From Demanding Change to Making It.

MISSION AND VISION

The challenges societies face today cannot be solved with yesterday’s toolkit. The Burnes Center 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.

About The Burnes Center

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 Implementation 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.

upcoming events

Seminar

Chokepoint Capitalism Book Talk

Open to the public! The Burnes Center will cosponsor a talk by Cory Doctorow and Rebecca Giblin about their newest book, Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big…

Ryder Hall

Dec.
05
2022
Workshop

Social Media for Social Change with Cory Doctorow

On December 5th at 12 pm at 271 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, The Burnes Center for Social Changeand the Department of Journalism are hosting…

The Burnes Center for Social Change

Dec.
05
2022
Workshop

Writing for Social Change

Northeastern University faculty are invited to learn more about “How to Turn Topic and Policy Papers into Engaging Narratives” in this two-hour workshop. Open to…

The Burnes Center for Social Change, 271 Huntington Av

Jan.
31
2023

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new from the burnes center

7 Skills to Save the World

Jul. 25, 2022 | Beth Noveck | TEDx NortheasternU
Solving Public Problems Accelerator

The SPP Accelerator is a learning and coaching program to source and develop promising projects designed to improve education, learning, and development using data.
InnovateUS

Offered by the GovLab (USA), this state collaborative supports public servants to deliver more effective, equitable and agile public services and policies through free training…

IN THE NEWS

Northeastern researcher pledges to unlock power of cellphone-generated mobility data to benefit neighborhoods

Oct. 20, 2022 | Alena Kuzub | [email protected]
Will Rail Labor Negotiations Derail Our Economy? Probably Not.

Aug. 15, 2022 | Seth D. Harris
The American Faith I Was Raised In

Aug. 07, 2022 | Caleb Gayle | The Atlantic

View all news articles

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

Enroll today

(Northeastern students only)

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.

Northeastern social impact initiatives

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.