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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News That Caught Our Eye #44
RebootDemocracy.AI’s latest update covers major AI policy shifts, including Trump’s repeal of AI safety rules and the $100B “Stargate” initiative. It also explores smart city…
Feb. 05, 2025 | | Reboot Democracy -
The Peacemaking Machine: A Conversation with MIT and Deepmind’s Micheal Henry Tessler and Michiel A. Bakker
In a recent discussion, MIT’s Michael Henry Tessler and DeepMind’s Michiel A. Bakker explored how artificial intelligence can facilitate consensus-building in democratic deliberations. They highlighted…
Feb. 03, 2025 | | Reboot Democracy -
GitLab Foundation Announces New AI for Economic Opportunity Fund Grantee Cohort
The Gitlab Foundation awards the Burnes Center’s Skills-First Workforce Initiative $250,000.
Jan. 30, 2025 | GitLab Foundation
IN THE NEWS
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Ukrainian educator gains nation-rebuilding skills with eCornell
Cornell’s Public Sector Leadership certificate, designed by Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris, is equipping Ukrainian educators with the skills needed to rebuild and strengthen…
Feb. 10, 2025 | | eCornell -
How AI is changing esports: Northeastern students win big at Valorant challenge
AI for Impact co-op students Dhruv Kamalesh Kumar and Rudra Sett won second place in AWS’ Valorant Champions Tour Hackathon Esports Manager Challenge.
Feb. 04, 2025 | | Northeastern Global News -
Gun Violence Journalism that Informs and Empowers
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jonathan Metal discusses the decline of U.S. gun sales following a surge during the pandemic.
Jan. 30, 2025 | | The Trace
Burnes center projects
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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.
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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.
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Skills-First Public Sector Workforce Hiring
Creating more equitable and inclusive state employment opportunities using AI.
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Impact Studio: Unlocking Literacy
Convening community conversations on improving literacy and equity.
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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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A Healthier Democracy
Leveraging AI to drive civic engagement and economic opportunity.
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The Internet We Deserve
A Lecture Series on the history and possibilities of the Internet.
upcoming events
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Interactive Reading Intelligence: Personalizing Reading Comprehension with Language Models
Join this webinar to discover how AI language models create personalized reading experiences that spark curiosity and deepen comprehension. Learn how these tools enhance engagement,…
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Feb.
19
2025 -
The Peacemaking Machine with MIT and Deepmind’s Michael Henry Tessler and Michiel A. Bakker
Michael Henry (“MH”) Tessler is a Senior Research Scientist at Google DeepMind, working on the safety, alignment, and societal impacts of advanced AI systems. Before…
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Northeastern, Room 610, EXP, 815 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcOCtqzspHNBrr8zW4EO0GnnXAgswr3Kt#/registrationFeb.
27
2025 -
Design Research Week 2025
The Center for Design’s annual Design Research Week returns in the spring, from March 17-21, 2025! Design Research Week is a weeklong event that showcases design-led…
4:00pm – 5:00pm
TBD
Feb.
27
2025 -
Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI with Ed Bice of Meedan
Ed Bice is the CEO and Board Chair of the global technology non-profit Meedan. Since founding Meedan in 2006 he has devoted his professional energies to…
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkc-ivqTooEt0jBDFDp-mZq4Kr0R8AxaPG
Mar.
20
2025 -
Interactive Reading Intelligence: Personalizing Reading Comprehension with Language Models
Join this interactive session to explore how AI is revolutionizing dyslexia screening and support. Discover the latest tools for identifying and addressing reading challenges with…
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Mar.
25
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…
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Apr.
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
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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, community wisdom, and the power of institutions to enable systems-level change in practice.
NEWSLETTER
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