This chapter describes how the author became an academic political educator and community organizer, with both worlds always working with, against, and for each other.

One of the central tenets of the neoliberal world view is that there is no alternative to market-based societies with their focus on competition, individualism, and the abandonment of social safety nets and environmental protections. This vision has become the new common sense. As neoliberal policies and practices have spread across the planet,…

In this article, Michael McAfee and Mauricio Torre reflect on the successes and challenges of the Promise Neighborhoods movement as it works toward education equity, and on what it takes to effect large-scale, sustainable change for low-income communities and communities of color. Together they discuss the Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood project…

This article describes the community organizing role of an Extension educator and a research faculty to enable young children in a resource-limited community to start savings accounts and to save regularly through a school-based savings effort. The study explored whether children from low-income communities are capable of saving money regularly…

The Learning Partnership (TLP) initiated a Family and Community Engagement Strategy (FACES) initiative in three Ontario communities to foster active and responsive relationships among community partners and enhanced family engagement in transitions to school. A case study research design, grounded in participatory action research, was used to…

This article discusses the Women Making a Difference programme that has provided hundreds of women in Wales the skills they need to become decision-makers in their communities. The project is all about tapping into women's desire to make a difference in their communities, and getting women who, in most cases, are already active at grassroots level…

Through cross-disciplinary and participatory processes involving key stakeholders from the Zambian education sector, as well as from the traditional leadership structure, a localized HIV/AIDS-prevention strategy, Interactive School and Community Approach (ISACA), was developed and implemented throughout one province between 2002 and 2006. The…

Life in the Community is an action research project with three objectives: (1) To work with four organisations from the third sector to improve the daytime opportunities for up to 40 people with higher support needs and help them to be more included in the life of a community; (2) To develop the capacity of organisations in the not-for-profit…

Discusses the need for coordination of child welfare services at the local level to prevent and detect child abuse and neglect, defines two steps necessary for coordination, and describes current efforts towards coordination in Massachusetts. (ED)

This report presents a description of the Jackson, Michigan site of the Child and Family Resource Program (CFRP), Head Start-affiliated program designed to promote community and family involvement in fostering optimum development of preschool children. The Jackson site is one of 11 demonstration sites of the national CFRP. The local program was…

Identification, coordination, and development of community resources for career education projects are discussed in this guidebook. Topics discussed include the following: (1) the role of the community resource coordinator; (2) community resources (available people, materials, and services that are useful and valuable for educational purposes);…

This report reviews legislatively mandated linkages between prime sponsors and local education agencies (LEAs) in providing employment, education, and training for youth. The legislation discussed includes (1) the 1977 Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act (YEDPA), (2) the Young Adult Conservation Corps, (3) the Youth Incentive…

This report provides an overview of the activities funded in 1994 by states using funds available for quality improvement and supply building in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Information on the activities was obtained through mail surveys conducted by the National Child Care Information Center with 45 states and territories…

A framework for the development of adult education within the community development process is presented, based on a three-year project in England that experimented with a number of approaches. The network system suggested involves: (1) an organizational model for adult education provision in a community development setting which may be adopted…

This project attempts to show that a coordinated, data based planning process for youth services can be developed and it will be effective in lessening the frustrations and alienation of young people. (Author/AM)