HIGHLIGHTS
 

Policy drives reuse on Allston Christmas

Through their student Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) Nora Cahill MPP 2025 and Naomi Carolan MPP 2025 developed policies to support Boston city services during the yearly influx of discarded items. 

Read the PAE
 

Meet the 2025-2026 Urban Scholars

Cambridge City Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui and Executive Director of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency for the City of Boston Evandro Carvalho are the newest Rappaport Urban Scholars. 

meet the scholars
 

The impacts of expanded CTE access

Massachusetts has expanded its state-approved Chapter 74 Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs within comprehensive high schools statewide. A new working paper explores the impact.

Read the research
 

Launching the Momentum Fund

A Fellowship Policy Brief explores the launch and utilization of new Massachusetts housing investment tool, which provides capital for affordable housing across the state. 

Read the policy brief
for students
The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston supports emerging civic leaders through fellowships, programs, and experiential learning opportunities.
 

Public Policy Summer Fellowship

Graduate students spend 10 weeks in Greater Boston's state and local agencies during a paid summer internship. Fellows help agencies advance high-profile, important policy projects and key priorities. 

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Urban Scholars Program

For more than forty years, this program has provided full-tuition scholarships to help elected and appointed officials from Greater Boston attend HKS's Mid-Career Master's Program.

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Experiential Learning

Experiential learning opportunities and field labs pair students with state and local agencies in Greater Boston to tackle critical policy issues from many angles. 

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Executive Education

Appointed officials from Boston and Cambridge are eligible for full- and partial-tuition scholarships to short-term Executive Education programs at the Kennedy School.

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for practitioners
Through world-class, in-depth research from Harvard's faculty and post-doctoral students, the Rappaport Institute is helping find solutions to challenges facing Greater Boston and drive policy action. The Institute also serves as a forum for Greater Boston's thought leaders, urban scholars, community advocates, and students to discuss the pressing issues facing the city and its surrounding communities.
 

Scaling Auctions as Insurance: A Case Study of Mass DOT

Infrastructure projects are often complex and subject to unexpected changes. The paper on which this brief is based studies how contracts for construction work are allocated.

read the Policy Brief
 

Chelsea Eats Guaranteed Income Pilot Program

The Rappaport Institute is analyzing the impact of Chelsea Eats, a guaranteed income pilot program launched by the City of Chelsea in September 2020 to support Chelsea residents during the COVID-19 crisis. 

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Massachusetts Food Access During COVID-19

The Massachusetts Food Access project interviewed families to learn about the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 crisis. The project aims to improve the delivery of services and discover stories that motivate action. 

Read the Research
Work with US
The Rappaport Institute works with cities, towns, agencies, and nonprofits to improve the governance of Greater Boston by strengthening connections among the region's scholars, students, and civic leaders. Explore ways to leverage our efforts and work with us below.
 

POLICY ANALYSIS EXERCISE

Through the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) students examine and develop solutions for a public or nonprofit sector policy or management issue presented by a client organization. Learn how to become a PAE client. 

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Public Policy Fellowship

Rappaport Public Policy Fellows contribute their passion and ideas to state and local host agencies throughout Greater Boston while working on some of the most critical public policy issues. Learn more about hosting a fellow. 

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Partnerships for Impact

Experiential learning, convenings, and research from the Rappaport Institute are making a difference for communities in Greater Boston. From paid summer internships to full-tuition scholarships for elected and appointed officials, the institute equips rising and current leaders with tools to effectively solve public problems.

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