As community gardens expand across the U.S., Extension professionals can support them not only in horticultural education but also in planning and organization. Knowledge of community garden management is helpful in this regard. Existing research focuses on outcomes and criteria for successful gardens, but is less clear about how community gardens…

Coalitions have been used successfully in the United States to tackle a number of seemingly intractable problems. For communities that want to reduce their underage drinking problem, putting together a broad-based coalition can bring substantial dividends. In this guide, readers will learn the steps that bring together a diverse group of people in…

To debunk the myth that evaluation is a process better left to people with a PhD, this guide describes how organizations and coalitions can develop and utilize an evaluation strategy to make underage drinking prevention programs successful and effective. This booklet first describes the purpose of evaluation as well as the myths and facts about…

A comprehensive needs assessment is the critical first step a coalition or organization must take in order to develop an effective and successful underage drinking prevention effort. This guide details the elements of a needs assessment. Beginning with data, the booklet walks the reader through the process organizations must follow to obtain all…

Underage drinking prevention has two goals: prevent harm to the individual drinker and prevent harm to society. Modern prevention programs should be measured not by their intentions, but by their consequences: reducing the number of criminal events, reducing the amount of harm to individuals, and reducing the harm to society. This guide discusses…

Presents six steps for organizing community forum programs: establish forum steering committees; enlist community organization cosponsors; involve local media; develop related activities and community events; provide for panelist and moderator practice sessions; and develop forum promotional plans. Includes action steps for the forum coordinator.…

THIS STUDY SOUGHT TO SYNTHESIZE THE ROLES OF THE JUNIOR COLLEGE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING CONTINUING EDUCATION. EIGHT CATEGORIES OF EXPERTS AND ADMINISTRATORS (324) WERE ASKED WHICH OF SIX EDUCATIONAL AREAS THEY CONSIDERED MOST IMPORTANT--TRANSFER, VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL, CONTINUING, COMMUNITY SERVICE, GENERAL, AND STUDENT SERVICE. THE 18…

In May 1914, the largest community pageant production ever staged in the United States, "The Pageant and Masque of St. Louis," was presented in St. Louis's Forest Park. This production, involving over 7,500 participants, was presented not merely for the enjoyment it might bring to its participants and audiences, but also for what the…

Describes "program without walls" for developing community services in rural areas. Emphasizes importance of creative collaboration and redesign of traditional support programs to offer comprehensive community services tailored to needs of rural families and individuals. Suggests practical applications of "without walls" model. (Author/TES)

Community policing and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) are evolving initiatives that can respond to changing social problems and demands. However, many of the challenges faced by both programs arise out of the fundamentals of human nature. Among the greatest barriers to overcome are: (1) the resistance to change that affects law…

This paper describes one effort to establish a collaborative around the issues of at-risk youth. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's New Futures Initiative was an attempt to build formal structures of collaboration among public and private organizations to address at-risk youth. Data were gathered over 5 years from the six cities in which the program…

This document reports on an evaluative study of New York City's community education centers. Initiated in 1968, the Community Education Centers (CEC) Program is designed to coordinate and concentrate educational services for disadvantaged persons with low educational achievement and restricted social mobility. By involving citizens in…

This report explores the potential for and obstacles to comprehensive community-level approaches to preparing young people for occupational and academic advancement. Chapter I introduces the New Workforce strategy based on a pathways design and a community framework and strategic plan. Chapter II includes the following: overview of the shaping of…

Focusing on creating community partnerships via collaboration to support the growth and development of children and families, this guide is intended to enhance the knowledge and skills Head Start staff need to be full collaborative partners in community efforts to help families develop, nurture their children, and experience success. Following an…

In 1992, Hostos Community College (HCC), in the Bronx, New York, began participation in the Bronx Center project, a partnership between government, community organizations, and private groups to develop a comprehensive urban plan for a 300-block area of the Bronx. Including civic, corporate, community, and political leaders, the Center was…