Focuses on the work in the American Communities Movement, and contains articles on the promise heralded by convergence in tools, values, and practices. This book examines the ideas that emerged from a series of dialogues on community reform organized by the National Civic League and the Coalition for Healthier Cities and Communities.

It also provides a perspective on the ongoing debate over the changing role of government, the significance of the new public service, and the enduring importance of democratic values.

NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT (Christopher T. Gates).The American Communities Movement (John T. Kesler, Drew O'Connor).Civic Gemstones: The Emergent Communities Movement (Tyler Norris).Linking Civic Engagement and Community Improvement:
A Practitioner Perspective on the Communities Movement (David Swain).Investment--Based Business Plans for Human Service Delivery:
A New Model Takes Shape in Des Moines, Iowa (Becky Miles--Polka).Community Indicators: Past, Present, and Future (Randa Gahin, Chris Paterson).Healthy Communities: Beyond Civic Virtue (Ken Jones, Jennifer Colby).Citizen Participation and Democracy: Examples in
Science and Technology (Jill Chopyak).Sustainable Communities and the Future of
Community Movements (Susan F. Boyd).The New Public Service: Putting Democracy First (Robert B. Denhardt, Janet V. Denhardt).