The Office of Community Affairs was established July 1, 1969, to continue a tradition of university/community discussions and cooperation begun with the breakfast seminars of 1966-1967 and the Homewood Community Project (1967-1969). The Project was an effort on the part of community leaders to enhance the quality of community life through a broad set of measures intended to provide services to the needy, improve local public schools, foster compatible business development, enforce housing, zoning, and health codes, and fight general deterioration of the neighborhood. It was funded by The Johns Hopkins University and by a grant under the Title I Higher Education Act of 1965.

Dea Anderson Kline, director of the Project, was named Director of Community Affairs for the University, reporting to Vice President Ross Jones. She was given a mandate to: "recommend, and when feasible, to implement measures and programs which encourage and reflect the University's sensitivity to the community and awareness of its responsibility to make major contributions to enhance the quality of community life;" "to interpret the University to the community serving as the University's representative in such matters as may affect the community;" and "to communicate or assist in the communication of community attitudes, needs and aspirations to appropriate University officials."

Programs and activities promoted by the Office include:
1) NCAA National Youth Sports Program (since 1969)
2) Community Conversations (since 1966) -- breakfast meetings for Johns Hopkins administrators, neighborhood residents, and City officials to discuss joint concerns.
3) Environmental Education Seminar
4) Reports on "Economic Impact of the Johns Hopkins Institutions on Baltimore City" and other community studies.
5) Representation of Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore City Fair (since 1970) and in Bicentennial programs.
6) Community Orientation of new students, faculty, and other campus visitors.
7) Tutorial programs at Barclay and Margaret Brent elementary schools.
8) Children's Art Show (since 1972) The Greater Homewood Community Corporation was a direct descendant of the Homewood Community Project (also known as the Greater Homewood Community Project) and was incorporated on May 6, 1969.

Dea Kline served as Director of Community Affairs until she retired in June 1991; the office was subsequently dissolved and its responsibilities assumed by the Vice President and Secretary.