Skip to content

From Demanding Change to Making It.

The Burnes Center designs and implements practical solutions to society’s hardest problems. We develop innovative, participatory, and equitable approaches to solving public problems using new technology.

from the burnes center

  • No Urban Myth:The Lasting Impact of COVID-19

    Anita M. McGahan, Senior Fellow at the Burnes Center, co-authored an article examining the lasting impact of COVID-19 on Canadian cities, highlighting shifts in mobility,…

    Mar. 28, 2025 | Anita McGahan, Gabriel Cavalli | Rotman Magazine CA
  • States Leading the Way: Why We’re Convening State Leaders to Shape America’s AI Future

    Burnes Center Director, Beth Simone Noveck, highlights in this article how states are driving democratic innovation. She showcases initiatives like New York’s journalism tax incentives…

    Mar. 27, 2025 | Beth Simone Noveck | Reboot Democracy
  • From Citizen to Senator: Artificial Intelligence and the Reinvention of Citizen Lawmaking in Brazil

    Beth Simone Noveck, Burnes Center director, examines how Brazil’s Federal Senate is transforming citizens into active lawmakers through AI-enhanced participation. She explores how over 120,000…

    Mar. 26, 2025 | Beth Simone Noveck, Dane Gambrell, Alisson Bruno Dias De Queiroz, Luis Kimaid | Reboot Democracy

IN THE NEWS

  • Being Human in 2035 – Essays Part I Continued: More predictions on change as humans adapt to AI

    Senior Fellow Erhardt Graeff is quoted warning that generative AI risks eroding humility, a core human virtue that drives curiosity, tolerance and collaboration. These essays…

    Apr. 02, 2025 | Erhardt Graeff, Sarah Scheffler, Michael Wollowski, Micah Altman, Dmitri Williams | Elon University
  • Signalgate: Trump’s band of bros could use a refresher course on the Constitution

    Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson brings her sharp analysis to The Boston Globe with a scathing look at “Signalgate” and the Trump administration’s national…

    Mar. 27, 2025 | Jill Abramson | The Boston Globe
  • Khoury policy roundtable: strategizing to maximize research impact 

    Beth Simone Noveck, director of the Burnes Center for Social Change, opened the roundtable with a keynote on the evolving role of AI in governance.…

    Mar. 27, 2025 | Paul Murphy | Khoury College Northeastern

Burnes center projects

  • Rethinking Reading: AI for Literacy Achievement

    Showcasing how innovative leaders are using AI to make rapid gains to make literacy instruction more personalized, engaging, and equitable.

  • The AI For Impact Co-op Program

    Solving public sector problems by tapping into the potential of Artificial Intelligence and the talent of Northeastern students.

  • Community-Centered AI: The AI-EP Project

    Using AI to enhance educational outcomes for learners with disabilities.

  • Impact Studio: Unlocking Literacy

    Convening community conversations on improving literacy and equity.

  • InnovateUS

    Delivering free online learning for public servants by public servants on data, digital, and innovation skills with an emphasis on evidence-based and equitable approaches.

  • Reboot Democracy

    Advancing collective intelligence with artificial intelligence.

  • Pi-Squared: Private Innovation in the Public Interest

    Empowering business leaders to drive meaningful change.

  • A Healthier Democracy

    Leveraging AI to drive civic engagement and economic opportunity.

  • Power at Work

    Contributing to a discourse in the United States that emphasizes the importance of collective action and puts workers and worker power at the center of…

  • Skills-First Public Sector Workforce Hiring

    Creating more equitable and inclusive state employment opportunities using AI.

  • The Internet We Deserve

    A Lecture Series on the history and possibilities of the Internet.

  • Impact Studio: Election Subversion

    Bringing together diverse experts to counter efforts that undermine the integrity of U.S. elections.

upcoming events

  • Innovating in the Public Interest: Winning Early

    Great projects begin with early wins. We will talk about the importance of structuring early successes to reinforce public trust, demonstrate impact, and build a…

    2:00pm3:00pm

    Apr.
    09
    2025

  • Innovating in the Public Interest: Innovating Organizationally

    Great projects begin with early wins. We will talk about the importance of structuring early successes to reinforce public trust, demonstrate impact, and build a…

    2:00pm3:00pm

    Apr.
    09
    2025

  • Smart Literacy Instruction: Using AI and Speech Recognition to Teach Reading

    Join this hands-on workshop to explore how AI-powered applications and speech recognition software are transforming literacy instruction. Discover how these tools provide real-time feedback on…

    4:00pm5:00pm

    Apr.
    15
    2025

  • Reading Together with AI: Tools for Parent-Led Learning

    Join this engaging session to explore how AI-powered tools can transform at-home reading support. Designed for parents and caregivers, discover innovative technologies that make literacy…

    4:00pm5:00pm

    Apr.
    29
    2025

  • Innovating in the Public Interest: Learning and Pivoting

    Just about every cross-sector collaboration project hits a brick wall at some point. What does it take to get past that challenge while staying true…

    2:00pm3:00pm

    May.
    01
    2025

  • Innovating in the Public Interest: Growing

    It’s counterintuitive, but many projects fail during the growth stage. Problems can arise when new stakeholders aren’t integrated effectively, when expectations outpace capacity, or when…

    2:00pm3:00pm

    May.
    15
    2025

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Change-makers are made, not born.

Everyone has the potential and the power to become a successful problem solver.

We cannot solve tomorrow’s challenges with yesterday’s tools.

Innovative technologies, policies, and partnerships are required for systems-level change.

How you implement matters.

Solving problems in practice requires going beyond innovative ideas to implementation of equitable solutions that measurably improve people’s lives.

The future depends upon all of us.

Tackling systemic public problems demands that we work closely with communities from day one.

WHAT WE DO

  • Education

    Teaching and learning the skills of social change and impact

  • Research

    Building the emerging field of global social change and impact

  • Convening

    Connecting communities of mission-driven leaders

  • Action

    Leading implementation of innovative solutions in key areas, including education equity, strengthening democracy and reducing gun violence

EDUCATION

Solving Public Problems

Our free foundational course providing the skills to design and implement social change.

  • Tools and technologies for designing and implementing mission-driven projects
  • Ways to use Big Data and community wisdom to tackle problems  
  • How to combine subject matter expertise and problem-solving skills
  • An introduction to leading social and public innovators

Interactive exercises

Video tutorials

12-part online program

SOCIAL CHANGE AT NORTHEASTERN

As a university-wide center, we look for new opportunities to collaborate with others engaged in social-impact work.

OUR BENEFACTORS

About the Burnes family

The Center is named in recognition of the generous investment made by the Burnes Family: Nonnie and Richard Burnes, and their three children, who have championed many social causes.

Nonnie Burnes, who passed away in August 2021, leaves behind a remarkable legacy defined by her selfless commitment to making real change in her communities and around the world. A 1978 Northeastern School of Law alumna, Nonnie pursued equality and justice, and was passionate about empowering others. She was a leader in the Massachusetts legal community and left a legacy of championing women’s rights and liberties. She upheld and advocated  these ambitious values while serving on Northeastern’s Board of Trustees and as a senior university fellow at the university’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.   


“For all who were fortunate enough to know her, Nonnie Burnes was a pure joy; a person of unequaled spirit, courage, and grace, with a passion for helping others that defined her every undertaking.”

JOSEPH E. AOUN
PRESIDENT, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

MISSION AND VISION

The challenges societies face today cannot be solved with yesterday’s toolkit. The Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University advances real-world impact by teaching individuals and institutions the skills needed to design and implement innovative and equitable solutions to our hardest problems. In the process, we are building a new field of social impact that leverages data, technology, community wisdom, and the power of institutions to enable systems-level change in practice.

NEWSLETTER

Get involved.

Sign up to learn more about Burnes Center events, news, and research activities.

We use cookies to improve your experience on our sites. By continuing to use our sites, you agree to our Privacy Statement.