This book is an examination of neighborhood mobilization and engagement from the perspective of several disciplines: psychology, social work, political science, planning, and education. The essays included in the work examine both internal and external factors related to the ability of neighborhoods to meet the human needs of their residents. They address the constraints put on neighborhood mobilization by the local and international political economy, but they also show how those constraints can, in a number of cases, be overcome by effective action. They treat neighborhood engagement as an educational process through which residents enhance their skills and knowledge as they participate. Taken together, these essays provide a comprehensive and multi-faceted view of the issues facing contemporary urban neighborhoods.

Contributions by: Eileen Ahlin, Maria João Lobo Antunes, Daniel Brisson, Claire Cahen, Sara M. Eccleston, Jyoti Gupta, R. Allen Hays, Stephanie Lechuga-Peña, José Meléndez, Jamila Michener, Douglas Perkins, Susan Saegert, Jakob Schneider, Kelechi Uzochukwu, Diane Wong