Grassroots community organizations face a major leadership crisis. It takes many skills and broad experience to be Executive Director of multi-issue community groups which are trying to bring about major positive changes in their low income communities or on broader policy issues related to poverty, race and justice. 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 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.
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University Education for Community Change