Nearly 20% (110,000) of Washington DC residents struggle with finding affordable housing. Contributing factors include gentrification, inflated housing costs, poverty, and disparities in income. AU Students will explore the complex aspects of this issue and how communities are responding while engaging with multiple District neighborhoods. Food is a fundamental staple in life. However, In DC access to healthy food is beyond the reach of some residents as a result of food deserts, areas with little or no access to grocery stores that offer fresh and affordable foods. AU students will learn about food justice by working with nonprofits, urban farming, and understanding how to increase access to healthy food.

Public health aims to protect the health of the population, prevent disease, and promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles. Community health issues can range from disease and illness like HIV/AIDS and asthma, to non-traditional health concerns like domestic violence. AU students will learn about health disparities and work with organizations making preventative and routine healthcare more accessible, regardless of ethnicity, race, or socioeconomic status.

DC has one of the highest achievement gaps regarding K-12 education, depending on where students reside in the city. Local organizations work to lessen inequalities and prepare students to have a successful future. AU students will learn about the city’s education system, work with local advocacy groups, and engage with programs working to close the gap.

Washington, DC has made strides to lessen human impact on the environment through sustainable policies and community organizations. However, DC lags in addressing poor air quality and water pollution which disproportionately affect low-income communities in the District. AU Students will support environmental justice programs seeking to empower residents and begin to understand their own environmental footprints.

Washington D.C. is the home of iconic events such as the March on Washington, Million Man March, Capital Pride, and the Women’s Suffrage March. The city has also long been a destination for marginalized peoples looking to build a better life for themselves and their families. Students will learn how organizations are working to support newcomers and historically marginalized groups in DC, and will have a chance to engage with advocates and activists working on diverse topics in community organizing at the local and national level. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to explore neighborhoods that have been transformed and enriched by immigrant and minority communities in Washington.