Highlights
Unconditional cash transfers and nutrition impacts
New Rappaport Institute analysis of the Chelsea Eats program shows recurring UCTs reduced caloric deficits and improved intake of nutrient-dense foods.
New initiative to tackle Greater Boston policy challenges
The Rappaport Institute's Dean's Research Initiative will award $2 million in grants for Harvard faculty-led projects tackling Massachusetts’ biggest challenges through public‑private partnerships.
Social housing and redevelopment authorities
Research from the Joint Center for Housing Studies funded by the Rappaport Institute, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, and Cambridge Community Foundation explores the role of redevelopment authorities in promoting new social housing.
A new vision for one Greater Boston town
Through the Urban Politics Field Lab, Kennedy School students helped to craft a vision plan to increase commercial development to mitigate its current overreliance on residential property taxes in Belmont.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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