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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Pi-Squared Part 4: Building Resources and Capabilities
Nov. 06, 2024 | | Pi-Squared: Private Innovation in the Public Interest -
Trump is running scared of women voters
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes about Trump’s attempt to position himself as a “protector” of women amid rising concerns about abortion rights and…
Nov. 01, 2024 | | Prospect Magazine -
Pi-Squared Part 3: Excelling in Value Creation
Oct. 30, 2024 | | Pi-Squared
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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Pi-Squared: Private Innovation in the Public Interest
Empowering business leaders to drive meaningful change.
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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.
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A Healthier Democracy
Leveraging AI to drive civic engagement and economic opportunity.
IN THE NEWS
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Q&A US election special, with Jill Abramson
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson, former executive editor of the New York Times, who has been has been covering the presidential election for Prospect,…
Nov. 02, 2024 | | Prospect Magazine -
7 pieces of AI news we announced in October
To train the U.S. government workforce in responsible AI, Google.org announced $15 million in new training grants for two leading public sector organizations, one of…
Nov. 01, 2024 | | The Keyword -
Op-ed: Training the next generation to see health beyond medicine will save lives
Highlighting the vital role of addressing social determinants of health, like food insecurity, to improve community well-being. Northeastern students contribute through Link Health, bridging healthcare…
Oct. 30, 2024 | | The Huntington News
upcoming events
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Workshop
AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference
Join us along with Arvind Narayanan to learn about the differences between predictive artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, and other types of AI, and to…
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Virtual
Nov.
06
2024 -
30th Anniversary Massachusetts Digital Government Summit
Burnes Center David Fields is participating in the Massachusetts Digital Government Summit, discussing InnovateMA.
8:00am – 4:30pm
Westin Boston Seaport District
425 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 532-4600Nov.
13
2024 -
Book Talk: OUR BIGGEST FIGHT: Reclaiming Liberty, Humanity, and Dignity in the Digital Age with Frank McCourt
Frank McCourt, Executive Chairman of McCourt Global and Founder of Project Liberty will discuss his book, OUR BIGGEST FIGHT: Reclaiming Liberty, Humanity, and Dignity in…
5:00pm – 6:30pm
Nov.
19
2024 -
AI for Public Impact: How Emerging Technologies Can Deepen Democracy and Improve Governance
Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck presents AI for Public Impact: How Emerging Technologies Can Deepen Democracy and Improve Governance. This event is designed for…
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Virtual
Nov.
19
2024 -
Smart City, Smarter Citizens with Mayor San-Cheng Chang
Taoyuan, one of Taiwan’s most populous cities with 2.2 million residents, consistently wins international awards for its innovative use of technology in city services. This…
6:00pm – 7:30pm
https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAqf-yuqzktEtekYxY4NE-uWIIFF3BVxeNn#/registration
Dec.
05
2024 -
Workshop
Equity Analysis for Public Policy and Programs
Join InnovateUS to explore how policy analysis addresses societal challenges, learn the 10-step process based on the 4Es, and master communicating policy recommendations effectively.
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Virtual
Dec.
10
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
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.
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
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