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Rennie, in memoriam PREVIOUS TOPICS INCLUDE: Mary Jo Meisner, Ellen Ruppel Shell, board of policy advisors Alan Wolfe Odd Fellows and Mugwumps: economic prosperity: Wayne M. Ayers, publisher Learning from the Past Peter D. Enrich, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Edward to Revive Civic Life Today Ian Bowles Moscovitch, Andrew Sum, David A. Tibbetts deputy publisher lifelong learning: Harneen Chernow, Carole Taking a Gamble: John Donato A. Cowan, William L. Dandridge, John D. Donahue, Michael B. Gritton, Sarah Kass, Risk, Reward, and Rolling the sponsorship and advertising Lori Davis Febbo, Ben Geffen Leonard A. Wilson safe neighborhoods: Jay Ashe, William J. Dice in Government and Society circulation Bratton, Mark A.R. Kleiman, Anne Morrison Innovation and Economy: Colleen Lynch, Emily Wood Piehl, Eugene F. Rivers 3rd, Donald K. Stern The Role of the Nonprofit interns civic renewal: Alan Khazei, Larry Overlan, Mindy Jeng, Stacy Kaplowitz, Jeffrey Leigh Sedgwick Sector in Tight Fiscal Times Jess Torres, Jan Wolfe executive director Ian Bowles No Ordinary Time: CommonWealth (ISSN pending) is published development & community affairs director quarterly by the Massachusetts Institute Advice for the New Governor Lori Davis Febbo in a Changed & Challenged for a New Commonwealth (MassINC), 18 Tremont St., Suite 1120, Boston, MA 02108. director of communications Commonwealth Telephone: 617-742-6800 ext. 109, Jennifer Armini fax: 617-589-0929. research director The State of the Union: Volume 8, Number 4, Fall 2003. Third Class Dana Ansel Understanding Marriage in postage paid at Holliston, MA. deputy research director To subscribe to CommonWealth, Rachel Deyette Werkema Massachusetts become a Friend of MassINC for director of policy planning $50 per year and receive discounts on The Political Gender Gap: MassINC research reports and invitations to Christopher Fox Women in Massachusetts MassINC forums and events. director, new skills campaign Politics Postmaster: Send address changes to John Schneider Circulation Director, MassINC, outreach director 18 Tremont St., Suite 1120, Boston, MA 02108. John Donato Letters to the editor accepted by e-mail executive assistant & operations director For details, contact at [email protected]. The views expressed Colleen Lynch MassINC at (617) 742-6800 in this publication are those of the authors assistant outreach director ext. 128 or the Massachusetts and not necessarily those of MassINC's Emily Wood Foundation for the Humanities directors, advisors, or staff. deputy development director at (413) 584-8440 The mission of MassINC is to develop a Ben Geffen public agenda for Massachusetts that controller/it director promotes the growth and vitality of the mid- David Martin Transcripts Available dle class. We envision a growing, dynamic center for education research & policy Transcripts of the forums, middle class as the cornerstone of a new provided by State House News commonwealth in which every citizen can S. Paul Reville, Director Service, can be found on the live the American Dream. Our governing Jennifer Candon, Assistant Director Internet (www.massinc.org). philosophy is rooted in the ideals embodied MassINC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable by the American Dream: equality of organization. MassINC’s work is published opportunity, personal responsibility, for educational purposes and should not be and a strong commonwealth. MassINC is a construed as an attempt to influence any nonpartisan, evidence-based organization. election or legislative action. 2 CommonWealth FALL 2003 PHOTO CREDIT AA ChanceChance toto AchieveAchieve Their Dreams This year, more than 720 non-traditional adult learners who face barriers to academic success will have an opportunity to earn a college degree. Through the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project, GED graduates and adult diploma recipi- ents can enroll at one of 25 participating adult learning centers located across New England to take free college preparation courses and receive educational and career planning counseling.They leave the pro- gram with improved academic and study skills, such as writing basic research papers and taking effective notes. Best of all, they can register at one of 30 colleges and universities that partner with the program. Each year, the Project exceeds its goals: 60 percent complete the program; and 75 percent of these graduates go on to college. By linking Adult Basic Education to post-secondary education,the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project gives non-traditional adult learners a chance to enrich their own and their families’ lives. To learn more, contact Jessica Spohn,