Penn State hosted The Second Eastern Regional Adult Education Research Conference, From Generation to Consolidation: Building Upon the Best of Theory and Practice in Adult Education on March 16-18, 2000 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College, Pennsylvania. A paper prepared by Laurie Vasily, graduate student at Cornell University, and Ginny Steele, LVA-NYS, was presented at the conference. The paper, Perspectives on a Community Development Approach to Adult Literacy Education in New York, summarizes some of the findings of a survey conducted in 1999. The survey examined attitudes toward adult literacy education, community development, and inter-organizational collaboration among LVA affiliates in the New York State network.

Two new publications, Roles for Adult Educators and How Emancipatory is Adult Learning? by Susan Imel (1999), are available from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education. In "Roles for Adult Educators" from the Trends and Issues Alert series, Imel surveys current research on the connection between philosophical beliefs about adult education and the perceived roles of adult educators. This brief article ends with a list of resources on the topic, many of which are available on-line. In "How Emancipatory is Adult Learning?" from the Myths and Realities collection, Imel examines beliefs and practices surrounding emancipatory learning and asks the question: To what extent does adult education as currently practiced fulfill an emancipatory mission?

PARnet is an online network for students, faculty, and other practitioners who share a commitment to promoting high standards of intellectual and social integrity in doing social research for social change. PARnet is maintained on the campus of Cornell University. Visit the PARnet web site for a calendar of upcoming events around the world or the PARchives for a bibliographic database and document exchange.

Jossey-Bass Publishers have announced the publication of the most recent issue of New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education #83- The Welfare-to-Work Challenge for Adult Literacy Educators by James C. Fisher and Larry G. Martin (2000). Welfare reform and workforce development legislation are dramatically impacting adult basic education and literacy programs. This new book looks at the demands of the new Work First environment and offers suggestions effectively on adapting programs.