A year-long, experiential learning program for undergraduate students designed to help alleviate poverty and inequality in Greater Houston.

Mission

The Community Bridges program pairs academic study with active fieldwork to address urban inequality and poverty issues.

Strategic Goals

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 organizations in various neighborhoods to carry out research-driven projects. Aimed at reducing poverty and inequality in the Greater Houston community, these projects sustainably build capacity in the partner organizations and assist them in making evidence-based decisions in pursuit of their missions. Students earn a total of five upper-level credits while participating in Community Bridges. The program entails different components in the fall and spring as well as the opportunity for fellows to apply for two summer fellowship slots and extend their placement through the summer.

Partners

Community Bridges works with a variety of community partners including Air Alliance Houston, BakerRipley, Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, LINK Houston and more.

Alumni

Reflections from 2019-2020 Community Bridges Fellow Susanna Yau:

“My Community Bridges fellowship was one of the highlights of my time at Rice. In addition to learning about urban sociology in the classroom, my internship with Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation allowed me to better understand what urban inequality looks like in Houston and the work being done to alleviate it. I am so thankful for the ways I have been able to get to know and learn from the Fifth Ward community through Community Bridges, from authoring a white paper on the need for affordable artist housing in developing communities to helping 220 households receive grants through the Harris County COVID Relief Program. My Community Bridges fellowship led to a funded summer fellowship and eventually a full-time AmeriCorps position with Fifth Ward CRC, and I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today without the support of Community Bridges.”

—  Susanna Yau, 2019-2020 Community Bridges Fellow

Click here for a list of Community Bridges alumni.

Learn More

See here for other past student projects:

2020-2021 Community Bridges Virtual Project Gallery

2019-2020 Community Bridges Summer Fellow Presentation

2018-2019 Community Bridges story map

2017-2018 Community Bridges story map

2016-2017 Community Bridges story map

Issues
Economic Development
Education

In the News

The state of Houston business, and reducing poverty in the Fifth Ward
Houston Matters
May 2, 2017
Students go beyond the hedges and into Houston with Community Bridges
Rice Thresher
Mar 24, 2021

Featured Urban Edge Stories

In its 10th year, Community Bridges projects confront ever-apparent inequalities in Houston

The inequality that exists across Houston neighborhoods has perhaps never been more evident than it has over the past year. 

Community Bridges
Feature Story
: Jun 3, 2021
Education, Health, Housing, Urban Disparity

A summer fellowship is the bridge to AmeriCorps service in Fifth Ward

The Kinder Institute’s Community Bridges program provides Rice University students an opportunity to both study and work to address urban inequality in Houston. Here’s Susanna Yau’s story of how working with the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation changed her life.

Perspective
: Aug 17, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Health, Housing, Urban Disparity

They were studying urban inequalities when a pandemic that worsens disparities hit

When colleges and universities moved to online classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic, student fellows in the Kinder Institute’s Community Bridges program pivoted as well, turning their focus to the relationship between COVID-19 and inequality.

watercolor coronavirus
Feature Story
: Jun 1, 2020
COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Education, Health, Urban Disparity

Partnerships and student cohort expanded for 2019-2020 Community Bridges Program

This Kinder Institute program pairs undergraduate students with community-based nonprofits to conduct research and alleviate poverty in Houston.

Community Bridges fellows
Feature Story
: Oct 9, 2019
Urban Disparity

Community Bridges fellows study urban inequality inside and outside the classroom

For students at Rice University, the Community Bridges program offers the students an opportunity to connect with Houston’s broader social and economic diversity through internships and coursework in urban inequality.

Community Bridges 2018-2019 fellows
Feature Story
: Jun 20, 2019
Education

Community Bridges work demonstrates the need for nonprofits to be responsive, accessible despite disparities

With 25 years of service, the Girls Empowerment Network's focus on listening and being responsive to its clients drove home a key lesson: For any nonprofit to be effective, it needs to continually make its services accessible to people. 

Perspective
: Aug 18, 2021
Education, Urban Disparity

Leadership

Head shot of Jie Wu

Jie Wu

  • Director of Research Operations, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
  • Research Oversight Committee, Urban Data Platform
713-348-3856
Profile

Team

Head shot of Katie Wang

Katie Wang

  • Program Manager, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Profile
Dan Bolger

Dan Bolger

  • Community Bridges Instructor, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Profile