Poverty and unemployment aren't spread evenly across cities or regions, but rather are concentrated in disinvested urban neighborhoods and rural communities around the country. These communities are home to the nation's most vulnerable children and families. Despite some signs of improvement in economic conditions for families in the United…

Involvement of the church in rural community life was investigated by examining the "Fifty-Year Index to Rural Sociology." Findings revealed that 43 separate articles were published from 1944 to 1977 under categories of community life (7 articles); ministers: elite control (4); attitudes (5); beliefs, practices (6); churches (6); church…

Some of the ways community action agencies (CAA) can best implement the Community Action Program Mission in rural America are suggested in this paper. Generation of new employment and other income-producing opportunities for the poor within the rural community is recommended as an area for primary focus. The strategy for economic development is…

Uses question-and-answer format to profile Edna Compton, director of Dungannon (Virginia) Development Commission, an economic development group formed and managed by local people. Commission improved education, housing, and employment in area. Compton discusses process, achievements, and goals held by commission and herself. (TES)

Develops a framework for examining how social capital contributes to the well-being of rural communities. Reviews the educational and social science literature on social capital, contrasting rational choice and embeddedness perspectives. Introduces the concept of entrepreneurial social infrastructure, which adds equality, inclusion, and agency to…

Australian Landcare groups of volunteers, farmers, and other landowners address local conservation and land use issues. In studies of two networks of Landcare groups, networks attracted funding, created opportunities for participation and shared learning, improved communication and management practices, and increased member knowledge. These…

Sixteen essays document the extent and variety of community resistance and struggle in Appalachia since 1960, and the origins and factors contributing to success or failure of particular efforts. They also relate the study of Appalachian dissent to issues informing scholarly discussions of dissent nationally. Of particular educational relevance…

I examine the concept of the community field to identify the structures, elements, and processes that generate improved capacity for community action. I conduct analysis of interlocking leadership among local organizations and recent community action in three Midwestern communities to determine the structure and attributes of the community field.…

This book explores relationships among democracy, social capital, and community-based mediating structures, focusing on Appalachia because of the obvious failures of market capitalism there. It suggests that mediating structures protect communities from the savage side of market capitalism and promote the democratic prospect by increasing and…

Theoretical rationale and rural examples illustrate that local government, directly or through participatory community-based intermediaries, can promote development of community social capital. Important program features are participant autonomy, linkage, and returns on investment. Examples with varying social capital impacts include…

DRAWING EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND COMMUNITY ACTION FROM THE UNITED STATES, PUERTO RICO, IRAN, INDIA, KENYA, AND 14 OTHER COUNTRIES (MOSTLY DEVELOPING NATIONS), THIS CASEBOOK STRESSES COOPERATION BY TRAINED COMMUNITY WORKERS AND VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT. SEPARATE SECTIONS DEAL WITH MEANS OF DEVELOPING RAPPORT…

Assesses Chicano-Anglo relations in Ontario, California, from 1937-1947, a transitional decade for Chicanos in "semi-rural" areas of American Southwest. Focuses on Chicanos' economic plight, their leadership and organization, civil rights and discrimination, legal issues, and political realities. Studies effect of World War II on Chicano…

The report describes six projects supported by the Office of Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Development and employing community action to combat juvenile delinquency: the Mobilization for Youth on New York City's lower East Side; the Syracuse Crusade for Opportunity in Syracuse, New York; the United Planning Organization, Washington, D.C.; Houston…

WITH INCREASED URBANIZATION AND THE ASSOCIATED EMPHASIS ON CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS, THE ONCE-UNCOMPLICATED JOB OF THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT HAS BECOME AN INTRICATE TASK REQUIRING A TALENTED ADMINISTRATOR ASSISTED BY A STAFF SKILLED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIALTIES. THE ONCE-SIMPLE TASK OF ACQUIRING LAND ON WHICH TO CONSTRUCT NEW FACILITIES HAS…

The Adult and Community Development Project (Project 99) was established to distribute one-time development grants to all local education authorities (LEAs) in England and some voluntary and community organizations for implementation of short-term activities in the adult and community education field. Organizations receiving grants were requested…