The Cultural Immersion Projects at Indiana University offer teacher education majors the opportunity to be placed in culturally-diverse settings, where full-time student teaching, required community participation, ongoing reflection, and academic reporting combine to provide experiences that go well beyond the common foci of conventional student…

Describes a 10-city satellite teleconference, "If Not Us, Who?" produced by the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise and the Community Telecommunications Development Foundation. Issues discussed included redirecting gang violence into more productive activities, funding mechanisms for solving neighborhood problems, and strategies for…

An essential component of community-based rural development is the leadership and problem-solving abilities of local people. The Colorado Rural Revitalization Project--a joint venture of two universities and a state agency--provided educational, consultative, and technical assistance services for a 1-year capacity-building program in 47…

Discusses community development efforts in Guatemala to illustrate the challenge political violence presents to community development. It concludes with suggestions for revitalizing community development conceptions with more encompassing political considerations. (CT)

Describes various programs in Appalachia that offer small loans and extensive technical assistance and training to entrepreneurs that operate microbusinesses (businesses with five or fewer employees). Discusses the potential of entrepreneurs and microbusinesses to stimulate economic development in small towns and rural areas such as Garrett…

Describes 1999 federal funding to large general-assistance programs affecting small towns and rural areas (including Housing and Urban Development, federal disaster relief, rural extension activities, and Bureau of Indian Affairs assistance programs); increased funding for Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities; reauthorization of the Economic…

Northwest Iowa Power Co-op, Northwest Iowa Telephone, and MCI formed Pioneer Holdings to bring the latest telecommunications services to residents, schools, and businesses in rural Iowa. A half-dozen towns and co-ops have joined Pioneer, which gives customers access to all telecom services offered by MCI, as well as technical, regulatory, and…

Examines the roles played by universities in three distinct community-building initiatives in Oakland (California) over a five-year period, and outlines four lessons for university-community partnerships. The lessons affirm that the contributions universities can make to community-building are very important, and that the process of maintaining…

The University of Louisville (Kentucky) Housing and Neighborhood Development Strategies (HANDS) is a multifaceted program using the university's resources to address the problems of an impoverished urban neighborhood. One component, the Community Design Team, is composed of graduate students and provides technical assistance such as conceptual…

Describes Tennessee Technology Foundation, a government-sponsored linking agent designed to assist new high-technology businesses. Describes foundation projects offering new high-tech businesses entrepreneurial assistance, administrative support, funding assistance, job networking, and institutional coordination services. Tells foundation…

Analyzes role of "familiar outsider," the "transplant" reformer who rejects personal power while aiding community. Focuses on four outsiders assisting Virginia town's developing commission. Details relationship and leadership problems among commission, technical assistant, and community leaders during development of sewing…

Suggests a few ways in which civic entrepreneurs can foster charter schools. Civic entrepreneurs, who need not be extremely wealthy, can help meet four critical needs of charter schools: (1) start-up capital, (2) technical assistance, (3) safeguarding freedom, and (4) fostering accountability. (SLD)

Details the planning of an education center intended to introduce community education more effectively to Indian communities by providing them with technical assistance and facilitator-type leadership training in a field-based mode. Notes the goals, proposed functions, and planning timetable of the center, and what makes it unique. (SB)

A joint research project of the psychology departments of the University of Newcastle (Australia) and National University of Malawi has addressed common national issues, producing practical recommendations concerning community development, stress management, and poverty reduction that apply to both countries. In addition to development through…

Provides insight into conditions in a developing country community. Discusses the impact of the agricultural program Heifer Project International on a Thai village. Urges teachers to make students aware of the connections of mutual interest and common humanity among all world citizens. Photographs of village included. (KO)