The role of teachers, teacher educators, researchers, program planners, and advocates in the somewhat unfocused field of adult literacy is discussed. They are invited to focus on three directions: shifting focus to families and communities, knowledge development, and multilevel collaboration. (Contains 10 references.) (LB)

Describes the development of Proyecto Aurora, a program to develop and implement educational, support, and research programs to benefit low-income women in Puerto Rico. Portraits of some clients illustrate the rewards and challenges of working with this community and furthering their educational experiences and opportunities. (SLD)

In Brattleboro (Vermont), adventure activities contributed to efforts of the police department to move to a more cooperative model of community policing. Adventure-based workshops helped officers to build unified teams with common goals and develop trust, empathy, and communication skills, while police-sponsored adventure activities forged links…

Describes two projects aimed at improving child development. Both the "School-Age Child Care" project and the "Parenting the First Year" project were replicated over 50 times as a means of moving 100 communities to action for child development. The diffusion model of outreach is contrasted with the knowledge generation process…

High school students surveyed 200 businesses in Immokalee, Florida, using the findings to create a business directory. Students learned about elementary statistics, interviewing, public relations, and data reporting. The project benefitted school-community relations and made students more aware of their community. (SK)

Describes an externally funded program that enabled twelve urban elementary schools to expand community outreach by hiring community residents and a program coordinator who worked with service agencies and teachers to develop a wide variety of activities catering to students and neighborhood members. One school's program is profiled. (Author/MSE)

Examines e-mail as a viable instructional tool to enable preservice teachers to bridge multicultural-education theory and practice. Explores students' construction of knowledge about diversity, and considers the development of community, professional and personal links between Saginaw Valley State University and Purdue University students…

Presents findings from an evaluation of an entrepreneurship and community economic-development initiative in three Chicago (Illinois) public high schools. Two schools were quite satisfied with the program's implementation, but it was difficult to document improvements in student outcomes. Discusses difficulties in evaluating this type of project.…

Outlines the development of a leadership-training center at James Sprunt Community College. A community-based programming (CBP) model was followed to encourage community input, support, and participation in the process. CBP is recommended as a way for other colleges to collaborate with their communities on issue definition and resolution. (VWC)

Describes a college organization created to establish a partnership between Trinity College (Connecticut) faculty and students and neighborhood organizing groups. Reviews how faculty and student research skills are used to gather information for prospective projects, organization and actions taken as a result, and basic assumptions underlying the…

An assessment of four community-based agricultural initiatives in South Africa's former Black Homelands indicates that the success of such ventures in terms of community self-reliance, job creation, and poverty alleviation depends upon access to markets; community resources and infrastructure; and training and technical assistance provided by…

Presents a brief summary of the development and impact of a project at Yorkshire's Sheffield Hallam University which participates with the local literacy program to increase access to higher education for members of minority communities. Discusses the national context; Sheffield's five community literacy campaigns (African-Caribbean, Bangladeshi,…

Examines how children in a Milan (Italy) district involved themselves in urban planning when a new freeway was planned near their school. It describes the children's work with architects experienced in environmental education to research the issues, create maps and models of local streets, and present their findings to the community and the mayor.…

Schuykill County, Pennsylvania, has launched a coordinated community development effort with six areas of focus (economic development, education, infrastructure, quality of life, government, and private-sector leadership) and four overall goals: job creation, increased earnings, improved education, and lowered poverty rate. Interlinked projects…

Examines theoretical and conceptual issues around promoting the growth of virtual learning communities and considers issues around using communication technologies in formal and informal learning environments. Highlights include: the theoretical context of community; categories for examining virtual learning communities; emphases of virtual…