Describes the activities of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) in which student volunteers work as organizers with low income neighborhood groups to help them deal with economic and political issues. Includes ACORN state offices and a community organizer job description. (MF)

British local authority and decision making procedures are described for community developers. Included are potential ways of influencing the authority system, and problems and areas of weakness that may be encountered in dealing with the system. (ABM)

Criticisms of interorganizational relations research (IOR) and theory are discussed, as well as the assertion that use of existing community perspectives would help to eliminate some of the criticisms. A series of propositions regarding conflict and cooperation are developed from an analysis of selected community and IOR literature. Available data…

Describes how Oregon is using the 8 percent set-aside and Federal vocational education funds to bring about closer partnerships among secondary and postsecondary vocational educators, private industry councils, service delivery areas, community-based organizations, and a variety of other agencies, including the juvenile justice system. (CT)

Examines the information needs of social change organizations using the peace and disarmament movement in Toronto as a case study. The process of information transfer, sources and places to obtain information, information distribution, and how libraries can better meet information needs of community organizations are discussed. Eight references…

Explores effectiveness of interorganizational networks for impacting on public policy at local level. Examines efforts of community organizations in Columbus, Ohio, to increase citizen participation in school desegregation. Urges that resource sharing become the norm in community action. (RDN)

Preschool parent-teacher associations (PTAs) help parents learn more about their young children through interaction with other parents. Current programs and activities of other preschool PTAs and organizational ideas are listed. (DF)

Factors that have contributed to the sluggish evolution of an adequate planning methodology in environmental health programs at the local level are detailed. Areas of environmental health programs identified by the author as needing change include: management, the administrative model, program evaluation, and community participation. (BT)

Author visited one of Liverpool's more recent experiments in community education. (Editor/RK)

This study examined how community organizations can use research to identify community education interests and to influence school systems to serve those interests. A case study of the Southeast Education Task Force in Baltimore, Maryland, analyzed the organization's efforts to develop a school facility plan and to persuade the school system to…

Since the state takeover, the Philadelphia school district has created a new governance model, in which for-profits, non-profits, and universities receive contracts to manage schools. Further, these and other organizations also receive contracts to provide a range of additional services. The shift to a public/private institutional structure,…

This guide for community coalitions is designed to help them assist college and university officials address alcohol and drug problems on their campuses. The guide answers: (1) "How do college officials think about alcohol and other drug prevention?"; (2) "Why should community-based prevention coalitions include campus representatives?"; (3) "Who…

Community-based organizations that worked effectively with urban youth were found to resemble experiential education programs. The finding was remarkable because the organizations did not identify themselves as places where experiential education took place. A study of four organizations examined ways in which they help youth to become more…

The background, philosophy, and mechanics of the Leighton Park Neighborhood Centre are explained. Groups are formed on the basis of friendship and/or interest and are supplied with a resource person who can, on request, assist in demonstrating techniques. (Author/AG)

The fourteen short articles that make up this section deal with all facets of community information centers. Organization, objectives, citizen involvement and standards are among the subjects covered. A resource guide is included. (76 references) (DH)