Community Development Initiative

The Community Development Initiative encourages Roosevelt students to explore alternative mechanisms for empowering citizens to invest in their neighborhoods and communities. Indeed, the recent financial crisis has demonstrated how traditional, top-down corporate structures can fail American households.

As Americans cope with record unemployment, declining home equity, and continued economic and financial insecurity, the Roosevelt Campus Network aspires to tackle these issues through community-based development. The mission of the Community Development Initiative is to advance a comprehensive understanding of both best practices, and new innovations. Students are encouraged to submit policy briefs on social entrepreneurship, cooperative ownership, community development finance, and microfinance among other topics.

For more information, contact Anita Sonawane at (718) 801-1080 or asonawane@rooseveltinstitute.org

Additional Resources:

• Mark Pinsky on “Taking Stock: CDFIs Look Ahead After 25 Years of Community Development Finance”
• Gar Alperovitz, Thad Williamson, and Ted Howard on “The Cleveland Model”