Outmigration in the rural Upper Midwest prompted a group of citizens and University of South Dakota faculty to form the Center for the Advancement of Rural Communities (ARC). ARC considers how to stimulate traditionally competitive and isolated South Dakota peoples to collaborate for economic, social, educational, political, and cultural gains. As…

The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) at Mississippi State University fosters innovative approaches to sustainable rural development and builds collaborative networks among agencies, institutions, and communities. The center's key goals are to: 1) strengthen and support the capacity of Southern land-grant institutions and their partners to…

A 5-year collaborative project between Missouri, Michigan State, and Nebraska Universities to provide new opportunities for rural community self-development through sustainable agriculture had mixed results. This happened because community members did not understand the principles of sustainability, and because the extension education system was…

The Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI) is a national program that supports the efforts of community colleges in distressed rural areas to move their people and communities toward prosperity. RCCI's goals are increasing access to education and developing regional economies. RCCI demonstration sites have produced a wealth of information about…

The Duke Endowment's Program for the Rural Carolinas is a 5-year effort to assist the revitalization of rural communities. Guiding principles of the program are that the rural Carolinas matter, this generation of workers matters, effective community development involves the entire community, solutions must be locally determined, healthy…

This report synthesizes findings and recommendations presented at the Southern Rural Labor Force Conference held in New Orleans in October 1998. Recognizing that the South's recent economic prosperity resides primarily in metropolitan areas, this report focuses on the readiness of the rural South to work in the future and on ways to improve the…

Over 250 rural leaders attended the conference "Beyond Agriculture: New Policies for Rural America," held in Kansas City (Missouri) in April 2000. The conference began with an assessment of where the rural economy and rural policy are headed in the new century. Speakers suggested that the rural economy is likely to remain a mix of…

Under New Mexico's constitution, the State Land Office administers 9 million acres of surface and 13 million acres of mineral rights for its beneficiaries. Each acre of land or mineral rights is designated to a specific beneficiary, with public schools receiving most of revenues. This annual report for fiscal year 1999-2000 details these revenues…

The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) is one of four regional rural development centers in the nation. SRDC coordinates rural development research and extension education programs cooperatively with the 29 land-grant institutions in 13 Southern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This annual report outlines activities undertaken by…

Rural communities with populations of under 15,000 are the least resilient to negative economic shocks, but local initiatives can reduce the negative impact of rapid economic change. Data from a study of three rural Australian communities and one "community-of-common-purpose" were used to develop a model of how the informal learning…

Participation has been accepted as an always desirable methodology in seeking development with rather than for the people. This paper explores some of the limitations of participation as it relates to planning and implementing nonformal education projects. The author focuses on six broad issues that relate to project participation. (SSH)

Describes two Tanzanian reform programs: Education for Self-Reliance and Decentralization. The first supports programs to make education relevant to rural life, correct elitist biases, and improve students' attitudes toward rural living. The second, already instituted in primary and adult education, seeks to promote community participation in…

Compares the attitudes of newcomers to rural areas from cities with those of rural newcomers and rural residents on several growth and development issues. The research suggests that rural newcomers may be more likely to function as advocates of change in a local situation than former urbanites. (Author/CT)

In a question-and-answer format Henry H. Krevor, Executive Director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, reports on the present status of the commission and the region and comments on prospects for the future. (Author/DS)

Highlights the role that innovative rural public library services can play in the development process of Nigeria to improve rural users' literacy and education and enhance their ability to use practical information relevant to their daily lives. Discusses information needs in rural Nigeria and the role of the rural librarian. (Author/LRW)