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.


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. ... 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

Past projects


Presenting Sponsor

The Community Bridges program is supported by CenterPoint Energy.

Centerpoint Energy

RELATED URBAN EDGE
Community Bridges 2023
Community Bridges fellows continue to advance equitable solutions for Houston
FEATURES :  Jul. 17, 2023

In partnership with 16 nonprofit partner organizations, the 27 fellows in the 2022-2023 Community Bridges cohort grappled with urban inequality and poverty issues within Greater Houston communities.

URBAN DISPARITY
RELATED URBAN EDGE
Community Bridges experience studying air quality unlocked a passion for data-driven advocacy in Houston
PERSPECTIVES :  Dec. 7, 2021

One of our Community Bridges alumni shares how his experience inspired a data-driven pursuit for environmental justice in Houston.

RELATED URBAN EDGE
Community Bridges work demonstrates the need for nonprofits to be responsive, accessible despite disparities
PERSPECTIVES :  Aug. 18, 2021

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.

EDUCATION | URBAN DISPARITY
RELATED URBAN EDGE
Community Bridges
In its 10th year, Community Bridges projects confront ever-apparent inequalities in Houston
FEATURES :  Jun. 3, 2021

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

EDUCATION | HEALTH | HOUSING
RELATED URBAN EDGE
A summer fellowship is the bridge to AmeriCorps service in Fifth Ward
PERSPECTIVES :  Aug. 17, 2020

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.

COVID 19 AND CITIES | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | HEALTH
Body
Mailing Address

6100 Main St. MS-208
Houston, TX 77005-1892

kinder@rice.edu
713-348-4132 

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Physical Address

Rice University
Kraft Hall
6100 Main Street, Suite 305
Houston, TX 77005-1892

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