ABSTRACT
All across the country, extraordinary but true stories are emerging. America's young people are engaging in their schools and communities, applying their academic knowledge to solve community problems, and really making a difference in the lives of those around them as they also transform themselves. In one rural community, high school students conduct a needs assess ment and discover that the greatest need is for a fire stationthen they build that fire station. In another school district, middle school children at risk of becoming dropouts tutor first graders in reading-and improve their own reading and communica tion skills, raise their self-esteem, and develop a sense of be longing. Such stories are indeed good news.
