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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

  • Pi-Squared Part 4: Building Resources and Capabilities

    Nov. 06, 2024 | Anita McGahan | 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 | Jill Abramson | Prospect Magazine
  • Pi-Squared Part 3: Excelling in Value Creation

    Oct. 30, 2024 | Anita McGahan | Pi-Squared

Burnes center projects

  • Impact Studio: Unlocking Literacy

    Convening community conversations on improving literacy and equity.

  • InnovateMA – AI For Impact

    Solving public sector problems by tapping into the potential of Artificial Intelligence and the talent of Northeastern students.

  • 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.

  • Reboot Democracy

    Advancing collective intelligence with artificial intelligence.

  • Pi-Squared: Private Innovation in the Public Interest

    Empowering business leaders to drive meaningful change.

  • 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…

  • The Internet We Deserve

    A Lecture Series on the history and possibilities of the Internet.

  • Impact Studio: Election Subversion

    Bringing together diverse experts to counter efforts that undermine the integrity of U.S. elections.

  • A Healthier Democracy

    Leveraging AI to drive civic engagement and economic opportunity.

IN THE NEWS

  • 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 Team | 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 | Keyword Team | 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 | Jessica Johnson | The Huntington News

upcoming events

  • 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…

    2:00pm3:30pm

    Virtual

    Nov.
    06
    2024

  • 30th Anniversary Massachusetts Digital Government Summit

    Burnes Center David Fields is participating in the Massachusetts Digital Government Summit, discussing InnovateMA.

    8:00am4:30pm

    Westin Boston Seaport District
    425 Summer Street
    Boston, MA 02210
    (617) 532-4600

    Nov.
    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…

    5:00pm6:30pm

    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…

    6:00pm7:30pm

    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…

    6:00pm7:30pm

    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.

    2:00pm3:30pm

    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

  • 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

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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