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
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Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang’s “Job Description” — a guiding star for generative AI, participatory democracy, and healing online deliberation
Burnes Center Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp shares their experience hearing from Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of Taiwan.
Apr. 12, 2024 | | Reboot Democracy -
New Jersey is turning to AI to improve the job search process
MyCareer.NJ.Gov exemplifies the critical role that public entities can play in harnessing AI for public good. As commercial websites and social media platforms proliferate, often…
Apr. 11, 2024 | | Fast Company -
Rebooting Democracy – News That Caught Our Eye #13: April 23rd, 2024
Updates, research, and change-making that caught Burne’s Center’s Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact Fellow Jay Kemp’s eye, stories related to ways in which AI is…
Apr. 09, 2024 | | Reboot Democracy
Burnes center projects
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Impact Studio: Unlocking Literacy
Convening community conversations on improving literacy and equity.
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InnovateMA – AI For Impact
Solving public sector problems by tapping into the potential of Artificial Intelligence and the talent of Northeastern students.
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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.
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Reboot Democracy
Advancing collective intelligence with artificial intelligence.
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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…
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The Internet We Deserve
A Lecture Series on the history and possibilities of the Internet.
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Impact Studio: Election Subversion
Bringing together diverse experts to counter efforts that undermine the integrity of U.S. elections.
IN THE NEWS
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The legacy of the Columbine shooting 25 years later
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Dr. Jonathan Metzl joins Jonathan Capehart to talk about the constant struggle with gun violence in our country.
Apr. 20, 2024 | | MSNBC -
The Most Important Thing I Teach My Students Isn’t on the Syllabus
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Steve Kadish’s book is quoted in a recent New York Times Opinion piece.
Apr. 20, 2024 | | The New York Times -
College students disillusioned over political choices, lean toward Biden
Burnes Center Research Fellow Jay Kemp shares their opinion on the upcoming election.
Apr. 18, 2024 | | WBUR
upcoming events
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Workshop
InnovateUS: All Your AI Questions Answered!
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Virtual
Apr.
25
2024 -
Ian P. Sharp Lecture featuring Beth Simone Noveck
Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck is the lecturer for the closing session of Absolutely Interdisciplinary 2024, the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society’s…
5:00pm – 8:30pm
U of T: Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus
108 College Street Toronto, ON M5G 1L6 CanadaMay.
08
2024 -
Workshop
InnovateUS: Towards Deep Listening: Rethinking Public Engagement Through Generative AI
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Virtual
May.
14
2024 -
AI and the Future of Workplace Democracy
Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI Lecture Series presents “AI and the Future of Workplace Democracy” with guest lecturers Orly Lobel and Seth Harris.
5:00pm
May.
16
2024
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
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Education
Teaching and learning the skills of social change and impact
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Research
Building the emerging field of global social change and impact
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Convening
Connecting communities of mission-driven leaders
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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 and community wisdom and the power of institutions to enable systems-level change in practice.
NEWSLETTER
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