This issue of "Civic Partners" is a call to action on behalf of American's cities. The issue opens with John W. Gardner's discussion of the "responsibles" whose vision and energy sustain communities. He stresses that all of us are "responsibles." Among the many tasks that face those responsible for urban improvement is the teaching of conflict…

A study was conducted to determine what factors account for the wide Canada-Sweden literacy gap, and what lessons can be learned from such a comparison that may help reduce the incidence of low literacy skills in Canada. The study found that the incidence of low literacy skills (failing to exceed level 2 in all three literacy domains--prose,…

Young people must prepare themselves for lifelong learning and frequent job changes. Optimists predict a new world of work with many creative, interesting, satisfying jobs; pessimists believe society will finally run out of work and foresee unemployment and social downgrading for a majority of people. There are indications at present of both…

"Udbhas," which means "expression," is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 to spread literacy and promote post-literacy education among the underprivileged children in the slums of Calcutta, India. This paper describes the creation, work, and benefits to children of Udbhas. The paper notes that most of the organization's…

This report considers how educational providers can develop mentoring and mentor-like schemes for the benefit of student learning. Chapter 1 defines mentoring and looks at recent interest in mentoring; the need for holistic support services; and a link between mentoring and positive student outcomes. Chapter 2 presents findings from the literature…

This paper describes a community service program in Singapore that involves voluntary mentoring, focusing on its impact upon adolescent girls. The paper highlights some of the ways in which community service providers come together to exchange ideas and practices to build up the social and emotional capacities of adolescent girls. After discussing…

Even small groups of child care workers can benefit from clear procedures that help ensure fair treatment and create an atmosphere of security in which staff can concentrate on providing the best possible care for young children. This guide provides child care employers, employees, and volunteers in Great Britain with information about their…

A medical student volunteer organization providing educational activities in the Chicago public school system stimulates inner-city children to learn through positive role models, encourages good health habits, improves ability of future doctors to communicate with patients from various backgrounds, and broadens medical students' extracurricular…

Examines the Peace Corps' early efforts to recruit black volunteers and the consequent culture clash between their expectations of Africa and its reality. Sexism, social stratification, and cultural stereotyping often underscored the differences between black Americans and Africans. Nonetheless, volunteers generally credited the experience as a…

The first stage of a longitudinal study of volunteer pharmacy practitioner-faculty (n=835) investigated motivations to serve as clerkship preceptors. Results indicated that, although the volunteers felt it was worthwhile to participate and were motivated primarily by "internal satisfaction," they were neutral about whether they felt appropriately…

A study of 437 pharmacy students in Texas found prepharmacy grade point average the best predictor of academic performance for most demographic variables. The number of hours contributed to community activities was the best predictor of academic performance of older and black students. Students with poorer academic performance were likely to be…

The Salvadoran educator J. Portillo describes popular education practiced in El Salvador in the midst of civil war. Salvadoran popular education is organized by members of the community who receive it and is usually led by nonprofessional educators. Most popular education is in literacy or at the elementary level. (SLD)

Discusses, on a national level, how service learning relates to the school-to-work transition programs. The author specifically examines service-learning and school-to-work strategies for revitalizing urban education. Examples are provided to illustrate urban school/community cooperation in preparing students for careers, college, or immediate…

The use of recent college graduates as volunteer teachers has increased in recent years with the growth of the Teach for America program and alternative middle schools for at-risk children from low income homes. Very few studies to date have investigated the effects of the use of such teachers on student learning and engagement in school. The…

This document is designed for use by community organizers in creating, developing and maintaining an intergenerational program. Starting with a brief overview of the Maryland Intergenerational Coalition, the document describes (in short, bulleted entries) the activities and accomplishments of various intergenerational programs in Maryland, such as…