Name
Block 3: Community Bridges
Date & Time
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM
Location Name
International 4
Focus Area
Addressing systemic inequities and wicked societal problems
Session Type
Promising Practice (two 20-minute sessions per block)
Description

How can students contribute to communities through the utilization of university resources and research? Explore how the Community Bridges program at Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research addresses urban inequality by pairing academic study with active fieldwork. Rice undergraduate students selected to be Community Bridges fellows simultaneously study the theories and practices of urban sociology in the classroom and undertake internships with nonprofit organizations to carry out research-driven projects. These projects sustainably expand Community Bridges partner organizations’ ability to make evidence-based decisions in pursuit of their missions. The program serves over 15 underserved neighborhoods within Houston’s urban core. In this session, participants will receive a general program overview, implementation tactics, and feedback from participating students and partnering community organizations.