Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

Historical Trauma: Literary And Testimonial Responses To Hiroshima, Mariam Ghonim

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of trauma is controversial in literature. While one may be able to come up with ways to describe trauma in fiction, representing historical trauma is a hard task for writers. Some argue that trauma can not be described through those who did not experience it, while others claim that, provided some elements are added, one can represent trauma to the reader. This thesis focuses on twentieth-century historical traumas related to a nuclear catastrophe and explores the different literary and testimonial responses to the catastrophic man-made event of Hiroshima (1945). In this thesis, Kathleen Burkinshaw’s historical fiction The Last …

Devolution: The Retreat Of Government, Judith Kurland

New England Journal of Public Policy

Devolution as practiced in much of the world is decentralization of program authority and responsibility to achieve greater administrative efficiency or program standards. Devolution as practiced by the Bush administration and the Republican Congress is not that, nor is it a diminution of federal power and the strengthening of states’ rights. Rather, it is a radical restructuring of government to prevent the expenditure of funds for traditional Democratic programs of the New Deal and the Great Society, and to prohibit states from being either more generous in social programs or more stringent in regulating industry than this administration desires.

This …

Raising The Gaze, Mary Coonan

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article describes how our challenge is to move beyond our current vision. We must move beyond sharing our impressions of the elephant to seeing the elephant within its broader context. This kind of vision requires our joint effort and a willingness to live with uncertainty until clarity emerges through the chaos because we have been willing to look.

Are They For Real? Activism And Ironic Identities, Amber Day

English and Cultural Studies Journal Articles

A new breed of political activist has begun to appear on the streets and in the news. They are no longer trying to out-shout their opponents, but are agreeing with them instead, enthusiastically taking their adversary’s position to exaggerated extremes. It is a practice here termed “identity-nabbing,” in which participants pretend to be someone they are not, appearing in public as exaggerated caricatures of their opponents or ambiguously co-opting some of their power. This paper focuses on three groups in particular: The Billionaires for Bush, Reverend Billy, and the Yes Men. Each group stages elaborate, ironically humorous stunts as a …

The Community Action Principle: Subjects Not Objects, Barney Frank

New England Journal of Public Policy

Deals with the impact of community action programs in the international and domestic economic policies. Influence of political participation on the application of democratic principles in politics; Background of economic policies by former U.S. Presidents regarding the free enterprise system; Relevance of community action on the formulation of international economic policies.

Essay On Community, Hubie Jones

New England Journal of Public Policy

Family and community are human organisms that are the bedrock of any society. They provide the sustenance, values, direction, and protection that make it possible for individuals who live in a defined location to prosper and thrive singularly and collectively. Community is the social structure that mediates between the individual resident and the state and private elites, guiding social transactions between these different worlds to advance and protect the interests and needs of individuals and groups within neighborhoods or local communities.

Devolution: The Retreat Of Government, Judith Kurland

New England Journal of Public Policy

Devolution as practiced in much of the world is decentralization of program authority and responsibility to achieve greater administrative efficiency or program standards. Devolution as practiced by the Bush administration and the Republican Congress is not that, nor is it a diminution of federal power and the strengthening of states’ rights. Rather, it is a radical restructuring of government to prevent the expenditure of funds for traditional Democratic programs of the New Deal and the Great Society, and to prohibit states from being either more generous in social programs or more stringent in regulating industry than this administration desires.

The Microcosm That Is Rhode Island, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"I have visited, walked or driven in every city and town in the state of Rhode Island. Of course, just about any other resident of our small state could say the same thing. But this gives us tan advantage that almost no other state can claim: knowing or at least being familiar with the entire state and having a mental image of almost every community."

Accurate Census Count Critical For Ri, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"In his recent speech to the General Assembly outlining his proposed budget for the next fiscal year starting on July 1, Governor Almond's proposal for a $2.3 billion state spending package will require an increase of $97.2 million over this year. meanwhile there will be a small decrease in the state income tax. Beyond increased spending and reduced state income taxes there is another variable that will affect the state budget, but that opportunity comes only this year."

Helping Teachers Help Students Enjoy Geography, Chester Smolski, Anne K. Petry

Smolski Texts

"The concern to improve the education of your young people, whether at the national, state or local levels, is manifesting itself in a variety of ways. One of these is the national program sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

Time To Trade In Our Island Mentality For A World View, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The 836 residents of New Shoreham (Block Island) don't leave that island very often because of the expense and inconvenience. And some say that there is no need to leave that 10 square miles of beauty because they have everything there, so they are happy to stay.

That type of mentality, of feeling isolated and different from other places, may also be true of the state which, coincidentally, has the name "island" in its name. The reluctance to leave or move across the minuscule box of orders that define this smallest of states means that we turn inward and don't …

Wendell Berry's Beloved Community, David Schelhaas

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Planning For People And Beauty, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Tourists who return from England frequently say the same thing: "What a beautiful country!" True enough, but it did not just happen. A naturally occurring rolling landscape and a climate to keep it green helped, to be sure. But strict government-imposed planning accounts for much of beauty [sic] of present-day England, too."

That Precious 'Ambience', Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Colette Peters, former Rhode Island School of Design student, renowned cake baker and author of Colette's Cakes, was recently asked about her food memories of Providence. This current resident of New York said, 'Haven Brothers! We'd go to Haven Brothers for hot dogs when I was a student at RISD. It was what we could afford.'"

Some Thoughts On Regionalization, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"New Englanders pride themselves on their self-reliance, their fortitude, their independance and, some would say, their obstinacy. Generally good qualities, but they come at a price: not cooperating with others around you. And this has been a tradition in this part of the country since its founding.

But now the 39 cities and towns are faced with severe cutbacks in funding from federal and state sources, and major questions are being raised by taxpayers who are expressing their anger by voting to reduce all types of programs, especially the biggest expense in most communities--the schools."

Love The City? Live In It, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"In a recent editorial lauding retired Providence Police Chief Walter Clark, the Journal stated that in choosing a new police chief the most important single quality should be professionalism. The Journal might have added that the new chief should also reside in teh city, because of the 24-hour on-call and hands-on nature of the work expected of such an important position. It should not take a long distance telephone call to reach that person at home, as is so often necessary in times of trouble."

Now We Are Counted, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"There is an unusual clock in the Department of Commerce building in Washington. Looking like an auto's mileage odometer, it records the nation's population. Another single number is added to the total every 14 seconds. On March 6, the population odometer reached 250 million, which should be the number reported from this year's tally by the U.S. Census Bureau, the 21st decennial census in our country's history."

Providence Scores High Against Criteria For Vibrant Downtowns, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It has been nearly a generation since her thought-provoking and polemical The Death and Life of Great American Cities appeared, but some of the ideas expressed are still as valid as they were 28 years ago.

The second of the five major books that Jane Jacobs has written is the one that captured the imagination of the public and caused planners to rethink, argue and debate many of the policies and practices they had come to accept as immutable."

If Europe Can Team Up, Bristol County Can, Too, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"To regionalize or not? That may be the question facing Rhode Island's Bristol County.

It is the smallest of the five counties in the state, with its 24.9 square miles equalling only 6 percent of Providence County, the state's largest at 437 square miles. The three small towns of Barrington, Warren and Bristol that comprise this East Bay peninsula are usually given just a fleeting glance by visitors as they head south for Newport.

Right now, the three towns are faced with a decision regarding the recycling of waste, which is to take place by September. The state Solid Waste …

What The Neighbors Will Say: A Quick Guide For Developers, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"They turn out at the public meetings in large numbers, are well organized, frequently have a list of names from the neighborhood and often come with their own legal counsel. They can turn a seasoned lawyer into a quivering and stumbling idiot, cause expert witnesses to lose their confidence and invariably add to the developer's cost, both in time and money.

They are the public opinion."

Those Who Served, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"He looked like a kind and gentle old man, somewhat frail, slightly bent over, just a small patch of gray hair on top, glasses perched on the end of his nose and a slight limp when he walked. But what caught my attention was his automobile registration plate."

Columbia A Successful Forerunner Of New Towns, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When center city developments such as Faneuil Hall in Boston, South Street Seaport in New York City, Harborplace in Baltimore and others are mentioned, the name of James W. Rouse is also noted in the same breath. In fact, the word "Rousification" is applied to such downtown developments. It is a tribute to his work in creating these lively retail centers in what were previously dying downtowns."

The Cities And Towns Look Ahead, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"What do you want your community to be? Over the next two and one-half years all communities in the state will be required to address this question, and to come up with a formal statement of what these goals and objectives are to be. And it's about time."

Cluster Battle Is Over, But The War Rages On, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The Chinese have a saying: 'Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think.' For Americans, the same could be said for zoning in the seemingly never-ending war between residents and developers over land development."

Some Back-Yard Arguments Are Best Left At Home, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Governing authorities must contend and work with many special-interest groups in order to plan the growth and development of their communities. Whether these groups are concerned with better schools, garbage pickup, no growth, economic development or the environment, the issues may require action, and often the only way to get the attention of the local council is to band together and confront authorities with the issue."

Return Of The Student Tempo, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It's that time of the year again when summer wanes and fall approaches. In the minds of many, this change to autumn occurs around Labor Day when the kids go back to school, rather than the official, later occurring, Autumnal Equinox. So, another season and the new academic year is upon us."

First Night In Providence: A City That Plays Is A City That Works, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It was an impressive ending to a birthday celebration that will long be remembered. The 350th anniversary of the founding of the capital city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations drew to a fitting close with fireworks on the State House lawn, remarks by the governor and the singing of Auld Lang Syne by the audience of 10,000 to welcome in the New Year."

Haven Brothers: Community In A City Of Change, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Providence is a historic city with the claim, among others, to having, in the Benefit Street area, the nation's best collection of 18th century wooden houses and, downtown, one of the finest concentrations of 19th century commercial buildings. It is this history that makes us unique, and it is this history that we celebrate, both in the city and the state, during this, our 350th birthday.

Tourism's Full Potential Waiting In Wings For R.I., Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Question: What industry in this country involves 8 million consumers daily, employs between 4 and 6 million people directly, generates nearly $200 billion in annual expenditures and is our second largest retailing activity? If you answered tourism, you are correct."

Economic Spin-Off From The Arts, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It was the variety of people there that was most noteworthy. There were the construction men, the account executives in their three-piece suits, the poor, the old, the young, the blacks, the Asians, the college professors and the unfortunates who frequent downtown parks and benches."