The challenge of maintaining the richness of cultural diversity will be won or lost in the 1990s. Necessary ingredients include revamping curricula; building cadres through staff diversification, new teaching strategies, and teacher retraining; offering teachers incentives for community involvement and second-language study; and fostering parent,…

Describes the community participation facet of the eleventh-grade social studies curriculum for British Columbia. Proposes a four-stage model to identify, study, and propose recommendations about a community issue or problem. Suggests that social action based on empirical research improves social studies instruction. (CFR)

Literature review examines problems faced by homeless adults and children and discusses how recreation programs can serve them. The recreation and leisure profession can offer to the healthy child development through play and recreation, physical fitness, stress management, socialization, opportunities to learn goal-setting, self-esteem building,…

Prison Fellowship Ministries' church and community based Transition of Prisoners (TOP) program in Detroit is examined. TOP mobilizes, trains, and equips primarily African-American churches and volunteers to assist ex-offenders to successfully reintegrate into their community. Preliminary outcome data suggest that participation in TOP reduces need…

The National Park Service's applied ethnography program promotes democratic decision making in park planning, resource management, and interpretation by communities with a stake in agency decisions. Ethnographic research has contributed to historical interpretation of slavery in plantation parks, cultural interpretation of traditional Native…

Illustrates uses and benefits of geographic-information systems (computer-generated maps) for practice, administration, and research in social services. By mapping the location of problems, a service strategy sensitive to the community can be developed. Examples involving child-care agencies demonstrate how outreach and service issues can be…

A coordinated school health program has numerous mutually reinforcing components: a healthy environment; comprehensive health education; physical education; health services; counseling, psychological, and social services; nutrition services; staff health promotion; and family and community involvement. Program implementation steps are outlined. A…

The American Indian Urban Higher Education Initiative, a collaboration between tribal and urban institutions of higher education in the Minneapolis area, was established to create systems change to benefit urban American Indian students. Community participation in an educational needs assessment organized by the Initiative included a symposium,…

A former board member of a New Zealand primary school describes the country's political climate as radical economic libertarian; contract bidding among schools will soon be required. Elementary schools are child-centered and multicultural, operate year-round, involve the board and community, follow a national curriculum, and have overworked,…

In rural Madison County (North Carolina), a project to plan community health services began with 40 community "listening sessions" in which local people discussed health needs and problems. These sessions led to a community coalition that actively cooperates with health professionals in planning health services and trainings,…

Discusses ways that experiential and service learning can contribute to a sense of community for both resident and commuter college students. Considers the theory and practice of experiential education and ways in which experiential learning can involve commuter students with other students, faculty, and the community. (DB)

Describes the efforts of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to foster active student and community participation with its arts resources and cultural offerings. The Trust provides family/school programs, teacher partnerships, cultural enticements, community enrichment, and a comprehensive arts education. (YKH)

The Torrance (California) Unified School District is proving that learning flourishes when the community collaborates to create a conflict-resolution program. This article profiles North High School's efforts to develop and select peer mediators, integrate conflict-resolution principles into the curriculum, address roots of conflict in the…

By successfully creating links with the larger community, one San Diego high school principal discovered the keys to building a true learning community. Community building requires a shared, research-based vision; specific educational goals; a meaningfully aligned curriculum; constituent involvement; careful monitoring; ongoing professional…

In 1999, two schools in an impoverished border town in Texas received 3-year federal grants from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program to support varied after-hours activities: academic tutoring, computer literacy, "ballet folklorico," arts and crafts, guitar instruction, and service learning. Students and parents now have a safe…