Community Bridges

The Community Bridges program is an undergraduate program combining service learning and research in Greater Houston.

Founded in 2011, the Kinder Institute's Community Bridges program addresses urban inequality and poverty issues by pairing academic study with active fieldwork. Rice Univrsity 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.

Since the program’s inception, more than 300 students have served as fellows. The program’s geographic footprint has expanded from Fifth Ward, where it was originally focused, to more than 15 underserved neighborhoods within Houston’s urban core. Students and partners collaboratively address issues such as education, housing, transportation, financial literacy, food security, immigration, community development, public health, arts and culture, economic development and environmental justice.

Students often cite Community Bridges as one of the most meaningful and transformative experiences of their undergraduate careers.

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