Community Bridges

2021-2022 Fellow Sarah Swackhamer conceived of and co-led this newly-published ethical storytelling project for her Community Bridges collaboration with Girls Empowerment Network. The Rally Cry is a one-time zine publication made up of submissions from Texas youth in grades 3-12. The theme of the zine is advocacy and activism—The Rally Cry highlights the contemporary social issues that youth see, experience, and care about. Check it out! Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Girls Empowerment Network "The Rally Cry” is a one-time zine publication by Girls Empowerment Network made up of submissions from Texas youth in grades 3-12.

Join several of our Community Bridges partners to ride bikes with Gulfton community members, raise awareness about air pollution issues, explore safe and affordable transportation options, and gather local air quality data to help guide policy action to address environmental concerns! Air Alliance Houston BakerRipley LINK Houston

Sampling the City - Gulfton July 30, 2022 Join Air Alliance Houston (AAH), OneHouston, BakerRipley Gulfton/Sharpstown, Madres del Parque, Gulfton Superneighborhood Council, and LINK Houston for a bike ride to sample the air quality in Gulfton. Date: Saturday, July 30th Time: 8 - 10 AM Location: Basketball court at Burnett Bayland

Our new virtual gallery for the 2021-2022 Community Bridges projects is ready to be explored! Check out last year's collaborations between our change-making partner organizations and stellar undergraduate fellows.

2021-2022 Community Bridges Project Gallery Explore collaborative projects between Rice University undergraduates and community-based organizations working to alleviate poverty and inequality in Greater Houston.

Attention Rice undergraduates: There's one week left to apply for the 2022-2023 Community Bridges program! For more info and the application, visit the link below.

Community Bridges The 2022-2023 Community Bridges application is open! Find it here and apply by 11:59 pm on Friday, April 29th.

Rice’s biggest, boldest 24-Hour Challenge is underway!

Join us in supporting the Kinder Institute’s Community Bridges program today!

Donate now to support the Kinder Institute's Community Bridges program: bit.ly/24HC22KINDER

UPDATE: More info sessions on the calendar! Do you know Rice undergrads who want to put their learning into action with community organizations alleviating poverty and inequality in Houston? Encourage them to learn about what's in store for the 2022-2023 Community Bridges program and apply by 4/29!
https://kinder.rice.edu/community-bridges

Community Bridges The 2022-2023 Community Bridges application is open! Find it here and apply by 11:59 pm on Friday, April 29th.

The 2022-2023 Community Bridges application is OPEN! Share this unique experiential learning opportunity with your service-focused, research-minded undergraduate friends at Rice! Learn more today and apply by Friday, April 29th.

https://kinder.rice.edu/bridges

Community Bridges The 2022-2023 Community Bridges application is open! Find it here and apply by 11:59 pm on Friday, April 29th.

2020-2021 CB Fellow Anthony D'Souza collaborated with Air Alliance Houston to understand the impact of industrial polluters on surrounding residential areas. Upon graduating, Anthony joined the Air Alliance team as the Research & Policy Coordinator. Learn more about his experience here!
https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2021/12/07/air-alliance-houston-experience

Community Bridges experience studying air quality unlocked a passion for data-driven advocacy in Houston One of our Community Bridges alumni shares how his experience inspired a data-driven pursuit for environmental justice in Houston.

Veda Kumar, our 2020-21 Community Bridges Summer Fellow, wrote this insightful piece about her extended collaboration with the Girls Empowerment Network!

"This experience has challenged me to employ holistic, human-centered strategies for forging authentic connections with people as I move forward into my career. Whether it’s trying to pick up a few phrases of a different language spoken by community members or educating myself about different learning styles, I am inspired to engage with diverse people in new ways that validate their experiences and open opportunities."

Read the whole blog post, and subscribe to Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research's Urban Edge Blog to stay apprised of other efforts and issues at play in our community.

https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2021/08/18/community-bridges-girls-empowerment-network

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.

ATTN current Rice students: The Kinder Institute's Houston Community Data Connections team is seeking two student research assistants to support ongoing projects during the coming academic year! This is an excellent opportunity to hone your research skills and gain exposure to some of the most pressing urban issues in our region and beyond. The applications are OPEN and can be found via the link below in the 'Student Positions' section!
https://kinder.rice.edu/student-opportunities

Student Opportunities The Kinder Institute is now accepting applications through August 31 for its Rice Kinder Scholars program. Other student research opportunities are also available.

We are very excited to announce that we have selected our 2021-2022 Community Bridges cohort! In the coming academic year, 23 students from 17 majors across campus will dive into coursework in urban sociology and research-based collaborations with our Community Bridges partner organizations. We can't wait to see how they learn, grow, and serve.

ICYMI: Our Community Bridges course instructor, Dan Bolger, wrote a great piece about the program for Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research's Urban Edge Blog. Read about how our 2020-21 fellows collaborated with partner organizations in the midst of the challenges and change that the pandemic has brought.
https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2021/06/03/community-bridges-projects-houston-inequality

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.

The 2020-2021 Community Bridges program has come to a close, and we are so proud of our fellows' creativity and dedication throughout such a challenging year. Explore their research projects in the 2020-21 virtual project gallery! As always, many thanks to our partner organizations for their collaboration and devotion to making Houston a better, more equitable place to live. https://arcg.is/05Tf40 BakerRipley Air Alliance Houston Covenant Community Capital Houston's Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation Girls Empowerment Network Legacy Community Health - Fifth Ward Rice University - School Literacy and Culture Small Steps Nurturing Center Urban Enrichment Institute Urban Harvest Volunteer Houston YES Prep Fifth Ward

2020-2021 Community Bridges Project Gallery

Community Bridges is featured in today's edition of The Rice Thresher! Read the story to learn about what has motivated students to become Community Bridges fellows and how the program transforms fellows' understanding of urban poverty and inequality in Houston and beyond.

Friendly reminder: Applications for the 2021-22 program are due April 30th!

https://www.ricethresher.org/article/2021/03/students-go-beyond-the-hedges-and-into-houston-with-community-bridges

Students go beyond the hedges and into Houston with Community Bridges How many Rice students can say they have experienced Houston? To say they have truly stepped beyond the tree-lined dome that encapsulates Rice’s campus, and ventured beyond the bubble that keeps students shut in and the realities of Houston out? (Rice Village doesn’t count.) Rice’s Community B...

Attention Rice University undergraduates: the 2021-22 Community Bridges application is OPEN! We are seeking applicants who want to serve Houstonians facing poverty and inequality, gain meaningful experience working with established nonprofit organizations, develop and hone their research skills, and expand their academic horizons through coursework in urban sociology. Visit https://kinder.rice.edu/community-bridges to learn more and join us for an upcoming info session! Applications are due April 30th.

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