Continuing IURD's commitment to community partnerships, the Center for Community Innovation (CCI) was launched the summer of 2006. CCI nurtures effective solutions that expand economic opportunity, diversify housing options, and strengthen connection to place. Led by Karen Chapple, Executive Director and Theodore Bo Lee and Doris Shoong Lee Chair of Environmental Design, CCI will work extensively with community-based organizations and government clients to evaluate programs and make academic research more accessible to practitioners.

In June, CCI established a sister relationship with the Urban Center at the University of Catania, Italy, where Karen Chapple spoke about community participation methods with students and faculty. Also in June, CCI Director Heather Hood presented "Estimating Infill Development Potential in California: The San Diego Region's Prospects for Infill Growth" at a Workforce Housing Symposium at the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego.

In August, the Center hosted Equitable Development and Mixed-Income Communities: Understanding Best Practices and Scenarios; co-sponsored with Urban Habitat and UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community, the summit convened Bay Area and key national experts, including policymakers, developers and community actors, to focus on Richmond, California.

Three Community Innovation Fellows will begin working in the fall: Tessa Munekiyo, Kristin Perkins, and Eric Simundza. This fall, CCI will also complete the update of the California Infill Parcel Locator (www.infill.org), under the direction of City Planning Professor John Landis.

In January 2007, the winner of CCI’s Terner Prize for Innovation and Leadership in Affordable Housing will be announced. More information about the Terner Prize can be found at CCI's website.