effective intervention to prevent increasing rural economic poverty and social marginality. (DHP)

Two approaches for evaluating community development are: community stories--locally developed ethnographies for community-led change; and sponsor-backed evaluation using coproduced indicators and standards. (SK)

For 23 longitudinal studies of U.S. boomtowns, the ratio of increase in crime to increase in population averaged about 3.0, indicating a faster increase in crime than in population. Promising explanations focus on changes in community social structure and informal social controls, particularly density of acquaintanceship. Contains 74 references.…

Empowerment as social action addresses lack of control by enhancing participation in community action. An alcohol and substance abuse prevention program for New Mexico adolescents used Freire's problem posing and critical thinking philosophy and methods to empower young people to change their health behavior. (SK)

This interview with David Pierce, the President of the American Association of Community Colleges, addresses a series of questions related to institutional citizenship. Topics include: what institutional citizenship means; colleges can be effective institutional citizens; whether extra money or staff are required; and why it is important and what…

The authors describe results from a longitudinal investigation of Latino immigrants residing in three rural, Midwestern, meatpacking communities. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 43 Latino immigrants. Survey data assessed economic strain, community concerns, and community service access and availability; in-depth interviews…

This study of one neighborhood stabilization effort is based on interviews with 312 residents of an Akron (Ohio) neighborhood which changed from 11 percent to 57 percent black in the past decade. The results of the survey of residents' concerns in this racially changing neighborhood confirmed Hunter's theory that organizations (in this case, The…

This article traces the history and development of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. This foundation has been notably successful in preserving neighborhoods for their original inhabitants and now has the first urban renewal program to be based on historic preservation for poor people. (BT)

This booklet presents ideas based on actions taken by community leaders to recruit new and emerging leaders to join in the improvement of a community. The discussion includes: (1) asking the question "who's not here?" to make sure the community organization is representative; (2) looking for skills, not names to discover leadership…

This paper is concerned with helping proactive people prepare for the future. The future society is considered, then the process of change, and finally, what all of this means to libraries. Several approaches to the future are reviewed, but the proactive approach, in which people help to shape the situation in which they find themselves by setting…

In order to better understand this paper, it is important to consider the process and context in which it was prepared. The paper was written and presented at the Austin conference and reflects the author's efforts as a participant-conceptualizer who spent a good deal of time visiting and listening to as many task groups as possible. He dropped…

Community organization theories are reviewed and principles of social work group practice are delineated for directors of special education. Focused on are such aspects as worker competencies and attitudes, strategies for community change, and organizational structure. The author briefly related the theoretical information to his experience with…