University Education for Community Change: A Vital Strategy for Progress on Poverty, Race and Community-Building

This report addresses a leadership crisis in grassroots community organizations. It suggests that universities can play a critical role in preparing young people to enter this field, or in providing midcareer education for people on the front lines as community organizers, social change activists, or leaders in the process of community change. This scan also reviews the current status of university-based education on community organizing and social change, and recommends a series of steps to strengthen the role of universities in providing the combination of classroom teaching, field experience and reflection which community change leaders need.