Possibilities for regressive action will be great. The best hope of charting a successful course through this transformation will be to articulate a common-sense vision of development, and establish the intellectual and practical tools for getting there. CSD hones ideas and innovations, creates development projects, undertakes research, brings together expert scholars, holds workshops and conferences, serves as a data base and information source, publishes reports and scholarly papers, advises and consults as needed, and participates in policy development at local, state, national, and international levels. CSD's principal focus is on families and communities at the bottom of society, and the Center engages in research ranging from the local to the international. Projects connect academic and applied interests, incorporating public, non-profit, and private sectors.
Emphasis is on partnerships for joint study and joint action.
The watchwords of all projects are inquiry, innovation, and impact .