Current Projects

Fairfax Community Initiative

The Fairfax Community Initiative is a multi-agency neighborhood initiative to deepen the understanding of neighborhood change and to build capacity at the community level for solving problems. Activities include providing community­based training and technical assistance in areas such as results accountability, community assessment, logic models, and evaluation, providing an overall assessment and developing tools for replication. The project focuses on five neighborhoods in Fairfax County: Southgate, Yorkville, Annandale, Janna Lee, and Sacramento. For more information contact Emily Zimmerman or Andrea Robles.

Yes We Can! The Southgate Community Engagement and Leadership Project

GMU’s Center for Social Science Research (CSSR), Reston Interfaith and Southgate residents are investigating civic engagement and leadership issues in the Southgate neighborhood of Reston, Virginia. This research wishes to address disparities in resident involvement by examining the barriers to local civic engagement for residents of the Southgate neighborhood and then developing strategies with interested partners that can increase Southgate residents’ involvement in the planning, problem solving and governance of their neighborhood and the broader Reston community.  This study uses participatory research and involves residents in all aspects of the research project and implementation of action plans. A research team composed of residents, and with assistance from Reston Interfaith and CSSR project staff (including GMU students), are interviewing Southgate residents, including immigrants and non-immigrants, and leaders of local governing bodies by using questionnaires, focus groups and semi-structured interviews.  This research and social change project is funded by the Sociological Initiatives Foundation.