Community Development

Center for Urban Progress
Dr. Padma Venkatachalam
Phone 202-865-8587
Fax 202-232-6151
http://www.howard.edu/CenterUrbanProgress

The Center for Urban Progress engages in ongoing research on economic and social issues pertaining to community development. Research is currently being conducted on issues relating to the digital divide, health insurance for children, violence and crime prevention, and AIDS/HIV. The Center generates working papers based on its research findings, and offers consultant services to organizations on subjects like the economic impact of projects and programs.

The Center is also developing expertise in Geographic Information Systems computer software.

LeDroit Park Initiative
Howard University Community Association
Ms. Maybelle Taylor Bennett
Phone 202-806-4771
Fax 202-667-5964
Email mbennett@research.howard.edu

The LeDroit Park Initiative is a University partnership with Fannie Mae, and the Fannie Mae Foundation, and the District of Columbia that has become a national model for neighborhood-wide revitalization, and a catalyst for broader community improvements.
Phase I involved relocating those University facilities that were appropriate from their existing locations within the University to the Georgia Avenue corridor.

Phase II involved the conversion of 28 unoccupied structures and 17 vacant lots owned by the University in historic LeDroit Park into homeownership opportunities. All of the homes are sold and occupied by University or municipal employees, and area community members.

Infrastructure improvements were made in Phase III, including the resurfacing of streets, the bricking of sidewalks, the installation of lighting and the introduction of traffic-calming measures. The University is also participating in discussions with the city and its neighborhoods around the development of other major land uses for the area. The community will be wired to create a 21st Century Electronic Village, providing modern telecommunications access to the University, the Internet, and the World Wide Web.
The development of the Initiative is an ongoing process.

Phase IV has a large-scale commercial focus. The University has selected a developer to construct a new mixed-use Town Center on Georgia Avenue that will include community-serving retail and apartment housing.

The Washington Post hailed the program as “the most significant redevelopment proposal to be unveiled in the district since the master plan for the revitalization of Pennsylvania Avenue was approved 23 years ago” and urged the City to “endorse the Howard Initiative as a prototype for revitalization of other neighborhoods”. This initiative has been replicated at more than 15 universities across the country.

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Programs (HUD)
Center for Urban Progress
Dr. Rodney Green
Phone 202-865-8585
Fax 202-232-6751
http://www.howard.edu/CenterUrbanProgress

Howard University Community Association
Ms. Maybelle Taylor Bennett
Phone 202-806-4771
Fax 202-667-5964
Email mbennett@research.howard.edu

The University has successfully obtained grants from HUD to carry out community development activities in neighborhoods surrounding its central campus. Grant funding supports programs and activities carried out by the School of Social Work with public housing residents and local community development groups conducting housing redevelopment. Such activities currently include:

• Support for the development of a community computer laboratory for use by low-income area residents at Garfield Terrace Public Housing Development; and
• Redevelopment of 345 Oakdale Place into low- and moderate-income homeownership opportunities.

Workforce Development Partnership Program
Center for Urban Progress
College of Arts and Sciences
Ms. Alicia Petersen
Phone 202-806-4403
Fax 202-483-2528
E-mail aipetersen@howard.edu

The Workforce Development and Business Partnership Programs are for the unemployed and underemployed residents of the DC metropolitan area. The Workforce Development Partnership Program works with regional, private and public sector partners to meet shortages in metropolitan Washington’s information technology and healthcare sectors by providing job training to dislocated workers, new entrants, and incumbent workers.

Workforce Development Training Program
Center for Urban Progress
Ms. Ozomena Nnaji
Phone 202-865-8584
Fax 202-806-5262

The Workforce Development Training Program offers intensive training in the use of personal computers, that includes Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.

The Program is holistic in approach, providing support services such as employment
counseling, resume writing, interviewing skills, job placement assistance, and job retention. The 16-week program assists unemployed and underemployed residents of the District of Columbia. The primary objective is to improve the employability of residents
by giving them the computer training needed in today’s workplace. Enrollment for the program is ongoing and is free to participants.