Hardly anyone can have failed to pick up on the recent flurry of stories in the national press about the Big Society, sparked off by Dame Elisabeth Hoodless's remarks that funds for volunteers are disappearing at an alarming rate, and that this is undermining the very idea of a "Big Society". At the same time, under the government's…

Economic changes and the machinations of the treadmill of production have dramatically reduced the number of jobs provided by extractive industries, such as mining and timber, in the United States and other affluent nations in the post-World War II era. As the importance of these industries to national, regional, and local economies wanes,…

Presents a philosophical and theoretical critique of community development's transformation into economic development. Introduces a successful rural revitalization process termed "community encouragement" and integrates a community's traditional values with progressive revitalization plans. (JOW)

Provides suggestions on how to publicize the dependent care tax credit. (Author/BJD)

Suggests tools to increase community interest and support for public libraries including a public relations campaign, neighborhood action group, and community board. The advantages of community independence and decision sharing are discussed. (SW)

Discusses ways in which Australian families may be supported by government policies in the 1990s. Topics include conservatism and family issues; changing trends; basic resources for families; and the process of mobilizing community support. (RJC)

Describes the Community Farm of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the context of critical social, economic, and environmental issues related to agriculture and the rural environment and the emerging movement for community-supported agriculture (CSA) in the United States. Discusses how CSA works, biodynamic agriculture, and opportunities for environmental…

Argues that librarians should become politically involved in order to support their library systems. The work of public librarians in Berkeley to get a special tax referendum passed is described, as well as the experiences of school librarians in Contra Costa County in organizing to protect their program. (BK)

Mobilization of citizen participation in grassroots organizations can be adversely affected when grassroots leaders perceive a lack of support. Periodic organizational diagnosis can lead to more equitable division of responsibilities and recruitment of more leaders and skilled participants. (SK)

Consists of the transcript of a public colloquium on education. Major discussion centered on (1) the role of present life experience in exploration of the past and future, (2) the role of human interest in constructing and reconstructing the individual and collective life, and (3) the dominant metaphors that guide educational practice. (CH)

An increasing number of people with disabilities live in the community in Australia and internationally. Many of these individuals live in the family home, on their own, in hostels or in the traditional "group home" model, and receive varying levels of support and care. There is a growing concern that many of the care and support needs…

This article highlights some issues raised at the 1985 Botswana workshop that focused on community financing of primary and secondary schools. Discusses mechanisms for raising resources (charges on pupils, resources from within the community, resources from outside the community), problems of quality and equity, and central guidance and control.…

Discusses the role of independent schools operated by and for minorities. The article explores parent dissatisfaction with large urban public school systems, cultural and religious features of many private minority schools, innovative curriculum, growing trend toward independent schools, support by the community, and their model-building…

The author states that if school personnel would invest more time and effort toward involving parents in school, then the school could expect greater understanding and support from parents. He suggests parent coffees, tours of the school, and parent orientation. (KC)

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) attempts to profoundly change the practice of museology and the role of Indigenous people in museums on a grand scale. In some ways it is successful in its mission, yet other areas leave room for improvement. This article focuses on the improvements that NMAI should adopt. The author also offers…