The Policy Pulse | October 2023 Newsletter

October 2023

POLICY SCHOOL NEWS

Pictured: Director Maria Ivanova (left) thanking Elda Ceribashi (right) during her last week as Finance and Admin. Manager

Elda Ceribashi Takes on New Role for the C2C Impact Engine Accelerator

In October Elda Ceribashi ended her position as Finance and Administration Manager in the Policy School to assume a new role at Northeastern. Elda started at the Policy School in 2014 as a Grant Administrator and was promoted to Financial and Administration Manager in 2019. She has transitioned to a new position as part of the Community to Community program, where she will manage grants and projects across Northeastern’s Boston and Oakland campuses. Everyone at the Policy School thanks Elda and wishes her well in her next chapter.

Elevating Discourse: Policy School Professors' Contributions to the NASPAA Conference

Faculty members from the Policy School made contributions to the October National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) conference. Prof. Maria Ivanova participated in a panel entitled “Remaking Our Programs to Respond to Market Needs.” Prof. Neil Kleiman assumed the role of moderator for a panel exploring “The Impact, Implications, and Opportunities of AI.” And Prof. Ted Landsmark served on a panel addressing “Diversity at NASPAA Schools: How We Are Positively Addressing Race and How We Are Failing.” These dynamic engagements underscore the Policy School's active involvement in shaping critical dialogues within the academic community and beyond.

Pictured from left to right: Michele Rosenthal, Cristina Stanica, Maria Ivanova, and Ted Landsmark

Pictured: Prof. Lily Song presenting on "Notes from the anti-displacement studio"

Pictured: Prof. Moira Zellner presenting her participatory modeling platform fora.ai

Shaping the Future of Urban Planning: ACSP Conference Highlights From Policy School Faculty

Faculty members represented the Policy School at the recent Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference. Prof. Moira Zellner presented her participatory modeling platform (fora.ai) highlighting its potential to address urban growth and climate change challenges by integrating diverse knowledge and data sources. Prof. Cara Michell presented her paper entitled "Making the Case for Psychogeography in Culturally Responsive PPGIS." Prof. Lily Song's presentation, entitled "Notes from the anti-displacement studio," delved into the reformation and retooling of planning and design studios to facilitate community-led displacement initiatives in Boston. Prof. Gavin Shatkin highlighted the lasting influence of the 'hot Cold War' politics in Southeast Asia from the 1950s to 1970s on current urban social injustices, urging a reevaluation of urban planning scholarship on the region. Prof. Joan Fitzgerald organized a session on "Including and Measuring Equity in Urban Climate Action," where she built upon methodological insights from the recent Boston Foundation Assessment of Boston's Climate Action.

Prof. Thomas J. Vicino was named an Associate Editor for the Journal of Planning Education and Research, the official peer-reviewed journal of the ACSP.

"Once-in-a-Lifetime": Professor Dan Urman's Inspiring NYC Trip with Law and Public Policy Minors

On October 12th and 13th, Prof. Dan Urman brought more than a dozen Law and Public Policy minors on an Experiential Learning visit to New York City. The students met with federal judges, watched trial and appellate hearings, and met with a number of attorneys in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Joe Bianco, a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, previewed and debriefed legal hearings and events in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Students left the visit inspired to pursue legal careers, describing it as “once-in-a-lifetime” and expressing appreciation for the chance to watch law in action.

Pictured: Panelists on the ground and via Zoom during the Oct. 11 Open Classroom

Israel and Gaza: A Special Session of the Open Classroom Series

Prof. Jonathan Kaufman, director of Northeastern’s School of Journalism, and Prof. Jill Abramson, former editor of the New York Times, moderated a powerful and emotionally charged October 11 special Open Classroom public discussion on the war in Israel and Gaza. Panelists included Bob Davis, former senior editor at The Wall Street Journal, Dan Lothian, executive producer for NPR’s “The World,” Lori Lefkovitz, director of Northeastern's Jewish Studies Program, Rima Farah, visiting lecturer in the Jewish Studies Program, and Eve M. Troutt Powell, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. The session, which attracted a packed classroom of students and guests and more than 200 online viewers, presented a model of how to engage in civil and nuanced discourse on complex, volatile issues. “I was both exhilarated and exhausted, said Prof. Kaufman, “by the time it was over.”

C2C's Inaugural Annual Report

Community to Community (C2C) is an impact accelerator dedicated to advancing community-engaged research. C2C endeavors to address local societal issues, positively impacting the university's host communities, and fostering knowledge exchange among these locally rooted communities. Explore their inaugural Annual Report to learn about their first-year achievements, activities, and future objectives for 2024!

Pictured: Boston's Summer Youth Employment Program with Northeastern

Pictured: Dr. Patrice Williams

Welcome Dr. Patrice Williams

Dr. Patrice C. Williams recently joined the C2C team as the Assistant Research Professor of Participatory Action Research and Provost Impact Fellow in the Policy School. Prior to starting at Northeastern, Dr. Williams was a Research Scientist for the Healthy Neighborhoods Study in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She is an alumna of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholars Program (Cohort 1), which is a national leadership program focused on building equity by investing in scholars from populations traditionally underrepresented in graduate programs whose research, connections, and leadership will inform and influence policy toward a Culture of Health. Having personally experienced the detrimental health impacts of urban planning decision-making with little regard to how these decisions effect the livelihood of residents within her neighborhood, Dr. Williams uses methods that employ intersectional, structural racism, and Participatory Action Research (PAR) approaches to focus on how attributes of physical and social environments, including urban planning policies, processes, and practice, contribute to health inequities among historically marginalized communities.

Navigating Energy Conservation: A Cross-Sector Perspective from Professor Mary Steffel

Mary Steffel, Associate Professor of Marketing and Joseph G. Riesman Research Professor in D'Amore-McKim, recently presented in the Policy School Academic Seminar Series. In her talk, "Will Successful Private Sector Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Energy Use Work in the Public Sector?," Prof. Steffel delved into the intersection of private and public sector approaches to energy conservation, drawing on her experience with the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team and the Office of Evaluation Sciences at the General Services Administration to highlight practical applications of consumer insights in addressing societal challenges.

Pictured: Prof. Mary Steffel presenting in the Policy School Academic Seminar Series

FELLOWSHIP—Spring 2024 Climate Justice Fellowship Application Now Open

The Social Impact Lab has partnered with Northeastern’s Climate Justice and Sustainability Hub to create the Climate Justice Fellowship. The application period for the Spring 2024 cohort is now open to undergraduate and graduate students across the global network. This fellowship is intended to support and empower emerging student leaders who are seeking to expand their climate justice toolkit via one of Northeastern’s many experiential offerings, including academic studies, research, service-learning, volunteer positions, co-op, and extracurricular activities. The fellowship will build community within the cohort to support students’ growing understanding of the impact they can have addressing climate justice in their academic, personal, and professional lives. The application deadline is November 15. Learn more at the Climate Justice Fellowship website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Climate Justice Universities: Another Education is Possible

November 1st, 2023 | 12:00-2:30pm

Online via Zoom—find details here

Academic Planning Discussion

November 1st, 2023 | 3:00-4:00pm

310R Renaissance Park or via Zoom

Coffee and Conversation With Prof. Christopher Bosso

November 8th, 2023 | 3:00-4:00pm

310R Renaissance Park or via Zoom

mL Talks: Autographic Design - the matter of data: Conversation with Dietmar Offenhuber and Lev Manovich

November 8th, 2023 | 11:00-12:30pm

Online via Zoom—find details here

EVENT—Jennie Stephens to Present on Climate Justice Universities: Another Education is Possible

Jennie C. Stephens, Dean's Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy and a 2023–2024 Radcliffe-Salata Climate Justice Fellow, will present a virtual public lecture at Harvard-Radcliffe on November 1st at 12pm ET on "Climate Justice Universities: Another Education is Possible.” At Radcliffe, Prof. Stephens is completing her book manuscript, provisionally titled Climate Justice University: Another Education Is Possible (Johns Hopkins University Press, forthcoming), which reimagines how higher education could accelerate transformative social innovation toward a more just, healthy, and stable fossil fuel–free future.

EVENT—Cultural Humility: Building Authentic Relationships Across Difference

On Monday, November 13, between 2 and 3pm ET (online), the Social Impact Lab will partner with the Center for Intercultural Engagement to present a panel of students, staff, and faculty discussing issues of intercultural engagement within the classroom and beyond. Panelists will offer lived experiences and frameworks that emphasize cultural humility over cultural competency and the importance of practicing anti-oppression in community engagement. This event will be hosted by Global Learner Support at Northeastern University. For more information and to register, visit the event site.

EVENT—Community Data Training Workshop Hosted by BARI

The Boston Area Research Initiative (BARI) collaborates with public and non-profit stakeholders to cultivate data-informed practices for advancing community initiatives. This endeavor is realized through a multifaceted approach that encompasses educating stakeholders in the utilization of public data and facilitating the assembly of diverse organizations to formulate civic research agendas. On Tuesday, November 14, between 1:00 and 2:30 PM ET, the BARI team will delve deeper into the Boston Data Portal during a Community Data Training Workshop, exploring its significance as a vital resource for data analysis and decision-making.

FACULTY IMPACT

Timothy Hoff Named One of the World's Most Cited Researchers by Stanford Researchers

Timothy Hoff, Professor of Management, Healthcare Systems, and Health Policy, was recognized as one of the world's most cited researchers by a Stanford database covering data from 1996 through 2022 and more than 7 million scientists in 22 major fields. He has received awards for his extensive contributions to U.S. healthcare, including research on the healthcare system, workforce, change and innovation, physician behavior, and the patient experience.

Cara Michell Featured in Emergen-C Archive at La MaMa Galleria in Downtown Manhattan

Cara Michell, Professor of Race and Social Justice in the Built Environment, explored spatial representation and the shared narratives that define our environments in a powerful exhibition entitled "Collective Abundance" at the LA MaMa Galleria in Manhattan. Her work, as an urban planner and artist, emphasizes the importance of moving away from a model of individual ownership and towards embracing collective ownership. This approach highlights sharing the process and credit for creating new policies, stewarding physical spaces, and transforming the visual representations of our communities on a map.

Prof. Michell's work delves into "alternative" mapping traditions, such as psychogeography, stepping away from the limiting eurocentric projection systems that dominate the field. These radical mapping styles provide an opportunity to escape the scarcity mindset that has long dictated what can be represented on a map, often influenced by the workings of racial capitalism.

Christopher Bosso Published His Latest Book Why SNAP Works: A Political History—and Defense—of the Food Stamp Program

The University of California Press published Why SNAP Works: A Political History—and Defense—of the Food Stamp Program by Christopher Bosso, Professor of Public Policy and Political Science. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) represents the nation’s largest government effort for helping low-income Americans obtain an adequate diet. In his book, Prof. Bosso explores how SNAP, formerly the food stamp program, evolved from a Depression-era effort to use up surplus goods into America’s foundational food assistance program. The book provides a comprehensive history and evaluation of the nation’s most important food insecurity and poverty alleviation effort.

Northeastern University at WCRP Open Science Conference in Kigali, Rwanda

Maria Ivanova, Director of the Policy School, and Clara Copp-LaRocque '23, Master of Public Administration student, along with other Northeastern University participants, attended the once-in-a-decade World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Open Science Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, where Northeastern University was a platinum sponsor along with NOAA, NASA, DOE, and Schmidt Futures. The conference, hosted in Africa for the first time, convened experts from climate, environment, and related fields to discuss climate science advancements, human-climate interactions, and collaborative climate solutions. The conference aimed to explore the transformative actions urgently needed to ensure a sustainable future. Prof. Ivanova delivered a keynote address on global environmental commitments in Africa and moderated a Dome Plenary session on transformational challenges in the Global South, featuring discussions with Max Gomera, the UN Development Programme's Resident Representative in Rwanda, and Dr. Abou Amani, the Director of the Division of Water Sciences and Secretary of the International Hydrological Programme at UNESCO.

Pacifying Problem Places: How Problem Property Interventions Increase Guardianship and Reduce Disorder and Crime

Professors Dan O'Brien and Michael Zoorob led a research project examining the efficacy of Boston’s Problem Properties Task Force, established in 2011 to address issues related to criminal activity, nuisances, and unsanitary or unsafe living conditions within the city. Their assessment focused on the program's dual objectives of reducing crime and disorder in specific places while encouraging property owners' involvement, yielding compelling evidence of the program's substantial positive impact. These findings offer a valuable benchmark for other major cities across the nation. The interventions implemented by the task force successfully decreased both crime rates and physical disorder at target locations. This was achieved by providing property owners with incentives to either enhance their property management or transfer ownership to individuals better suited to oversee the premises. Profs. O'Brien and Zoorob documented their findings in an article slated for publication in the academic journal affiliated with the American Society of Criminology.

Lori Gardinier, Emily Mann, and Matthew Lee Published a Foundational Text on Human Services and Social Change

Director of the Human Services Program Lori Gardinier, Professors of Human Services Emily Mann and Matthew Lee, and Professor at Simmons University School of Social Work Lydia Ogden published Introduction to Human Services and Social Change: History, Practice, and Policy, a core academic text. It combines theory, research, and contemporary learning science to engage students in service-learning, case studies, and the exploration of identity, diversity, structural inequality, and professional ethics in human services.

Northeastern Celebrated a Summer of Empowering Young People from Underserved Communities to Succeed

Under the leadership of Associate Professor Alicia Modestino, the C2C Impact Accelerator, in collaboration with the Boston Mayor's Office, launched the Northeastern Summer Jobs Program as an integral part of the expanded 'Learn and Earn' initiative. The program engaged 155 Boston residents aged 14-24 in a diverse range of paid opportunities within Northeastern University's Boston campus. These opportunities encompassed academic enrichment through programs like Bridge to Calculus, providing hands-on experience in various administrative, customer service, research, and landscaping roles, thereby fostering valuable professional skills and exposing youth to a breadth of career prospects within a university setting. Notably, a smaller pilot program extended to ten high school students at Northeastern's Oakland campus, garnering praise from participants for its forward-looking approach.

“I feel very prepared for fall because of this program. This program really cares about our future.” Lila Conley, Boston participant reflected in a Northeastern Global News article.

AWARDS

Cultivating Curiosity in Science Education: Lessons from a Teachers Training Program

Nishith Prakash, Professor of Public Policy and Economics, and Ariel Gomez, a Future Faculty Postdoctoral Fellow, alongside co-authors Soham Sahoo, Professor of Economics at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Vinay Jha, PhD student in economics at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and Sandeep Kumar, a former District Magistrate in India, have secured a $74,263.63 grant from the Jameel Poverty Action Lab (JPAL) for their project entitled "Cultivating Curiosity in Science Education: Lessons from a Teachers Training Program."

This initiative aims to evaluate a training program designed for science teachers in Grades 6 through 8 in Uttar Pradesh, India, where, despite advancements in education access, translating it into effective learning outcomes remains a challenge. The project will investigate the factors influencing school quality and student interest in learning. The curriculum, developed by the Chalees Minute Foundation (CMF) in New Delhi, shifts the focus from rote memorization and teacher-centered learning to participatory, discussion-based teaching, encouraging thoughtful, concept-based questioning. This innovative approach intends to stimulate students' curiosity, fostering analytical and critical thinking skills. The research project is set to commence during the upcoming Indian academic school year, starting in July 2024.

A Community- and Youth-Driven Approach to Public Interest AI

Kimberly Lucas, Professor of the Practice in Public Policy and Economic Justice, and Dan O'Brien, Director of the Boston Area Research Initiative (BARI), have been awarded a 2023 PIT-UN Network Challenge Grant for their project entitled "A Community- and Youth-Driven Approach to Public Interest AI."

Through this project, they will engage with various partners to formulate and prototype a framework for the development of public interest AI in Boston, with a particular emphasis on community and youth involvement. The key objectives of this initiative include:

The formulation of a Civic Research Agenda for Public Interest AI, which will serve as a platform for the convergence of community organizations, public officials, and technologists who share a focus on addressing issues related to digital equity.
The organization of a Civic Technology Workshop centered on AI, specifically tailored for low-income and BIPOC youth enrolled in Boston Public Schools.
The establishment of Civic Technologist Internships designed to embed youth who are oriented towards public interest technology (PIT) within community organizations, thereby fostering a deeper engagement with the community.
The curation of a university course dedicated to exploring the nexus between emerging technologies, the delivery of public services, and the consequential impact on communities.

C2C Impact Accelerator to Assess Boston's "Green New Deal" Workforce Needs

The City of Boston awarded Joan Fitzgerald, Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, and Alicia Modestino, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, a $200,000 grant for a new C2C project to assess Boston's "Green New Deal" workforce needs. The research team, including the Burning Glass Institute and TSK Energy Solutions, will analyze the data needed to help the city create pathways for Boston residents, particularly those in historically disadvantaged communities, to become part of an equitable green economy.

Kimberly Lucas Honored with the Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement Award by UCLA

Kimberly Lucas, Professor of the Practice in Public Policy and Economic Justice, will be honored as part of the inaugural cohort of Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement Awardees on November 13 on the UCLA campus. The Bruin Excellence in Civic Engagement Award recognizes exceptional UCLA alumni serving in civic leadership positions. The awardees are making a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing a combination of knowledge, skills, and values to make a difference.

Equitable Resilience to Heat

The Binational Science Foundation (BSF) has granted $177,000 to Principal Investigator Moira Zellner, along with Laura Kuhl, Asaf Levanon, Tally Katz-Gerro, and Maya Negev, for their innovative project, "Equitable Resilience to Heat." This project delves into the intricate dynamics of community coordination and heat policy in two coastal cities, addressing the pressing issue of the Urban Heat Island effect intensified by climate change. While various strategies aim to reduce urban heat exposure, this project explores the often-overlooked role of cooperation across scales and its impact on vulnerable households. The research seeks to develop novel urban adaptation approaches centered on equity, grounded in empirical evidence and agent-based modeling. The study's comparative design includes diverse contexts in Haifa, Israel, and Boston, USA, shedding light on the impact and distribution of infrastructural and policy approaches to heat exposure. By exploring the intricacies of agent-environment, agent-policy, and agent-agent interactions, this research aims to enhance our understanding of resilience and equity in the face of heat-related challenges.

Moira Zellner Secures Two Distinct Grants

The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) STAR program has awarded a grant of $1,111,418 to Krista Harper, Camille Barchers, and others at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for their project entitled "Community-Engaged Co-Design for a Just and Sustainable Energy Transition." Moira Zellner will lead the co-development and implementation of participatory modeling activities with stakeholders to understand barriers to decarbonization in low-income communities in Western Massachusetts. This project is intended as a pilot to scale up across the state and beyond.

The Northeastern University Humanities Center has awarded $1,500 to Dani Snyder-Young, Rahul Bharghava, Michael Arnold Mages, Jonathan Carr, Moira Zellner, and Laura Perovich for their project entitled "Data Theatre Forum on Gentrification and Greenway Development." Prof. Zellner serves as co-investigator in this collaborative initiative, to adapt data theater techniques to support community engagement and participatory visualization and planning.

STUDENT IMPACT

Doctoral Students Attend the International Adaptation Futures Conference in Montreal

In early October, Laura Kuhl, Professor of Public Policy, Urban Affairs, and International Affairs, led a discussion on climate justice and the Green Climate Fund at the Adaptation Futures conference in Montreal, while doctoral student Istiakh Ahmed moderated a session delving into the intricacies of loss and damage. Istiakh also presented research on the politics of climate finance and doctoral student Carmella Uwineza presented on debt swaps for the advancement of climate justice.

ALUMNI IMPACT

Alumna Lauren Jones '17: Shaping Policy Leadership as Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development

Lauren Jones '17, a distinguished alumna, garnered recognition in a recent Northeastern Global News feature spotlighting her tenure as the Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. Ms. Jones attributes her depth of engagement with public policy issues to her enrollment in the "Institutional Leadership and the Public Manager" course, taught by the former Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis. During her graduate years at Northeastern, Ms. Jones undertook a Capstone project under the guidance of Prof. Alicia Modestino. Her project was dedicated to the formulation of a tuition-free community college program for the city of Boston. Prior to obtaining her degree from the Policy School, Ms. Jones gained professional experience in both Boston City Hall and the Massachusetts State House.

In recognition of her acumen and expertise, Governor Maura Healey appointed Ms. Jones to her present role in 2023.

Policy School Faculty Spotlight

How do you envision your practice of participatory modeling?

While modeling strives to represent a complex system in time and space, I always focus on storytelling. Tables of numbers do not motivate people. Change happens when we build on our collective past to create stories for our future. I’ve always pursued a passion for arts such as painting, sculpture, and collages. As data-driven as modeling is, it is very much akin to a process of collaborative collage-making, grounded as much in intuition and creativity as it is in science.

How have you applied this philosophy in your work?

I recently worked on a project located on the south side of Chicago. Until the 1970s, this place had been home to a thriving, industry-based, predominantly African American community. But, over time, it had spiraled into difficult circumstances as industry, investments, and people deserted it. Because the community was plagued with flooding, the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago got a grant to hire my team to support planning of a stormwater park that could serve as an economic catalyst. But in talking with community members, it became clear that they needed much more than expertise in flood mitigation. So we began a process of engaging the community in the park's design process.

How did you engage the community?

Doing so was challenging. After listening to a history of corruption and failed projects, we understood why the tension, confusion, and distrust ran deep. So I started with a question for the mayor: “What are your aspirations for the community?” His face lit up and he was delighted to talk about it. And then we expanded to a wide circle of stakeholders to ask them, “How can we make the community happier, healthier, and safer? How does flooding relate to this?” We collectively drew causal diagrams to answer these questions, while creating a picture of the complex community system that informed the design of the park.

How did community members react to this type of outreach?

Initially many were skeptical. But at that first workshop we organized, they really took ownership of the project. About 30 people, including community elders, braved a massive snowstorm to fill the library at the community center. By the end of the meeting, they were referring to my student as “our planner.” And they pledged to recruit other people into the collaborative design process. We even did a workshop with children from the community to get their input. They used playdough to craft elements they wanted to see in in the park. It was very much collaborative modeling as an experiential process.

What motivates you to persist in your work?

We're running out of time as a society to address really complex problems that threaten our survival. I'd like to see that the narrow focus on technology (infrastructure, AI and Big Data) can expand with a commitment to ethical engagement and collaborative solution-building. A former colleague once described me not as a speed boat but as a convoy. I embrace that. That's what I do and who I am—I seek and foster collaboration for innovation and transformation. Paradoxically, slowing down, being more mindful, gets us where we want to be faster. As the saying goes, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

Explore fora.ai, a participatory modeling platform developed by Moira and her research team, designed to reshape collaboration for climate and societal impact.