Describes activities of various youth councils of the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) network. The activities include developing projects in the areas of alcohol abuse education, community service, Native American heritage, and the environment. (HTH)

New government-funded training initiatives in Britain emphasize urban community capacity building and empowerment. However, lack of opportunities, especially for ethnic minorities, and the politics involved in applying for these funds pose challenges. (SK)

Defines empowerment based on self-determination, collaboration, and democratic participation, and distributive justice. Identifies possibilities and limitations for applying these principles in child protection practice. Discusses necessary and sufficient conditions for the use of empowerment guidelines, and the dilemma associated with their…

Describes the author's experiences during two years as a Peace Corps volunteer serving in South Africa. Describes his difficulties, doubts, and successes working to support literacy in poor rural village schools. Notes the impact of painting educational murals in one school and discusses how literacy emerged for the author and for villagers over…

Describes the facilitation of group ice-breakers and orientation activities that emphasize the individual's influence on group rhythms and the group's freedom to create its own "climate controls." Comments on the creation of the "Being"--a metaphor for the group as a living organism. (SAS)

Through its Urban Initiative, the National PTA seeks to empower parents and families of public school students in large urban areas. Currently, the initiative targets Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City. This paper describes the very successful Lyndon PTA in the West Roxbury area of Boston. (SM)

A participatory dialogue model was used to engage a Scottish community in identifying expressed and unmet needs for children's services. The move toward a partnership model needs to be made gradually so that participatory ownership and empowerment can develop. (SK)

This introductory article discusses the benefits of participatory action research (PAR), including the empowerment of participants in research and the research process, the difficulties PAR presents, and summarizes following articles in a special series on the facets of PAR. (CR)

This report describes several barriers to self-determination for adults with severe disabilities, translates key components of self-determination into guidelines for support providers' practice, provides an example of how support for self-determination was implemented for one woman, and examines unresolved challenges in making self-determination a…

This paper comments on three preceding papers in the same publication on the general topic of self-determination for adults with severe disabilities. The difficulties of defining self-determination are addressed through pragmatism, and the challenges of interpreting self-determination are illustrated through the author's experiences building…

Interviews, surveys, and journal entries were used to examine 41 teachers' and 6 teacher trainees' experiences with educational technology. About 91% experienced perspective transformation, most frequently through hands-on experience, discussion, and reflection. The most significant outcome was the way confidence in technology use empowered them…

Shares insights of an English teacher gained through a variety of teaching experiences. Describes how the Bay Area Writing Project provided effective strategies to improve the teaching of writing. (NH)

Questionnaires were completed by 37 participants in a South African life skills program before, directly after, and 3 months after completion. Factor analysis revealed a shift in empowerment as participants moved from micro-level focus on self to macro-level focus on external issues. Growth in critical thinking, confidence, and control also…

This article details a five-phase construction plan designed to guide students through the process of planning service learning projects with students responsible for all steps and the teacher assuming the role of facilitator and guide. Service-learning projects are encouraged as a means of including students with disabilities in their community…

Social, economic and technological changes on a global scale are challenging traditional forms of knowledge and educational practice. In response, educators worldwide are finding ways to forge new roles, identities and relationships. This paper recognises pressures on the teaching force in a global climate of educational reform. Drawing on data…