The Council, funded entirely by CAP Charitable Foundation, serves to identify critical needs of African Americans and their communities and generates research to support the development of new public policies to address those needs. All Ron Brown Scholars are required to make a substantial contribution to the completion of the Council on African Americans Affairs' research initiatives. Scholars will need to complete a minimum of 25 hours yearly of service to the Council. Hours of participation could include essay writing, work on the topic selection process, literature reviews, field research or other efforts. Scholars will receive the title of Junior Research Fellow, policy research training and acknowledgment in the final research report for the initiative in which they participated. Upon graduation, Scholars automatically become members of the Ron Brown Alumni Association, which offers continuing involvement with the Council on African American Affairs Inc. Scholar involvement in the Council is one of the core objectives of the Alumni Association.
Who are we?
The Council on African American Affairs is a not-for-profit research organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2001, our mission is: to engage Ron Brown Scholars and Alumni; to identify and address key issues in the African American community; to conduct research; and to become agents for change.
What do we do?
The Council accomplishes its objectives by:
- Organizing think tanking sessions with the Ron Brown Scholars
- Building relationships with target communities around the U.S.
- Conducting quantitative and qualitative research
- Producing reports and articles on research findings
- Conducting community-based projects to disseminate research findings or address pressing issues
The Council products are utilized to:
- Inform policy makers in our target communities
- Support grassroots initiatives designed to change policies
- Incite change in the African American community
What is the Ron Brown Scholar Program?
The Ron Brown Scholar Program (RBSP) awards college scholarships to African American students who demonstrate financial need, academic excellence and a commitment to community activism. Both RBSP and the Council are funded by the CAP Charitable Foundation. For more information on RBSP, visit www.RonBrown.org.
What is our research focus?
The Council's research centers on issues directly impacting the quality of life in underserved, pre-dominantly African American communities. Our research interests include issues of Public Health, Civil Rights and Social Action, Education, and Community Development.
Where do we conduct research?
The Council currently works in 12 selected communities:
|
Atlanta, GA |
Jeff. Davis Co., MS |
How are these communities involved in the research process?
The Council places a strong emphasis on including the experiences and suggestions of community members in their research. We seek the participation of community members, leaders, and administrators to create a holistic picture of the needs of African Americans and to develop comprehensive solutions to the problems we research.
Why conduct research?
African Americans have been the subjects of research for several decades, yet black neighborhoods continue to have the highest poverty rates, the highest crime rates, the highest infant mortality rates, the lowest primary and secondary test scores, and the worst health outcomes.
It is imperative that current research be supplemented by research conducted from the perspective of African American scholars who have overcome similar obstacles, and succeeded in improving their own futures.
For additional information contact:
Council on African American Affairs, Inc.
1115 U Street, NW
Suite 201
Washington, DC 20009
Tel.: (202) 518-5951
Fax: (202) 518-8117
General E-mail: info@africanamericanaffairs.org
Or Visit: www.africanamericanaffairs.org
