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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Frank McCourt on Our Biggest Fight and Future of TikTok
Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck writes about Frank McCourt as a guest in the Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI Lecture Series, where…
Nov. 20, 2024 | | Reboot Democracy -
Pi-Squared Part 5: Sustaining Excellence
Nov. 14, 2024 | | Pi-Squared: Private Innovation in the Public Interest -
EVENT: Join us November 19 to discuss “Our Biggest Fight” with Frank McCourt
Join us on November 19 at 5 p.m. ET for a conversation with Frank H. McCourt, Jr. about his new book Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming…
Nov. 12, 2024 | | Reboot Democracy
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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In New Jersey, using AI starts with empowering employees
Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck writes about New Jersey’s AI training initiative.
Dec. 04, 2024 | | State Scoop -
N.J. AI Task Force Report Addresses Workforce, Innovation
Dec. 03, 2024 | | Government Technology -
America’s Hidden Racial Divide: A Mysterious Gap in Psychosis Rates
Burnes Center Senior Fellow Jonathan Metzl is quoted in the NYT Magazine.
Dec. 03, 2024 | | The New York Times Magazine
upcoming events
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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 -
AI and the Future of Lawmaking: Innovation at the Library of Congress with Natalie Buda Smith
Natalie Buda Smith is the Director of Digital Strategy at the Library of Congress, where she leads the use of AI and other emerging technologies…
5:30pm – 6:30pm
https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEsdO-tqDgoG9TcfMDARJmrUTpOoC8mabbx#/registration
Jan.
23
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, TBD
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcOCtqzspHNBrr8zW4EO0GnnXAgswr3Kt#/registrationFeb.
27
2025 -
Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI with Daniel E. Ho
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, TBD
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcOCtqzspHNBrr8zW4EO0GnnXAgswr3Kt#/registrationFeb.
27
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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