We receive more letters than we can publish: we can currently accept only about one third. We prefer short letters that relate to articles published within the past four weeks. We also publish some "out of the blue" letters, which usually relate to matters of public policy. When deciding which letters to publish we favour originality, assertions supported by data or by citation, and a clear prose style. Letters should have fewer than 400 words (please give a word count) and no more than five references (including one to the BMJ article to which they relate); references should be in the Vancouver style. We welcome pictures.

May I congratulate Linda Thomas for not just a stimulating, enlightening and interesting article in Nursing Standard, (week ending October 17), but for having the insight and interest to research and highlight a subject about which I feel very little is understood, or known about, least of all taught to the nursing profession.

This chapter describes a community-based learning project (CbLP) in the Chicago West Side community of Austin. This learning setting provided the context for applying instructional strategies, methods, and techniques that are grounded in principles of social-situational learning and competence-based education and the education philosophy of emancipatory or popular education. Student perceptions are presented in excerpts of their critical reflection journals and learning product samples, which were both resource contributions to the community and deliverables for assessment and evaluation of learning for students. The chapter illustrates key features of designing and facilitating learning within a civic engagement-themed CbLP.