Teaching and Learning About Communities

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Katharine Kravetz

   Pages 1-6

3. Perspectives on the Meaning of Community

   • Katharine Kravetz

   Pages 7-17

4. Assets of and Challenges to Communities

   • Katharine Kravetz

   Pages 19-40

5. Strategies and Agents of Community Well-Being

   • Katharine Kravetz

   Pages 41-56

6. Case Studies in Community

   • Katharine Kravetz

   Pages 57-83

7. Learning Through Reflective Exercises and Community Experience

   • Katharine Kravetz

   Pages 85-100

8. Learning Objectives

   • Katharine Kravetz

   Pages 101-106

9. Back Matter

   Pages 107-109

   PDF

This book provides a rationale and conceptual framework for teaching and learning about community. It focuses on what community means in multiple contexts, outlines the needs and assets of communities, and discusses different approaches to community change. The book provides real life examples of integrated approaches to community transformation as well as sample exercises to promote a better understanding of community challenges and approaches to solve them. Applicable in the classroom and in actual community work, the book’s conceptual and practical approach can be used to study community, or to integrate community issues into learning in virtually any field.

• Community
• community studies
• community development
• community transformation
• social capital
• civic studies
• interdisciplinary learning
• public policy
• collaboration
• collective impact

• American University, Washington DC, USA

  Katharine Kravetz

Katharine Kravetz is Assistant Professor Emerita in the School of Professional and Extended Studies at American University, USA. She founded and taught American University’s Washington Semester Transforming Communities and Public Policy Seminar. Kravetz has received the Harvard/Radcliffe Undergraduate History Prize and the Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award from American University’s School of Public Affairs.

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