Purpose: This study aims at understanding how higher education institutions (HEIs) can contribute to sustainable development, by designing their programmes for bringing about a transformative impact on communities and students, and also to examine what alternative pedagogical approaches could be used for that. In the past decades, HEIs have…

Through in-depth interviews and focus groups with alumni from three institutions, the authors of this qualitative study explore the contours and desires of political engagement postgraduation. Giving credit to their respective community engagement programs, alumni illustrate their enduring commitments to civic and political action by participating…

Community engagement has evolved as a respected field and now occupies a seat at the academic table. In the past, this work had often been relegated to the institutional fringes of higher education, its practitioners marginalized, and the work often portrayed as service, not scholarly. Today, higher education community engagement is a dynamic and…

This paper investigates the process of how actions of community groups are initiated and carried out. It also identifies key characteristics of participation in community action projects. Social actions in two communities in North Carolina are studied from a 10-year period. (Author/CT)

This paper proposes bargaining as a useful conflict resolution skill for community developers. Key bargaining concepts and practice principles from the fields of international conflict resolution, the social action model of community organization, and political science are discussed. (Author/CT)

Community problem solving as an aspect of continuing education is traced from the colonial period to the present. This review shows that educational programs to help adults identify and solve community problems are not a recent innovation. (Author/JOW)

A new county extension agent, having community development responsibilities, will be concerned with identifying projects, organizing for action, identifying key people for the projects, and identifying the resources needed to undertake new initiatives. Three methods of community action planning are discussed step by step. The social action process…

This essay considers the worsening plight of the American family from the perspective of major social-structural dynamics, such as decline of community, corporate-induced consumerism, invasion of professionals into family life, etc. Proposed is an invigorated vision of community life and the supportive political-economic conditions that can…

This book highlights the community building experience at Maricopa Community College District (MCCD) in Arizona. Sixty-five percent of upper division transfers at Arizona State University come from MCCD, and 80% of The University of Phoenix's graduates have done a major portion of their lower division work at MCCD. At any given time, 50 to 60…

This social studies curriculum unit for grades 10-12 provides activities designed to focus students on actual case studies of sustainable community initiatives. The first activity guides the students in a discussion about the terms "civil society" and "sustainable community" to understand how the two terms are related. In the second activity two…

A critical assessment of the Canadian Indian-Eskimo Association's current Community Development Program for Canadian Indian, Eskimo, and Metis communities, this document contains proposals for corrective measures. Sections of the document are (1) The Beginning of Community Development in Canada; (2) Structure in Canada for Community Development…

This study investigates how 40 working-class women participate as volunteers in the service, political, and social action arenas of their community--Carondelet, on the South Side of St. Louis. The purpose is to show that working-class women who live in transitional areas are capable of politically addressing the urban problems intruding into their…

Popular theatre that speaks to the common man in his own language and deals with directly relevant problems can be an effective adult education tool in the process Paulo Freire calls conscientization--a process aiming to radically transform social reality and improve people's lives. It can also serve as a medium for participatory research. Popular…