Newly Constructed in 2005!

After more than 25 years of distinctive educational programming, the Washington Community Scholars Center faced a stark challenge of upgrading its facilities.

Through the counsels of a wide range of past and current participants plans were made to move the program to improved facilities in a neighborhood with much better access to public transportation and to the city’s diverse community and cultural centers.

Generous contributions from WCSC alumni and other EMU supporters totaled over $100,000. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 20, 2005 during the alumni reunion at the new facility marked EMU's committment to the future of WCSC at the new location.

The Nelson Good House features:

• Excellent public transportation access, reducing dependence on cars
• Cross-cultural setting in a predominately African American neighborhood of low to middle income families
• Walking distance to a broad range of community services, including restaurants, shops and a public recreational center
• 5,000 square feet of finished space
• In-town location with easy connections to most internship settings and universities and to Washington’s numerous cultural resources, including its ethnically diverse neighborhoods
• Close proximity to Catholic and Howard Universities, where many WCSC students attend classes, with walking access to CUA’s library, pool and fitness center, theater, and other campus resources
• Capacity for 15 students featuring modern kitchen, dining and living room areas and a versatile multi-purpose room for seminar course, recreation, library, and occasional guest lodging for small field trip groups; energy efficient heating and air conditioning
• Much-improved office space for WCSC faculty and staff In general, the new facility gets students out of cars and onto the street and subway, greatly increasing their personal engagement and awareness of the urban environment and the life of the city. In addition, the cross cultural neighborhood context enhances students’ awareness of inter-racial and cross-cultural dynamics, both personal and societal.