Swimming is considered by many to be a significant form of physical activity with many health benefits. Few opportunities exist for African American youth to participate in programs focused on providing developmentally appropriate swim instruction, due in part to a lack of aquatic facilities and programs in urban schools and communities. In an…

A striking convergence of research, documentation, commentary, and policy in the past five years strongly suggests that an almost exclusive focus on academic knowledge and skills is an incomplete solution. Additional behaviors, skills, and mindsets--sometimes called metacognitive skills or 21st-century skills--are just as necessary for academic…

During the summer, universities have the ability to offer on-campus camps that serve the health, physical activity, and educational needs of youths. However, the tasks, responsibilities, time, and knowledge needed to run a camp can be overwhelming. This article describes the administrative components of the lessons learned from the development of…

This work introduces a model of university outreach in rural communities which promotes increasing post-secondary options for rural dwelling African American youth. KEMET (Knowledge and Excellence in Mathematics, Equilibrium, and Technology) Academy is a comprehensive academic enrichment program targeting African American students enrolled in…

Despite progress in urban teacher preparation over the past 40 years, concerns still remain about transforming programs and practices in order to affect teachers' capacities to work with culturally diverse communities. These concerns include time in course curricula for discussion and reflection on field-based work, adequate supervision in…

This article describes a service-learning project implemented at Colorado State University to assist a South African non-profit organization in enhancing their music education program, while at the same time advancing the international perspectives of American students in a senior capstone course on program development and grant writing. In the…