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Study Circles Resource CenterSeptember 1, 1998 – September 1, 2000For years we at RKI have admired the work of the Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC) in Pomfret, Connecticut. SCRC promotes the use of study circles – small-group, democratic, highly participatory discussions that give everyday people opportunities to make a difference on critical social and political issues. In 1998 the Topsfield Foundation, Inc., which funds SCRC, chose RKI to conduct a "best practices" study of community-wide study circle programs. In September, 2000 we completed the study. We wrote several products, including Toward Competent Communities: Best Practices for Producing Community-Wide Study Circles, a large, comprehensive report intended mainly for SCRC staff. Options for downloading this report are presented below. We also wrote the text for What Works: Study Circles in the Real World, a shorter report for study circle practitioners. SCRC plans to publish What Works late in 2000. Rona served as project manager for the Best Practices project, and Steve was a team member. RKI research analyst Kristin Houlé co-authored the major reports in the study and provided significant assistance in other areas. RKI staffers Donna Wainscott and Liz Jones also contributed to the two-year project in many ways, including project management, editing, proofreading, and logistical support. In order to conduct the Best Practices study, RKI formed a diverse four-person team that included two women and two men, two of whom are people of color and two of whom are European American/white. Each team member brought particular expertise in content or processes central to the study. In addition to Rona and Steve, the team included Dr. Vivian Elliott, of Elliott Service Systems in Denver, and Dr. Biren "Ratnesh" Nagda, of the University of Washington School of Social Work. The Best Practices project proved to be a particularly good fit with many RKI preferences:
The study focused on learning about the most effective strategies community-wide programs use to accomplish their work. We looked closely for best practices in the following areas:
Within each of these areas, we sought to understand how study circle organizers took into account the kinds of diversity present in their communities, particularly racial and ethnic diversity. The study also documented the changes study circles have produced so far on the individual, organizational, institutional, or community levels. In addition, we concentrated particularly on discovering ways effective programs use study circles to address race, racism, race relations, and other race-related topics. Fifteen communities and two states served as the learning sites for the study. Nearly 300 study circle organizers, facilitators, participants, and supporters contributed ideas and time to the effort. To learn more about the Study Circles Resource Center, visit their website at www.studycircles.org. 
Be sure to visit other descriptions of our work in the area of community change and citizen engagement. Options for Downloading Toward Competent Communities: Best Practices for Producing Community-Wide Study CirclesYou can download and view pdf versions of this report in one of two ways:
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