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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Senator Bernie Sanders on the Current State of Labor and Worker Rights
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris is joined by Senator Bernie Sanders in a special blogcast discussing the current state of the labor movement, worker…
Oct. 01, 2024 | | Power at Work -
Introducing PI-Squared: Private innovation in the public interest
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Anita McGahan led InnovateUS workshops on the Pi-Squared initiative, promoting public-private partnerships for innovation. She highlighted lessons from successful and failed…
Oct. 01, 2024 | | InnovateUS -
Gender and race won’t hold Kamala Harris back
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jill Abramson writes for Prospect Magazine, highlighting distinct motivations of younger voters, such as racial justice, abortion rights, and economic issues,…
Sep. 25, 2024 | | Prospect Magazine
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.
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A Healthier Democracy
Leveraging AI to drive civic engagement and economic opportunity.
IN THE NEWS
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As Healthcare And Politics Intersect, Doctors Urge Patients To Vote
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Alister Martin discusses how voting influences healthcare outcomes. Through A Healthier Democracy, Martin emphasizes the importance of voter registration for fostering…
Oct. 01, 2024 | | Forbes -
US ports strike causes first shutdown in 50 years
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris discusses the potential economic consequences of the ongoing US dockworkers’ strike, emphasizing that prolonged disruption could lead to rising…
Oct. 01, 2024 | | BBC -
Biden Resists Using Presidential Power To Break Port Strike, Despite Industry Pressure
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris discusses how President Joe Biden is balancing union support with economic risks during the ongoing longshoremen’s strike, emphasizing the…
Oct. 01, 2024 | | Huffpost
upcoming events
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Workshop
Policy Analysis for Public Professionals
Join InnovateUS to explore how equity is assessed in public policy, understand challenges, engage communities, and utilize tools for equity measurement and analysis across federal…
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Virtual
Oct.
08
2024 -
Workshop
Data Quality and Management in the Public Sector
Join us for a 90-minute virtual training with Rebecca Friedman, Tony Vachino, and Carolyn Carson of IBM. For the public sector to fully realize the…
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Virtual
Oct.
17
2024 -
Hot Topics in the Public Health Seminar “What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms”
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Cabral Center
40 Leon Street
Boston, MA 02115
https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpfuGoqzgrGdYE0hy7vL1wKm1NKD4inQxm#/registration
Oct.
25
2024 -
Leveraging AI to Promote Fair Elections with Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean and Kate Gage
Less than a week before the 2024 Presidential Election, Jeanine Abrams McLean, President at Fair Count, and Kate Gage, Executive Director of the Cooperative Impact…
5:00pm – 6:30pm
https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEkd-mrqjIiHdarinz3HlYnjofw0rpjI-2Y#/registration
Oct.
30
2024 -
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
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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