The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of University Partnerships administers the Community Development Work Study Program (CDWSP) to help academic institutions attract more minority and economically disadvantaged students to participate in planning and community development work study programs. Universities throughout the United States utilize this program to offer financial aid and work experience to students enrolled in full-time graduate community development work study programs.

The Howard University 2005-2007 CDWSP engages three students from two academic departments in community building internships over the two-year grant period. Students have been selected from the Master of Arts in Urban Economics program in the Department of Economics and the Master of Arts in Public Administration (MAPA) Program in the Department of Political Science. All students begin the program in the first semester of the two-year degree program.

CDWSP students are required to complete three internship rotations over the grant period: Rotation—academic year 1; Rotation 2—the summer after year one of study; and Rotation 3—academic year 2.

Students are placed at several local public and community-based agencies involved in community building work through the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area and surrounding counties. Agency partners include the Coalition for Environmentally Safe Communities, Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development, District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development, District of Columbia Habitat for Humanity, Housing Counseling Services, Prince George’s County Community Economic Development Corporation, Mid-City Business Association, Last Word Production, Inc./WHUT-TV, Wider Opportunities for Women, Offices of Neighborhood Services-Ward 8, Rainbow Push, Baltimore Community Lending, Inc., and Washington Area Community Investment Fund. Additional agencies may be added throughout the grant period.

The program is administered by the Howard University Center for Urban Progress (CUP). Dr. Lorenzo Morris, Chair and Professor of Political Science and Dr. Rodney D. Green, CUP Executive Director and Professor of Economics, serve as co-Principal Investigators on the grant. They are supported administratively by Dr. Janet Griffin-Graves, who serves as the CDWSP Program Coordinator. Departmental personnel serve as academic advisors and recommend eligible students to the program.

The Center for Urban Progress, through its extensive network of community organizations and its national stature, assists students directly in appropriate post-graduation placements in permanent community-building jobs. Through the placement component of CUP’s website, students and community-building organizations can access important resources to aid in their respective needs for appropriate placements and job applicants. CDWSP graduates will have permanent access to this website.

To request information about this program, contact
Janet Griffin-Graves, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Jrgriffin-graves@howard.edu
202-865-8582