The Spring (well, maybe post-fall) Semester

I guess no one told the atmosphere that the SPRING semester is coming because the temperatures seem to be steadily decreasing as the semester gets closer. Academic terms are no respecters of climate though and the seemingly endless winter break is about to come to an end with the harried pace of next semester quickly emerging over the horizon in its dusty cloud.

I will be working on a couple pretty innovative projects next semester which are exciting to be a part of. One project is going to be conducting a feasibility study for the development of "limited equity housing" (specifically condominiums whose future sale price will be determined by a formula that ensures that they remain affordable) for a community development corporation in a poor city in the area. In addition to this formidable undertaking, there are a couple of other projects I will be spearheading for that CDC.

Another project will consist of working with a couple of policy students to draw up a business plan that will demonstrate the viability of an alternative transportation system for low-income residents of the city mentioned above. Despite its proximity to major transportation routes, the city is actually pretty geographically isolated, which we are trying to demonstrate poses a hindrance to the job and childcare options of residents who don't have private transportation. Once we have made it over those hurdles we can work on a model that will address the issue.

It looks like there might be a couple more projects coming down the pike as well....oh yeah, and the whole class thing too. I am pretty stoked about one class that I am taking called Family Policy and promises to spur me on to more spirited e-journaling than has become the norm for me in the past months.

Gotta learn some spanish too. Mi espanol es muy malo.

It should be a semester of learnings.