In the last decade the number of families struggling to afford housing has grown rapidly throughout the United States. Despite the widespread urgency of this issue, there is an absence of scholarship in educational research about how affordable housing policy and programs affect students' educational opportunity. This lack of research focused on the intersection of housing policy and education is not surprising. Housing policy is complex -- made up of multiple programs and policies that are delivered and governed by federal and local governments but also including both public and private stakeholders. These stakeholders are often comprised of non-profit organizations (Community Development Corporations), developers, lenders, housing authorities, schools and school districts. In this study, I propose that Community Development Corporations (CDCs) are under-researched organizations that may offer important insights into the relationship between housing and educational opportunity. As such, the core empirical question of this research is: How and to what extent do CDCs cultivate educational opportunity in low-income contexts? To address this research question, Small's organizational embeddedness perspective provided a theoretical guide for my data collection and analysis. Additionally, I engaged in a case study approach. Data collection included interviews with key stakeholders, document analysis and observations. Ultimately, this study seeks to inform researchers, educational and community leaders, and policymakers about the ways in which low-income families embedded in CDCs access and mobilize educational opportunity.

This text provides students of community and economic development with a theoretical and practical introduction to the field. Bringing together leading scholars, it provides both a conceptual background and contemporary approaches, with a progression from theory to practice. Included are case studies and supportive material to develop community service-learning activities.

Growing local economies, empowering communities, revitalizing downtowns, developing entrepreneurship, building leadership, and enhancing nonprofits — you can achieve all these benefits and more with a comprehensive and strategic revitalization plan. Chronicling the struggle of local revitalization as organizers move from trial and error to effective revitalization strategies, Promoting Sustainable Local and Community Economic Development documents the current transformation in community revitalization from market-based incentives to mixed strategies of public sector learning, partnerships, and community capacity. Knowledge about the field and what works is growing, but not always publicized and readily accessible. This reference surveys the breadth of innovative place and people development practices, presenting lessons and examples at a general and textured level, putting information about innovative ways to change, influence, and improve the economic development process within easy reach. Roland Anglin brings his unique vantage point to the topic; his experience as a practitioner and applied academic allowed him to see how community economic development practices grow over time in size, scale, and impact. He highlights the difference between what is now termed community economic development (CED) and traditional local economic development practice, specifically the priority placed on community involvement in economic development partnerships between the private sector and government. The book includes case studies that demonstrate what has and has not worked in revitalization efforts, as well as how active public and private sector partnerships have been the most effective in revitalization efforts. A Resource Guide is included at the end of the book for readers who may want a more expansive understanding of community economic development.

Comprehensive and practical, this textbook enables students to connect academic study and professional know-how, and demonstrates how to best plan the rebuilding, revitalization and development of communities utilizing a wide variety of economic and strategic tools. Features include; chapter outlines, text boxes, key words and references.