National Civic Review 90:4

Contents

NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Christopher T. Gates

The American Communities Movement
John T. Kesler, Drew O'Connor

Results of a recent nationwide study of community movements indicate important areas of convergence in terms of tools, values, and practices. The coordinators of the study summarize some of its findings and highlight the emergence of a new phase in the development of the civic sector.

Civic Gemstones: The Emergent Communities Movement
Tyler Norris

One of the foremost practitioners in the healthy community movement in the United States reflects on facets of the emergent communities movement and identifies some of the principles and practices that can serve as the foundation for future developments.

Linking Civic Engagement and Community Improvement: A Practitioner Perspective on the Communities Movement
David Swain

The associate director of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc., in Florida presents a comprehensive assessment of the challenges and choices confronting community improvement projects.

Investment-Based Business Plans for Human Service Delivery: A New Model Takes Shape in Des Moines, Iowa
Becky Miles-Polka

Using research indicating that well-timed and well-targeted social investments produce significant positive returns, the Human Services Planning Alliance in Des Moines has developed a new model for human service delivery.

Community Indicators: Past, Present, and Future
Randa Gahin, Chris Paterson

Interest in indicators is on the rise. This article offers a context for assessing the history of their use and presents lessons learned, as well as evaluation of current examples of community indicator projects.

Healthy Communities: Beyond Civic Virtue
Ken Jones, Jennifer Colby

Local-level action by nongovernmental actors is increasingly important in realizing national policy goals. Increased coordination and communication and better integration of responsibilities among local community programs and state and federal agencies are required to make these collaborative efforts successful.

Citizen Participation and Democracy: Examples in Science and Technology
Jill Chopyak

Community-based research movements are broadening the research agenda as citizen activists participate in generating information to guide decision making in the areas where they live.

Sustainable Communities and the Future of Community Movements
Susan F. Boyd

A leading member of the sustainable community movement offers a perspective on the development of a communities movement.

The New Public Service: Putting Democracy First
Robert B. Denhardt, Janet V. Denhardt

The reinventing government movement and the new public management have been among the most prominent perspectives in the ongoing debate over the changing role of government. The authors underscore the importance of democratic values and herald the significance of the new public service.