Adult education in the United States has its roots in democracy. The editors and contributors of this volume build on that historical relationship and examine an adult education practice that not only shapes minds, but also seeks to build communities of collaborative action. We explore best practices shared in and informed decision making within different contexts of adult education--in the community, the classroom, and the university--by focusing on various aspects of our work as adult education practitioners.

Early in the twentieth century, adult education was often described as a...