Loka Institute

"Community-based research" is research that is conducted by, with, or for communities (e.g., with civic, grassroots, or worker groups throughout civil society). This research differs from the bulk of the R&D conducted in the United States, most of which--at a total cost of about $170 billion per year--is performed on behalf of business, the military, the federal government, or in pursuit of the scientific and academic communities? intellectual interests."

The Loka Institute
P.O. Box 355
Amherst, MA 01004-0355, USA
Phone: 413-559-5860
Fax: 413-559-5811
http://www.loka.org/crn/pubs/execsumm.htm
See also: http://www.loka.org/CRN/press_release.htm

Appalachian Focus

On April 28-30, 2000, Appalachian Focus, in partnership with the Loka Institute, organized the first in what could become a series of workshops on Community Based Research with staff members of both organizations, along with professors of local colleges and universities, members of grass-roots organizations in the region, and health researchers. The workshop took place at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan, KY.

http://www.appalachianfocus.org/cbr/cbr2.htm

ABCD: The Asset-based Community Development Group

The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD), established in 1995 by the Community Development Program at Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research, is built upon three decades of community development research by John Kretzmann and John L. McKnight. The ABCD Institute spreads its findings on capacity-building community development in two ways:
(1) through extensive and substantial interactions with community builders, and (2) by producing practical resources and tools for community builders to identify, nurture, and mobilize neighborhood assets. The ABCD Institute is funded by the Chicago Community Trust in consultation with the Kinship Foundation.

Northwestern University
2040 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-4100 USA
Fax: 847-491-9916 http://www.northwestern.edu/IPR/abcd/abcdbackground.html

The Virginia Tech Service-Learning Center was established in January 1995 as an academic unit in the College of Arts and Sciences. Our purpose is to provide logistical assistance, resource support, and standards for best practice to academic and student life units wanting to incorporate community service into their educational mission.

202 Major Williams
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: 540-231-6964
http://www.majbill.vt.edu/SL/index.html

The Texas Center for Service-Learning

The Texas Center for Service-Learning seeks to improve student achievement through service-learning, the thoughtful integration of community service with powerful academic learning. We assist students, teachers, administrators and communities in Texas and the Southwest Region with training, technical assistance and resources to develop and strengthen service-learning.

Texas Center for Service-Learning -- NSA 1.202
University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712
Phone: 512-232-2292
Fax: 232-2299
http://www.utdanacenter.org/servlrn/

The Service-Learning Research and Development Center

The Service-Learning Research and Development Center was established in the School of Education in 1994 to help better understand the implications of service activities on teaching, learning, and schooling. As a pedagogical strategy rooted in experiential education theories, service-learning allows learners not only to apply theories to authentic and practical situations, but it also helps to provide service to the local community. Service-learning takes on many forms. It can involve university students in a molecular and cell biology course on the aging who are placed in senior citizen centers, high school geometry students who build wheelchair access ramps for disabled citizens. Or it can involve elementary school students who conduct creek restoration as part of their science curriculum. Service-learning is universal in that it can be part of any academic discipline, can take place in any community, and can involve any student regardless of age, ambition, or ability.

Service-Learning Research and Development Center
615 University Hall #1040
Berkeley, CA 94720-1040
Phone: (510) 642-3199
Fax: (510) 642-6105.
http://www-gse.berkeley.edu/research/slc/servicelearning.html

Academic Service-Learning (Eastern Michigan University)

Academic Service-Learning is a teaching methodology that utilizes community service as a means of helping students gain a deeper understanding of course objectives, acquire new knowledge, and engage in civic activity.

The Office of Academic Service-Learning was created to support the growth of academic service-learning at Eastern Michigan University.

Office of Academic Service-Learning
Director: Dale L. Rice, Ph.D.
232 Rackham
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
Phone: 734-487-6570 or 487-1612
Fax: 734-480-1319
http://www.asl.emich.edu/