The influx of middle class individuals and families from the suburbs to the cities is reversing the trend of decay in American cities. Rehabilitation and revitalization are underway in many downtown areas. (RLV)

Strives to create a scale by which to assess environmental values in adults and eventually in children. A 31-item questionnaire based in part on subscales from the Children's Environmental Response Inventory (CERI) assesses values related to conservation, pollution, and urban/natural environments. This scale appears to display the reliability and…

Examines the individual and neighborhood variation in perceived risk along dimensions of substance abuse and usage patterns. Risk perceptions were found to be more closely tied to one's direct experience with drugs rather than a general constellation of beliefs. Illustrates the complex links between individual and contextual factors in the…

This article provides information on the evolution of the building material, concrete, and suggests hands-on activities that allow students to experience concrete's qualities, test the heat absorbency of various ground surface materials, discover how an area's geology changes, and search for city fossils. A reproducible activity sheet is included.…

Explores the dilemma of teenagers, who often have nowhere to go except outdoor public places, where they often come into conflict with other groups. Describes how teenagers use public spaces in their local environments to create meaning and context in their existence. Indicates which places they use, what characterizes these places, and how…

Outlines proactive administrative strategies to reduce conflicts between institutions of higher education and communities: (1) be open and trustworthy; (2) demonstrate economic contributions; (3) consider neighborhood newsletters; (4) invite neighborhood participation; (5) extend student-discipline procedures; (6) invest in the community; and (7)…

Sketches the problems of urban "street" children in Mexico City, the emergence of collective child care arrangements, and the failure of the state to provide for child welfare. Describes community-based approaches arising in the absence of government action. (SK)

Provides examples of the benefits of research in urban forestry and examines the gap between the science of urban forestry and practices used by city leaders. (LZ)

Explores ideas about the causes and consequences of urban and rural air pollution of secondary school students aged 11-16 years (n=786) using a questionnaire. Students thought the air in towns and cities was more polluted than the air in the countryside. (Author/SAH)

Outlines key dimensions of social cohesion, exploring whether societies are facing a new crisis in this area. Examines where contemporary residential neighborhoods fit into social cohesion debates, particularly regarding the interaction between social cohesion and social capital. Outlines key debates over social capital, showing how it can be…

This paper considers the implications of current notions of the learning city. It argues that popular neoliberal ideologies create an environment in which lifelong learners strive for the learning city as an end product, both in production and for consumption, rather than embrace it as a living, social context. The rhetoric of the knowledge…

This article reports findings from a qualitative study of preservice teachers' beliefs about the contexts of urban teaching. Participants were in their first semester of a K-6 licensure program designed to prepare them for urban teaching. Interviews and email reflective journal exchanges with the researcher were the data of the study, and…

This document might easily have been called "How To Use Trees To Save Energy". It presents the energy saving advantages of landscaping the home and community with trees. The discussion includes: (1) landscaping advice to obtain the benefits of tree shade; (2) the heat island phenomenon in cities; (3) how and where to properly plant trees for…

This bulletin furnishes information about selecting and planting trees. The tree selection process includes being aware of the physical characteristics of bare root seedlings, containerized seedlings, balled and burlapped, or potted trees and determining the proper size and root ball proportions. The section on tree planting discusses how to: (1)…

These readings provide basic background information on urban integrated pest management and the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for the control of rodents, cockroaches, and head lice. IPM is a decision-making process for deciding if pest supprssion treatments are needed, when they should be initiated, where they should be…