Background/Context: Parent involvement in education is widely recognized as important, yet it remains weak in many communities. One important reason for this weakness is that urban schools have grown increasingly isolated from the families and communities they serve. Many of the same neighborhoods with families who are disconnected from public…

The purpose of the study was to make a qualitative assessment of the impact of school consolidation on several rural Nebraska communities that have recently lost their schools. This research uses a multiple-case study design with interviews conducted in three Nebraska communities. The data from this research fell into four broad themes: social…

Results of a six-year pilot program in community resource development, carried out in the five-county Central New York planning region are summarized. The program, administered by New York Cooperative Extension, involving Extension Service of U. S. Department of Agriculture and Colleges of Human Ecology and Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell…

A field study was conducted to ascertain how leaders in 3 small rural New Mexico communities viewed the approaches of a community resource development (CRD) specialist during the critical initial phase of the CRD process. A log of approaches was kept by the specialist to record the significant approaches employed and the leader contacts made.…

This case study of successful fund raising by a Seattle community coalition is intended to provide information to other community groups as they develop fund raising efforts. The case study begins with a presentation of information gleaned from a review of past newsletters and financial statements of the Southeast Effective Development (S.E.E.D.)…

A case study in a rural Australian township attempted to determine indicators verifying the existence of social capital. Social capital is provisionally defined as the networks, norms, and trust that constitute the capacity of individuals, workplaces, groups, organizations, and communities to strive for sustainable futures in a changing…

This manual represents an educational program designed for public officials, interested citizens, and professionals interested in improving the economic climate of the municipality or region. Its purpose is to teach economic development skills, thus enabling participants to develop community economic growth plans. Focus is on four essential…

Designed to assist individuals who need to bring information to citizen groups or decision makers concerned with community economic development, this manual uses a question-answer format to cover topics that might occur to someone just starting to build an understanding of community economic analysis. Among topics covered are: strategies for…

Rural areas in both developed and developing countries are being increasingly marginalized through structural changes. Furthermore, the disinvestment in state-provided supports and services means that rural people are left to their own devices to cope with these changes. Numerous authors argue that the most effective way of dealing with these…

The report presents case studies of 7 community action projects which were undertaken by New York communities with populations under 10,000 and which show how local leaders can improve the quality of life in their communities. The report describes the background, initiation, expansion, implementation, consequences, and highlights of the projects,…