• What We Do
• Center Members
• CCS Annual Report
• Colloquia Speakers Schedule - Spring 2010
• Conferences and Special Events
• Center Research
  • Active Research Projects
  • Archived Research Projects
  • Core Research and Interest Groups
• Reports and Presentations
• CCS Research Project Reports
• Proposals and Working Papers
• CCS Grants
• Community Partners
• Community Matching Program
• Resources for Students
• Information for Prospective Students

Core Research and Interest Groups

The Center for Community Studies is committed to supporting the core research groups as much as possible through graduate assistants' time, facilitation of grant applications for collaborative research and other measures. Members of these core groups are expected to commit time and attention to developing proposals for funded projects through the Center that reflect their current research or research they want to undertake.

The interest groups are a vital part of the Center’s collaborative work, but ordinarily would not develop funded research projects. The Center offers support for events organized by the interest groups and can assist students who want to develop research grants that grow from these activities.

In addition, emerging research areas are being developed. Collaborative research is a focus of the Center for Community Studies, but individual scholars working on funded projects may affiliate and receive technical support from the Center while working independently of the established research groups. This invitation reflects the Center’s goal of encouraging and supporting interdisciplinary scholarship and discourse.

The work of the core research and interest groups is outlined in the following mission statements:

Schools, Communities and Youth

The Schools, Communities and Youth research group seeks to facilitate collaboration around and support for research and action related to school and community partnerships, youth development and youth participation. To this end, the group strives to: distribute information related to professional development, academic and research project opportunities on these topics; nurture the individual research pursuits of its members by providing a space for sharing and presenting proposals and ideas; create a space for its members to collaboratively generate new research and action projects related to the areas of interest; and cultivate relationships with community partners who share these goals and interests.

Urban Neighborhoods 

The Urban Neighborhoods research group seeks to promote the development of knowledge about urban neighborhoods and the issues they face through diverse research approaches including quantitative, experiential and participatory methods.  The Urban Neighborhoods group is open to members of the Vanderbilt community and beyond, and especially encourages the development of university-community relations to derive knowledge that is both theoretically informed and useful.

Community Health 

The Community Health research group is comprised of faculty, students and community members who work to understand and promote health and wellbeing in multiple arenas. Our research and intervention activities span levels including individuals, communities and public policy. We meet frequently throughout the semester to facilitate collaboration among team members, disseminate research knowledge and opportunities, and create a space for team members to communicate and provide valuable feedback on projects within both the academic and community spheres.

International Community Studies

The International Community Studies interest group focuses on international issues faced by local communities for the purpose of enhancing quality of life and fostering a broader understanding of local issues. The members of this interest group are committed to the study of migration, development in all its forms, and other global processes as they affect local communities, both in the United States and in countries around the world.

Faith, Spirituality and Community 

The Faith, Spirituality and Community interest group focuses on the study of faith communities, the spiritual aspects of a psychological sense of community, and religion as a cultural force in the arenas of war, societal conflict and social change. The group studies the influence of religious and spiritual dimensions on people and community life, engaging in multidisciplinary research and action efforts at the local, national and international levels in pursuit of enhancing authentic human development, wellness and community life.