Journal of Planning Education and Research, Ahead of Print.
This paper investigates the role(s) of contemporary community design centers (CDC) in the United States. Based on a content analysis of CDCs’ mission statements and semi-structured interviews with selected CDC leaders, I identify seven roles these organizations perform. The results indicate that current CDCs do not exclusively focus on assisting underserved communities. They perform a more diverse set of roles for various socioeconomic communities. These different roles suggest that CDCs can, and should, be thought of as a diverse category of planning organization. In conclusion, I suggest three implications for planning education and future research and practice related to community design.