National Housing Law Project Housing Law Bulletin

Community Renaissance Fellows Program Inaugurated

A minimum of 20 Fellows will be selected through a nationwide competition judged by a blue ribbon panel composed of practitioners and scholars who are experts in various aspects of community building. CRFP combines a field placement with public housing authorities or their private development partners with an explicitly educational component in which Fellows will come to Yale six times over two years for week-long seminars. Because New Haven has been the site of much innovation in the areas of housing, development and social policy, CRFP will draw upon a rich set of case materials and experts in community building. The program will be developed and taught by an interdisciplinary group of core faculty from the Yale School of Management and other parts of the university, as well as professionals who exemplify the best practices in this field from throughout the country. Renaissance Fellows will also have the opportunity to talk with and learn from local city officials, neighborhood leaders and entrepreneurs in the private sector.

The program seeks Fellows who are capable of formulating a comprehensive and creative vision, are motivated to pursue it, and can manage the complexities of realizing it with the help of neighborhood leadership. Renaissance Fellows therefore must be skilled and motivated in the difficult arts of community organizing, trust building, network formation, and — last, but not least — the management of political relationships across lines of race, class and gender. The program is neither an internship nor a first job. Fellows should generally have a graduate degree in a related field and at least three years of practical, multidisciplinary experience in public or private community development, or undergraduate study and comparable experience.

Fellows will be paid up to $50,000 a year, plus an allowance for fringe benefits. Travel and lodging costs associated with attending the six seminars will be covered.

Prospective candidates may request an application by contacting Kevin Nelson at the Yale School of Management in New Haven, Connecticut, by fax (301) 251-5767. The fax should include the following information: the applicant's name, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail and mailing address.