Community Bridges

The Community Bridges program at Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research addresses urban inequality and poverty issues by pairing academic study with active fieldwork. Rice undergraduate students who are selected to be Community Bridges fellows simultaneously study the theories of urban sociology in the classroom and undertake internships with nonprofit organization partners to carry out research-driven projects. Students earn a total of five upper-level credits while participating in Community Bridges. The program includes fall and spring semester commitments as well as the opportunity for summer fellowships.

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. For more information, contact kinderbridges@rice.edu.

My experience as a Community Bridges fellow deepened my understanding of the relationship between transportation infrastructure and social equity, a critical factor in shaping urban landscapes. Through a collaborative partnership with LINK Houston, I gained practical experience in conducting research through design-based methodologies for envisioning more equitable and sustainable urban futures. The program helped me learn about social and spatial inequalities in urban spaces through the lens of sociology, enabling me to better identify and address barriers that metropolises like Houston face.

— Sarai Huaman, 2023-2024 Community Bridges Fellow