A community forum provides a setting and a structure for people to deliberate on issues. School district forums organized by the Center for School Study Councils are characterized by diverse participation; and a structure that encourages deliberation and clear outcomes. (MLF)

Researchers have identified several key competencies of resilient children, including social and intellectual competence, ability to plan and set realistic goals, and resourcefulness. These areas of competency are not predestined but can be learned in families, schools, and communities. Educators can work with others to enhance conditions in…

Insights from focus groups from nine rural and urban areas served by the Mid-Hudson Library System (New York State) show that nobody dislikes libraries, but many people have almost forgotten that they exist. By drawing on perspectives of different social groups, libraries can develop new approaches to building their audiences. (SLD)

After 13 years of rebelling against alleged public school transgressions of parental rights, Citizens for Excellence in Education is promoting reconciliation with public school educators. Actions include focusing rhetoric on solutions, not problems; developing biblical support papers to guide Christian conduct; and promoting improvement-oriented…

The nature of villagers' involvement during community theater programs initiated and implemented by some Malawi nongovernmental organizations was analyzed. Findings indicate that, contrary to the purposes of community theater, the productions were planned and remotely controlled from outside the community. (Contains 22 references.) (JOW)

Suggests that Lesotho's environmental concerns need support from the education system and that more emphasis should be placed on active human participation in preventing and solving environmental problems. (JOW)

Introduces PBS programs, projects, and publications including "NOVA", "ZOOM", "Evolution", "Building Big", and "A Science Odyssey". Includes suggestions on how to choose a segment of a television program and using multimedia resources. (YDS)

Describes a community building self-assessment tool which allows schools to continuously assess community outreach efforts and serves as a guide for outreach planning. Broad findings are reported along with implications at the state level. This article is a Washington Environmental Education Model Schools Program final report. (AIM)

This article, written by four undergraduates with extensive experience in community-based research (CBR), summarizes each author's project and offers their views on conditions necessary for CBR success and benefits of CBR for students. (Author)

Community career partnerships can draw into working alignment the critical aspects of career development for students (K-16) and the key social contexts that either promote or inhibit growth. This article describes challenges faced by practitioners when attempting to create and implement a community career partnership. (Contains 34 references and…

Describes a research methodology that combines oral history and grounded theory procedures, suggesting its usefulness in studying race, gender, and class. Also notes that it supports one university's approach to race, gender, and class studies as a foundation for strategizing social change/social justice. Examines the connections between oral…

Alumni clubs and the alumni administrators on campus who help organize them have found that community work provides the added purpose that some groups have traditionally lacked. A community service goal can galvanize a diverse group, sustain loyalty, and extend the reach and reputation of even the most prominent institution. (MLW)

Describes the work of itinerant librarians in the United States who organized library collections across the country from 1887-1915. Positive results included the widespread adoption of standard classification and cataloging schemes and the training of local librarians. However, low salaries and the practice of employing untrained people were also…

Describes a Houston, Texas, school superintendent's effort to establish a shelter for homeless and unattended children. The project, depending on support from community agencies and featuring a modest budget, received board approval through June 1989. (MLH)

Planning teams trained to facilitate the Institute for Development of Educational Activities, Inc. (IDEA) school improvement program headed pilot programs at nine Oklahoma City schools. This paper summarizes a study examining the program's implementation process, its contribution to participating schools, and benefits for future participants.…