Catalysts for Change: Recent Episodes
Shah Family Foundation
Interviews with game-changers about timely topics in education, wellness and America’s neighborhoods.
Every decision we make is guided by incentives. From financial incentives to social and political incentives – how we are rewarded shapes how we behave and the choices we make. Have you ever thought about why you do what you do, or why decisions get made a certain way? We're digging into these questions in this special three-part podcast series that we’re calling, “What Drives Us?”
Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore how incentives in education and government impact the lives of kids and the adults who serve them - from educators and health care providers, to social workers, to guidance counselors and coaches. We’ll be speaking with academics and industry leaders to understand how incentives work and the barriers they often pose to reform and innovation in these fields.
Today, in the first episode of this three-part special series, Jill is joined by Professor Uri Gneezy, Epstein/Atkinson Chair in Management Leadership at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management and author of “Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work,” to talk about what incentives are, how they work, and how to recognize and understand their impact on every aspect of our lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This year, the CDC’s annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey offered a grim outlook for the wellbeing of young people. Over the last two months, we’ve brought together experts, advocates, and school leaders to better understand the impact of social media on teen mental health in this special five-part podcast series that we’re calling, “Can Teens Survive the Digital World?”
In our last episode, we were joined by Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. Today, in the fifth and final episode of this series, Jill is joined by Richard Louv, bestselling author and speaker, to talk about the role of the great outdoors in healthy development and why spending more time outside is key to our physical and mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This year, the CDC’s annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey offered a grim outlook for the wellbeing of young people. Over the next few weeks, we’re bringing together experts, advocates, and school leaders to better understand the impact of social media on teen mental health in this special five-part podcast series that we’re calling, “Can Teens Survive the Digital World?” In our last episode, we spoke with clinical psychologist Dr. Jaqueline Nesi about parenting in the social media age. Today, in the fourth episode of this series, Jill is joined by Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, along with Chief of Student Support Jillian Kelton, to talk about how social media impacts kids in and out of school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On September 28, for the first time in 50 years, the White House held a Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health. This year’s conference comes as millions of families across the country struggle to access high-quality calories. In 2021 alone, 13.5 million households were food insecure, and in June of 2022, more than 24 million Americans reported they sometimes or often did not have enough to eat during the week. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be speaking with food leaders of different types to understand America’s relationship with food and the resulting impact on all of us, and particularly our most vulnerable communities, in a special series called “Catalysts for Change: Ingredients for Success.” In the last episode, Jill was joined by Representative Jim McGovern, who represents District 2 in Massachusetts and serves as Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this second episode, Jill is joined by Andy Fisher, an anti-hunger activist and author of “Big Hunger,” to talk about the food industry, the anti-hunger movement, and the history of food access in the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Yesterday, the people of Massachusetts elected Attorney General Maura Healey to be the next governor of Massachusetts. Governor-elect Healey was a guest on this podcast last year, where she talked about her views on health care, racial justice, education, food access, and other key issues. It was an engaging conversation that sheds a lot of light on how she'll approach the job of governor, and so today, direct from the vault, enjoy the re-release of this episode of “Catalysts for Change” featuring Attorney General, and now Governor-elect, Maura Healey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On September 28, for the first time in 50 years, the White House held a Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health. This year’s conference comes as millions of families across the country struggle to access high-quality calories. In 2021 alone, 13.5 million households were food insecure, and in June of 2022, more than 24 million Americans reported they sometimes or often did not have enough to eat during the week. Why do so many families struggle with food insecurity? And, why, in the past 50 years, have we seen such a giant increase in chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be speaking with food leaders of different types to understand America’s relationship with food and the resulting impact on all of us, and particularly our most vulnerable communities, in a special series called “Catalysts for Change: Ingredients for Success.” In this first episode, Jill is joined by Representative Jim McGovern, who represents District 2 in Massachusetts and serves as Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, to talk about the recent White House conference and the role of government in solving food access and health issues that have largely stayed the same or worsened since the first conference on food was held in 1969. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of “Catalysts for Change,” Jill is joined by Rahn Dorsey, Chief Impact Officer at the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation and former Chief of Education for the City of Boston under Mayor Marty Walsh. Jill speaks with Rahn about how public and private partners can effectively work together to spark innovation in education and improve student outcomes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Jill speaks with Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder and Chairman of Moderna, about the development and growth of novel mRNA technology, the growing role of biotechnology in our lives, and the behind-the-scenes decision-making that made Moderna a household name in the fight against COVID-19. To learn more about Noubar’s work and about Moderna, check out the resources below: Noubar Afeyan’s Biography Moderna Website Noubar Afeyan’s Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Boston is an incredible place to live and work – full of innovative leaders, brilliant researchers, institutions at the cutting edge of their fields, and wonderful and effective public and private partners. In many ways, the work that happens here in Boston serves as a model for the rest of the country. This summer, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building a stronger, healthier, and more livable city, and we hope you gain as much from their perspectives and insights as we did. In our fourth and final episode of this special series, Jill is joined by Dr. Robyn Riseberg, founder of Boston Community Pediatrics, which is piloting a new and innovative model for comprehensive medical care for our city’s most vulnerable children. Jill talks with Robyn about why she started this practice and what opportunities this model presents for the future of pediatric care in our state and our country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Boston is an incredible place to live and work – full of innovative leaders, brilliant researchers, institutions at the cutting edge of their fields, and wonderful and effective public and private partners. In many ways, the work that happens here in Boston serves as a model for the rest of the country. This summer, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building a stronger, healthier, and more livable city, and we hope you gain as much from their perspectives and insights as we did. In our third episode, Jill is joined by Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets, Transportation, and Sanitation for the City of Boston, to talk about how the pandemic impacted transit in Boston, what the Wu administration is doing to improve our outdoor quality-of-life, and how he weighs the tradeoffs between buses, bikes, and cars when reimagining our transportation system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Boston is an incredible place to live and work – full of innovative leaders, brilliant researchers, institutions at the cutting edge of their fields, and wonderful and effective public and private partners. In many ways, the work that happens here in Boston serves as a model for the rest of the country. Over the next few weeks, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building a stronger, healthier, and more livable city, and we hope you gain as much from their perspectives and insights as we did. In our second episode, Jill is joined by Robert Lewis, Jr., President & CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, to talk about how his leadership was shaped by his childhood in the Boston Public Schools, the important life lessons learned from team sports, and how the language we use shapes the expectations we set for the next generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As we get into the full swing of summer in Boston, we're excited to share a special series of "Catalysts for Change" that we're calling "In and Around Boston." Over the next few weeks, we’re speaking with innovative local leaders about what they’re doing to make Boston a stronger, healthier, and more livable city. In the first episode of this limited series, Jill speaks with Justin Pasquariello, Executive Director of the East Boston Social Centers, about growing up in Boston, the critical ways in which his organization creates joy for East Boston families, and how his life experiences help inform a more comprehensive approach to social services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Jill is joined by Todd Rose, co-founder of the think-tank Populace and author of the new national bestseller, Collective Illusions. Jill speaks with Todd about how to understand what is happening in our country culturally, politically, and civically; how Populace’s method of private opinion polling allows for a better understanding of people’s true beliefs; how Americans are often closer aligned than it may appear; and how to confront these “collective illusions” in our day-to-day lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Introducing a special episode from the Shah Family Foundation's other podcast, Last Night at School Committee:
The City of Boston has a new mayor, and Mayor Wu and her appointed school committee have begun a search for a new Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Boston has had 6 superintendents in 16 years - three of whom served Interim roles - and all who worked tirelessly on behalf of students, families and staff to improve aspects of BPS. What type of leader does BPS need now? What are the city’s priorities for our public school system? Who can be successful in the role? What can Bostonians do to make the next Superintendent’s term impactful and successful? In this special series of “Last Night at School Committee,” we bring together more than a dozen community leaders, as well as all 6 superintendents from the last 16 years, and ask them to weigh in on these questions. This first episode features the voices of 14 Boston leaders – teachers, principals, education advocates, nonprofit leaders, union leaders, political leaders, former School Committee members, and others – offering their perspectives on the role of the superintendent, key priorities for Boston Public Schools, and how the community can come together to support our school district and its new leader. Below is a list of all participants in this episode:
Will Austin, Founder and CEO, Boston Schools Fund
Edith Bazile, BPS Parent and Grandparent, Former BPS Teacher, Special Education and Literacy Advocate
Erik Berg, Vice President, Boston Teachers Union
Ernani DeAraujo, Former Boston School Committee Member
Fabienne Eliacin, BPS Parent and Former Member of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SpEdPAC)
Dr. Caren Walker Gregory, Head of School, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers
Matt Holzer, Headmaster, Boston Green Academy
Suzanne Lee, Former Principal of the Josiah Quincy Elementary School, Co-Chair of the English Language Learner (ELL) Task Force
Cole Moran, Teacher, Charlestown High School
James Morton, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Boston
Alexandra Oliver-Dávila, Former Chair of the Boston School Committee and Executive Director of Sociedad Latina
Elizabeth Pauley, Associate Vice President, Education to Career and Health and Wellness, The Boston Foundation
Tanisha Sullivan, President, NAACP Boston
Dave Sweeney, Former Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh
To learn more about the participants and see a video version of the episode highlighting each speaker, visit BostonSuperintendent.com. And be sure to subscribe to the Last Night at School Committee podcast for the rest of the episodes in this series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss, to a complete rewiring of how we think. And during that time, we’ve seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience?
We’re diving into these questions with a special four-part series called “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our last episode, Jill spoke with Kat Boit, student leader at Harvard University and co-president of Active Minds, a nationwide organization aiming to change the conversation about mental health and provide support and awareness for college students across the country. In the last episode of this series, Jill talks with Roz Picard, Director of the Affective Computing Research Group at the MIT Media Lab and founding faculty chair of MIT's Mind+Hand+Heart Initiative, to discuss how artificial intelligence and other technologies can be used as a scalable way to detect and treat mental health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss in schools, to a complete rewiring of how we think about our interactions with others. And during that time, we have seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience?
We’re diving into these questions with a special four-part series called “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our last episode, Jill spoke with John Crocker, founder and director of the Massachusetts Mental Health Consortium, and Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services for Methuen Public Schools. In this episode, Jill speaks with Kat Boit, student leader at Harvard University and co-president of Active Minds, a nationwide organization aiming to change the conversation about mental health and provide support and awareness for college students across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss in schools, to a complete rewiring of how we think about our interactions with others. And during that time, we have seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into these questions with a special four-part series called “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our first episode, Jill spoke with Dr. Maurizio Fava, Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. In this episode, Jill speaks with John Crocker, founder and director of the Massachusetts Mental Health Consortium, and Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services for Methuen Public Schools, about the ways in which young people are experiencing and coping with mental health right now, and the role of schools in prevention and treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss in schools, to a complete rewiring of how we think about our interactions with others. And during that time, we have seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into these questions with a special four-part series called, “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our first episode, Jill speaks with Dr. Maurizio Fava, Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, about the science of mental health and the ways in which our experiences over the past two years have created a “pandemic within a pandemic.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves through the American labor market. Millions of Americans lost or left their jobs, and employers are having a harder time than ever recruiting workers. From government officials, to academics, to business leaders and employees, everyone is asking the same questions: Where is our workforce, how has the pandemic impacted the way we work, and what does it mean for the future of work? Over the past few weeks, we’ve done a deep-dive into these questions with a special three-part series called “Catalysts for Change: The Changing Workforce.” In the third and final episode of this special series, Jill speaks with Corey Thomas, Chairman and CEO of the Boston-based cybersecurity company Rapid7, who discusses how business leaders are adapting to the new normal and what the future of work will bring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves through the American labor market. Millions of Americans lost or left their jobs, and employers are having a harder time than ever recruiting workers. From government officials, to academics, to business leaders and employees, everyone is asking the same questions: Where is our workforce, how has the pandemic impacted the way we work, and what does it mean for the future of work? Over the next few weeks, we’re diving into these questions with a special three-part series called “Catalysts for Change: The Changing Workforce.” In our second episode, Jill speaks with Dan Schneider, Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and Co-Director of the SHIFT project, which has the largest source of data on service sector workers in the United States. Having collected and studied data on workforce trends since long before the pandemic began, we talk with Dan about how the pandemic – and the government aid that came with it – altered ideas about work, and where we go from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves through the American labor market. Millions of Americans lost or left their jobs, and employers are having a harder time than ever recruiting workers. From government officials, to academics, to business leaders and employees, everyone is asking the same questions: Where is our workforce, how has the pandemic impacted the way we work, and what does it mean for the future of work? Over the next few weeks, we’re diving into these questions with a special three-part series called “Catalysts for Change: The Changing Workforce.” In our first episode, Jill speaks with U.S. Secretary of Labor – and former Boston Mayor – Marty Walsh about how the makeup of the American workforce has changed, what the government is doing to help businesses and employees adapt, and how these changes impact daily life in our hometown of Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Jill talks with Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO reporter and author of the Massachusetts Playbook, about the state of politics in Boston, the historic nature of Boston’s recent mayoral election, key issues facing Mayor Michelle Wu, and the implications of Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement that he will not be seeking reelection. Prior to working at POLITICO, Lisa covered politics, state government and the 2020 presidential election for the Boston Herald. She is also an alum of The Eagle-Tribune, The Patriot Ledger and Wicked Local, and has won several regional awards for her work. Lisa graduated from Boston University with degrees in journalism and psychology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Jill talks with David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former advisor to President Obama, about his upbringing in an immigrant family, his experience working in the White House, what he learned from traveling the country and speaking with Americans in every community, and how the Obama Foundation empowers local leaders from around the globe. A native of Taunton, Massachusetts, David spent his entire career in public service, getting his start as the Bristol County Register of Deeds and then Deputy Chief of Staff for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. In 2009, David joined the Obama Administration as a Deputy Assistant to the President, working alongside senior advisors David Axelrod and David Plouffe. He then served as Director of Opinion Research for President Obama’s re-election campaign, and later, David became Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach. After leaving the White House, David was named CEO of the newly-created Obama Foundation, which is based on the South Side of Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Jill speaks with Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education and current Managing Partner of Chicago CRED, about how to build more robust school systems, the impacts of gun violence and mental health on America’s youth, and more. Arne served as President Obama’s first U.S. Secretary of Education from 2009 to 2016, where his initiatives included increases in Pell Grants and reform efforts such as Race to the Top. Before joining the Obama administration, Arne was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools for seven years, where he earned praise for reforming the education system and overseeing the opening of more than 100 schools. He joined Chicago Public Schools after helping to found and run the I Have a Dream Foundation, which, among many things, helped fund education for vulnerable students who had no easy path to paying for college. Currently, Arne is Managing Partner of Chicago CRED (Create Real Economic Destiny), which he co-founded with Laurene Powell Jobs, and which works to radically reduce gun violence and bring hope to Chicago’s vulnerable youth. Arne is a lifelong Chicagoan and a former professional basketball player, having played in college at Harvard University and in the Australian professional league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with Rick Weissbourd, Faculty Director of Human Development and Psychology at Harvard Graduate School of Education. The director of the Making Caring Common Project, Rick’s work focuses on children's moral development, on vulnerability and resilience in childhood, and on how to encourage and prioritize caring, compassion, and companionship among children in and out of school. Making Caring Common is a national effort to make moral and social development priorities in child-raising and to provide strategies to schools and parents for promoting caring, a commitment to justice and other key moral, emotional and social capacities. As part of the Making Caring Common project, Rick leads Turning the Tide, a national effort to reform college admissions that has engaged almost 200 college admissions offices in promoting ethical engagement, reducing damaging achievement pressure in high school and increasing equity and access for economically disadvantaged students. Rick is a founder of several interventions for children, including ReadBoston and WriteBoston, citywide literacy initiatives led by Mayor Menino. He has written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, CNN, The New Republic, NPR, and Psychology Today. He is the author of two books including The Parents We Mean to Be: How Well-Intentioned Adults Undermine Children's Moral and Emotional Development. We talk to Rick about perceptions of caring, achievement, and happiness for children and adults, the need for emphasizing care in our lives, and much more about his work with Making Caring Common. If you would like to learn more about Rick’s work and about the Making Caring Common Project, check out the links below. Rick Weissbourd Biography The Making Caring Common Project Website Making Caring Common on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with Francis Goulliart and Lorena Lorenzet, two local food entrepreneurs who helped create Local Lunchbox, an innovative new program borne out of the pandemic that provides free, fresh, locally-prepared food for families. Francis is the CEO of Stock Pot Malden, and Lorena is a celebrated local chef and owner of the Farm Girl Food Truck. Local Lunchbox was created in June 2020 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to help address the overwhelming food insecurity facing this community during the height of the pandemic. Since then, in partnership with Stock Pot Malden and the YMCA, Local Lunchbox has expanded to more than half a dozen communities across Massachusetts and created more than 50 food service jobs, many of which have gone to people who had been collecting meals for their families through the program. As the program grew from hundreds to thousands of meals per week, an offshoot called “Retail Lunchbox” was created, in which the free meals are served directly out of popular local restaurants. As of August 2021, Local Lunchbox has served over two million meals to children and teenagers across Massachusetts. We talk to Francis and Lorena about their backgrounds, the origins and growth of Local Lunchbox, and the potential for this model to be replicated and scaled around the country. If you would like to learn more about Local Lunchbox, check out the resources below: Local Lunchbox Website Local Lunchbox in the News
Learn More About Stock Pot Malden
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In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with Aaron Feuer, Co-Founder and CEO of Panorama Education. A fast-growing, ed-tech company based out of Boston, Aaron works with school districts across the country to help make education better for kids, and to include students in the process of assessing and improving the way schools work. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Aaron’s work with Panorama was born out of his experiences as a student advocate while attending public schools in Southern California. His advocacy work helped to push legislation in California that uplifted student voices, and during his junior year at Yale University, he created Panorama. Since its founding in 2012, Aaron has worked with school districts across the country, including Boston Public Schools, San Bernardino Unified School District, and many more, providing college- and career-readiness tools, school climate surveys, and social-emotional learning assessments. With more than 13 million students across the country, Aaron has expanded Panorama to serve school districts across all 50 states. We talk with Aaron about his experiences as a student organizer and what led him to finding Panorama, the role Panorama plays in supporting school districts and students across the country, how Panorama is effectively used in supporting student outcomes, its role in understanding student data, and more. If you would like to learn more about Aaron Feuer and Panorama, please check out the links below: Aaron Feuer Twitter Connect with Aaron Feuer Panorama Education Website Panorama Education and Boston Public Schools Panorama Education Success Stories
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In our fifth installment of our special series, “Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston”, Jill talks with John Barros. The Chief of Economic Development for former Mayor Marty Walsh, Barros previously ran for Mayor of Boston in 2013. John Barros joined Mayor Walsh’s administration in 2014 to establish the new Economic Development cabinet and lead the department for seven years. Before working for the Walsh administration, he served as Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and also served on the Boston School Committee. A lifelong resident of Roxbury and Dorchester, he attended Dartmouth College and Tufts University. He currently resides in Dorchester with his wife and four children. We talk with John Barros about his background growing up in Boston, his time leading the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and serving on the Boston School Committee, the initiatives he led as Chief of Economic Development, and how he will draw from his experience to help Boston thrive as we recover from the pandemic. If you would like to learn more about John Barros’s campaign, please check out the resources below. Resources: John Barros’s Campaign Website Meet John Barros John Barros’s Twitter John Barros’s Campaign Stances Ways to Engage with John Barros’s Campaign
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In the fourth episode of our special series, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston, Jill talks with Dr. Jon Santiago, State Representative for the 9th District of Suffolk County. An attending physician in the Boston Medical Center’s emergency room, he has served as a State Representative since being elected in 2018. Raised in Boston after his family immigrated from Puerto Rico, Rep. Santiago went on to volunteer for the Peace Corps, serve as a Fullbright Scholar in Paris, and attend Yale Medical School. Following medical school, Rep. Santiago returned to Boston to work at Boston Medical Center, where he is an attending physician in the Emergency Department. In 2018, he ran against a 35-year incumbent for the 9th Suffolk District and was sworn in as state representative in 2019. In addition to his work as a state representative and physician, Rep. Santiago is also a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and has been deployed overseas. He lives in the South End with his wife. We talk with Rep. Santiago about his experience as an immigrant growing up in Boston, how his medical background impacts his work as a public servant, his vision for improving Boston’s neighborhoods, and more. If you would like to learn more about Jon Santiago’s campaign, please check out the resources below. Resources: Jon Santiago’s Campaign Website Meet Jon Santiago Jon Santiago’s Twitter Jon Santiago’s Campaign Stances Ways to Engage with Jon Santiago’s Campaign
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In our third episode of our special series, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston, Jill talks with Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell. A lifelong resident of Boston who represents District 4, Andrea has served on the council since being elected in 2015. Raised in Roxbury and the South End, Councilor Campbell graduated from Boston Public Schools and Boston Latin School, going on to attend Princeton University and UCLA Law School. Following law school, Councilor Campbell worked as a lawyer, serving as deputy legal counsel for Governor Deval Patrick as well as spending time in the private sector. In 2015, she successfully ran against a 32-year incumbent to represent District 4 on the City Council, and in 2018, she became the first Black woman to serve as the City Council President. She and her family live in Mattapan. We talk with Councilor Campbell about her journey, her experiences growing up in Boston, her work as a city councilor, her vision for an equitable Boston, and more. If you would like to learn more about Andrea Campbell’s campaign, please check out the resources below. Resources: Andrea Campbell’s Campaign Website Meet Andrea Campbell Andrea Campbell’s Twitter Andrea Campbell’s Campaign Stances Ways to Engage with Andrea Campbell’s Campaign
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We are excited to release our special podcast series on the Boston mayoral election, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston. 2021 is an important year for Bostonians -- we will recover from Covid-19, and we will elect a new mayor. This is a historic election. For the first time in history, Boston will have a mayor who is a person of color. With six candidates and an open seat following Mayor Walsh’s departure to Washington D.C., there’s a lot to cover, and we’ll be diving in over the next six weeks with each of the candidates about everything from education, to economic development, to racial justice, to their favorite coffee shops and restaurants in Boston, and more. In the second episode of our special series, ‘Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston’, Jill talks with City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, a lifelong resident of Dorchester and former Boston Public Schools teacher. Born and raised in Dorchester as the daughter of immigrants, Councilor Essaibi George graduated from Boston Public Schools and the O'Bryant School of Math and Science. After teaching for 13 years at East Boston High School, she successfully ran for an at-large seat on the Boston City Council. Councilor Essaibi George has served on the City Council since 2015 and currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Education and of the Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health, and Recovery. She currently lives in Dorchester with her husband and 4 children. We talk with Councilor Essaibi George about her background growing up in Boston, her career as an educator and small business owner, her vision and plans for leading Boston out of the pandemic, and more. If you would like to learn more about Councilor Essaibi George’s campaign, please check out the links below. Resources: Annissa Essaibi George Campaign Website Annissa Essaibi George’s Twitter Meet Annissa Essaibi George Annissa Essaibi George’s Campaign Stances Ways to Engage with Annissa Essaibi George’s Campaign
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We are excited to release our special podcast series on the Boston mayoral election, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston. 2021 is an important year for Bostonians -- we will recover from Covid-19, and we will elect a new mayor. This is a historic election. For the first time in history, Boston will have a mayor who is a person of color. With six candidates and an open seat following Mayor Walsh’s departure to Washington D.C., there’s a lot to cover, and we’ll be diving in over the next six weeks with each of the candidates about everything from education, to economic development, to racial justice, to their favorite coffee shops and restaurants in Boston, and more. In this first episode, we are joined by Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu, who has served as an at-large member of the council since being elected in 2013. Michelle Wu previously worked at City Hall for Mayor Tom Menino and his chief of staff, Mitch Weiss, and on Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2012 senate campaign. She graduated from Harvard Law School and currently lives in Roslindale with her husband and two kids. We talk with Councilor Wu about her background and journey to Boston, her work as a Boston City Councilor, her plans for Boston schools, her vision on environmental justice, the tea shop she used to run, and more. If you would like to learn more about Michelle Wu’s campaign, please check out the resources below. Resources: Michelle Wu for Mayor Campaign Website Meet Michelle Wu Michelle Wu’s Twitter Michelle Wu’s Campaign Stances Ways to Engage with Michelle Wu’s Campaign
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In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with District Attorney Rachael Rollins of Suffolk County. Since 2019, DA Rollins has been the chief law enforcement officer for Boston, Winthrop, Chelsea, and Revere. She is the first woman ever elected as District Attorney in Suffolk County and the first woman of color ever elected District Attorney in Massachusetts. A lifelong resident of Boston and Cambridge, DA Rollins previously served on the Judicial Nominating Commission and as general counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, nominated by former Governor Deval Patrick. Since taking office as District Attorney in 2019, DA Rollins has implemented policies aimed at reducing the prosecution of misdemeanors that are tied to mental health issues, substance use disorders, food and housing insecurities, and immigration status. She created the Discharge Integrity Team to help investigate officer-involved shootings and allegations of excessive force, as well as the Integrity Review Bureau (IRB) that looks not only at post-conviction claims of innocence, but also reviews unconstitutional, unethical, and unjust convictions, as well as sentencing disparities. We talk with DA Rollins about her background growing up in Boston and what inspired her to go into law, her innovative use of data and analytics to bring transparency and accountability to the District Attorney’s Office, and the ways in which she uses her office to drive policies aimed at creating a more just and equitable legal system. If you would like to read more about Rachael Rollins and her work as Suffolk County District Attorney, please check out the links below. Meet District Attorney Rachael Rollins Rachael Rollins Biography Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Website Rachael Rollins’s Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Lee Pelton, current President of Emerson College, who will soon become the CEO of The Boston Foundation. Starting officially at The Boston Foundation on June 1st, Dr. Pelton has an extensive background in higher education and a deep passion for service. Throughout his career, Dr. Pelton has worked to address social justice issues. A common theme in his lectures, speeches and writing has been to ask us “to share our talents and resources with those who have not had the good fortune to participate in the bounty of life.” Pelton grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where he graduated from Wichita State University. He left Kansas to earn a Ph.D. in 19th century English and American Literature and Languages at Harvard University. After teaching at Harvard, he served as Dean of the College at Colgate University and Dartmouth College and then served for 13 years as the president of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He has spent the past 10 years at Emerson College, where his leadership has been called “transformational”. In addition to his work at Emerson, Lee is involved with a number of non-profit organizations and supports their work with his informed take on racial equity. We talk to Lee about his journey leading him to Emerson College, his vision and aspirations for his role with The Boston Foundation, the current state of Boston and the important issues facing its residents. If you would like to read more about Dr. Pelton’s work, check out the resources below. Lee Pelton Biography Lee Pelton and The Boston Foundation Lee Pelton’s Letter to Students in June 2020 on Racial Injustice Lee Pelton’s Twitter The Boston Foundation’s Website
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In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Massachusetts Attorney General, Maura Healey. The people’s lawyer, Attorney General Healey talks to us about her work in representing all residents of Massachusetts as well as how her support and information from her office intersects with solving current key state-wide issues including food access and housing security. Maura Healey began serving as Massachusetts Attorney General in January 2015 and is leading the people’s law firm as the people’s lawyer, continuing a career spent fighting for justice and equal rights. Her historic victory in her first-ever run for office was driven by a strong grassroots campaign where she bested well-financed, establishment candidates in both the Democratic primary and the general election in November 2014. While being sworn in, AG Healey vowed to lead an office guided by her core values and driven by the issues that matter to the people of the Commonwealth – from health care and energy costs to protecting consumers, ensuring equality for all and keeping our communities safer. During the pandemic, the Attorney General has been helping to fight inequities across a spectrum of issues. We talk to Attorney General Healey about her journey to becoming the Attorney General of Massachusetts, the impact of COVID-19 on her office’s work, and current issues that she is addressing in Massachusetts. To learn more about the Attorney General’s office and Attorney General Healey’s work, please check out the links below. Office of Attorney General Healey Website Follow AG Healey on Twitter AG Healey on Student Loan Forgiveness Maura Healey’s Website
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In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Maria Fenwick, founder and Executive Director of The Teacher Collaborative. A former teacher in Boston Public Schools herself, Maria talks to us about how teachers are dealing with the pandemic and navigating remote teaching and learning. Maria has spent her career working with and supporting teachers across Massachusetts as a teacher in Boston Public Schools and, most recently, as an independent consultant. In 2016, Maria founded The Teacher Collaborative, which connects teachers across schools and districts, supports them to develop solutions to common challenges, and empowers them to share their ideas to make schools better places for students to learn. Maria and her team at The Teacher Collaborative work with teachers across the state to empower their voices, accelerate improvements in schools and districts in Massachusetts, and more, through teacher-directed programming. As teachers have had to adapt to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we talk to Maria about how teachers are supporting their students, how they’ve adapted to address challenges in their classrooms, and the current state and future of education. If you would like to learn more about Maria and The Teacher Collaborative and how to support them, check out the resources below. Here is a link to The Teacher Collaborative website Twitter: @TheTeacherCoLab / @MariaFenwick Instagram: @TheTeacherCoLab Facebook: @TheTeacherCollaborative LinkedIn: @TeacherCollaborative
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In today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Deanne Galdston, Superintendent of Watertown Public Schools. As more and more school districts in Massachusetts begin to reopen their schools, Superintendent Galdston talks to us about Watertown Public Schools’ COVID-19 surveillance testing program and how they successfully and safely brought students back to school. Superintendent Galdston began her work as Superintendent in 2017. She began her professional career as a Spanish and history teacher in San Jose, California, New York City, and in Billerica, Massachusetts. In Billerica, she went on to serve as a curriculum coordinator, high school assistant principal, and eventually assistant superintendent. Since beginning her tenure in the Watertown Public Schools, Dr. Galdston leads the district in the attainment of its strategic objectives, focused on equity, excellence, community, and Building for the Future. We talk to Superintendent Galdston about the efforts made to reopen schools in Watertown, how surveillance testing works in schools, and more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her efforts have focused on a safe return to in-person learning, employing a variety of mitigation strategies for her students and staff, which includes the surveillance testing program to allow for safe in-person learning. Schools across the state have begun to implement surveillance testing in their schools to safely re-open for students and staff. If you would like to learn more about this and efforts in Watertown Public Schools, check out the resources below. Here is the link to understanding COVID-19 pooled testing in Massachusetts schools Here is a link looking at the surveillance testing program in Watertown Public Schools Pooled Testing Program Information from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Superintendent Deanne Galdston’s Biography Deanne Galdston’s Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Natalie Wexler, education writer and author of The Knowledge Gap, her most recent novel on the achievement gap and how to fix America’s education system. A senior contributor to Forbes.com, we talk to Natalie about The Knowledge Gap, the exacerbating effect of Covid-19, the state of America’s education system, and how to fix it. Having been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other publications, Natalie focuses her work on education and inequities in the American education system. Recently, Natalie has written about the use of admissions tests for selective high schools, education and public policy, and more. In 2019, Natalie authored The Knowledge Gap, centered around the problem of the achievement gap and her idea of how we should be teaching all children not through the emphasis of reading comprehension “skills” but rather through the presentation of knowledge. Through The Knowledge Gap, Natalie presents the stories of educators, students, and parents to highlight current practices in education and how it can be changed so that all students receive a meaningful, rigorous education. We talk to Natalie about what is being taught in school and what should be taught in school, addressing opportunity and achievement gaps, and more, in understanding how to transform our education system. If you’d like to read more of Natalie’s work, check out the links below. Resources: Natalie Wexler’s website The Knowledge Gap Here is a recent article about admissions testing for selective schools Here is an interview of Natalie Wexler on Morning Joe discussing The Knowledge Gap
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On this week’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Latoya Gayle, former executive director of Boston Schools Finder and co-founder of March Like a Mother. Latoya is a community activist focused on the success of all students and families in Boston. She is planning to launch a new civic innovation lab, Liberation Lab, where she will focus on supporting families and communities in building and sustaining bases of power through civic engagement, capacity building, and leadership development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Mitchell Weiss, Richard L. Menschel and Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School. The former chief of staff to Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston, Jill talks to Mitch about his new book, We the Possibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Feng Zhang, a founder of CRISPR, McGovern Investigator and professor in MIT’s Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and of Biological Engineering. A core member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, today’s conversation with Feng focuses on COVID-19 testing, vaccines, vaccine shortages, virus variants, and more relevant issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Happy New Year! In the first episode of Catalysts for Change in 2021, Jill talks to Mayor Michael Tubbs, Mayor of Stockton, California. Having collaborated with key movers and shakers in the Democratic Party, Mayor Tubbs has been a major figure in politics, as well as a significant supporter of guaranteed income programs. A lifelong resident of Stockton, Tubbs grew up poor and was raised in a single parent household, before going on to graduate from Stockton Public Schools and, then, Stanford University. At Stanford, Tubbs majored in comparative studies in race and ethnicity, and spent time as an intern in the Obama White House. After graduating from Stanford, Tubbs successfully ran for a spot on Stockton’s city council in 2012 as the youngest person ever elected to the position. Three years later, Tubbs was elected Mayor of Stockton. As Mayor, Tubbs started and implemented the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, a Guaranteed Income program that gives 125 residents of Stockton $500 a month. Out of this work, he founded Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, organizing Mayors around pilots and advocacy of guaranteed income for the underserved. Stockton’s guaranteed income program has become a national example, with many other cities and programs following Stockton’s lead, including the Shah Family Foundation’s work in Chelsea, MA. A key advocate of guaranteed income strategies, we talk to Mayor Tubbs about Stockton’s guaranteed income program, how it became a reality, its impact and importance over time, and more about Mayor Tubbs’ work in Stockton. If you would like to read more about Mayor Tubbs, as well as the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, check out the links below. Here is Mayor Michael Tubbs’ biography Here is the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration website Here is a link to a recent Boston Globe article about a new guaranteed income project in Chelsea MA Here is a link to Michael Tubbs’ Twitter Here is an article about Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and the COVID-19 Pandemic
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In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Steve Koczela, president of MassINC Polling Group. Founded in 2010, Steve has helped grow MassINC Polling into a leader of measuring and interpreting public opinion in Massachusetts and in the United States. A recent poll conducted by MPG has revealed important feedback from families regarding learning during the pandemic in Massachusetts schools. Over the past 10 years, Steve has helped grow the MassINC Polling Group into a respected poll provider across the country. He has worked with WBUR in providing election polling in an 8-year partnership, which has been widely considered the state’s poll of record. His analysis has been featured on CNN, WBUR, NHPR, and other national and regional news outlets. Before founding and working for MPG, he conducted survey research for the U.S. Department of State, the Obama 2008 presidential campaign, and other private corporations. We talk to Steve about a recent poll he conducted in November regarding the start of the 2020-21 school year. Sampling families across Massachusetts, the poll reveals important insights into how different types of learning are impacting students and trends that indicate underlying issues and inequities. To read MPG’s poll, you can find it here. Check out some of the other important resources below. Resources: Here is the Boston Globe article that discusses MPG’s poll Here is more information about the MassINC Polling Group Here is a link to Steve Koczela’s Biography Here are the most recent polls MPG has published
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In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Todd Rose, co-founder and president of Populace. A former professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Todd’s innovative work focuses on the way we think, work and live. Todd’s work regarding individual potential, and ultimate success, involves his research on the myth of being average, and his focus on empowering individuals. At Populace, Todd and his team use this notion and focus to reimagine education, work, and society. His work shows us that we are all much closer than we think we are in terms of what we want out of life and for our country. Before co-founding Populace, Todd founded and led the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality, which focused on developing new insights to addressing long standing issues in society. We talk to Todd about his own personal journey, the importance of understanding our individual strengths, and shifting away from the notion of average and norms, as well as his work at Populace. If you would like to learn more about Todd’s work, you can find more information here. You can also read about these ideas in Todd’s best-selling book, Dark Horse. Resources: Todd Rose’s Biography Todd Rose’s TEDx Talk About “The Myth of Being Average” Todd Rose on “Good Morning America” Todd Rose’s Book “Dark Horse” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to James Morton, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. The CEO of the largest social services provider in Massachusetts, James advocates for all families in Boston and works to nurture the potential of every child and promote health and social responsibility. The 13th president and CEO of the YMCA, James previously served at YMCAs in Springfield and Hartford, CT. As the president of the YMCA of Greater Hartford, Morton oversaw substantial growth in innovative programming and membership experience, while also leading a $15 million capital campaign. James is currently a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, serves on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and serves on the City of Boston’s My Brother’s Keeper Advisory Board. We talk to James’ about his personal background and how it has influenced his work and journey, his work with the YMCA and working with Boston residents, the importance of the work of the YMCA during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more. While the pandemic forced many organizations to close, the YMCA of Greater Boston has worked to support their families during these challenging times. If you would like to learn more about James’ work with the YMCA of Greater Boston, please see below. If you would like to support the important efforts made by the YMCA, you can find more information below. Resources: YMCA of Greater Boston Website Support the YMCA of Greater Boston James Morton Biography The Way to a Better Us: A Collection of Reflections from James Morton to the Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Andrew Yang, former 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate and founder of Move Humanity Forward. As you may know, the Shah Family Foundation working on a guaranteed income strategy in Chelsea, MA, and Yang’s work to educate and advocate for a universal basic income has influenced awareness to the degree that over 55% of the American population now understand UBI. While running for president of the United States, Andrew ran with a major focus on implementing a universal basic income for all Americans and building a human centered economy. Although his bid for presidency was unsuccessful, Andrew is seen as a key figure in American politics and has been supporting multiple Democratic candidates this election cycle. Before running for president, Andrew founded and led Venture for America, as well as working for a number of start-ups and as a corporate lawyer. In 2011, he was named by the Obama administration as a “Champion of Change” and later a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. We talk to Andrew about the 2020 Presidential Election, the important senate run-off elections in Georgia, the importance of universal basic income and what that looks like moving forward, and more. If you would like to read more about our work in Chelsea and about Andrew’s work, please visit the links below. Here is a link to Move Humanity Forward, a non-profit started by Andrew Yang Here is a link to a recent Boston Globe article about a new guaranteed income project in Chelsea MA Background on concepts of a universal basic income (UBI) Yang Speaks – A new podcast from Andrew Yang Andrew Yang’s Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and co-chair of the Economic Security Project. As the Shah Foundation begins to support a new guaranteed income program in Chelsea MA, Chris’s work with the Economic Security Project and focus on guaranteed income is relevant and important to understanding guaranteed income initiatives. Chris’s work with the Economic Security Project focuses on supporting policies and initiatives for guaranteed income, which provides individuals with a set amount of money. As co-founder of the Economic Security Project, he has led work to rewrite federal and state tax codes to create a monthly tax credit for Americans most in need, a policy which would create a guaranteed income for working people in the United States, among other initiatives. In addition to his work at the Economic Security Project, Chris also works with the Roosevelt Institute, a progressive think tank working to reimagine the rules of the economy. Before becoming involved in work with guaranteed income, Chris co-founded Facebook and also worked for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. Initiatives in guaranteed income have been seen across the country, with many advocates calling for nation-wide programs, especially with the rise of unemployment rates and wealth gaps during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk to Chris about the basics of guaranteed income, its effects, his work with the Economic Security Project, and more about current policies and pilots. The Foundation excited to be piloting a guaranteed income program in Chelsea MA. If you’d like to learn more about this initiative as well as more info about guaranteed income and Chris’s work, check out the resources listed below. Here is a link to a recent Boston Globe article about a new guaranteed income project in Chelsea MA Here is a link to donate to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, which will help support this guaranteed income project in Chelsea A recent New York Times op-ed by Chris Hughes about the need of a guaranteed income Background on concepts of a universal basic income (UBI) Economic Security Project Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Dr. Alessio Fasano, world-renowned gastroenterologist and chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC). Renowned for his pediatric and gastroenterology work, we focus on Dr. Fasano’s most recent research on COVID-19 and its impact on children. A leader in celiac disease research, Dr. Fasano also directs the Center for Celiac Research, focusing on the treatment of patients with gluten-related disorders, including celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Dr. Fasano also directs the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center at Mass. General and is associate chief for Basic, Clinical and Translational Research. World renowned for his research and work, Dr. Fasano has been featured in hundreds of interviews from outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and more. Released in August, Dr. Fasano and a team of researchers provided insight into how children are impacted by COVID-19, timely with the discussion of the reopening of schools. The research found that children were found to have a higher viral load of the virus in their airways compared to hospitalized adults, and that they are more contagious than originally thought. As schools start to reopen for this school year, Dr. Fasano’s research reminds us about the importance of safely reopening and implementing important protocols to keep children, families, teachers, and communities safe. If you’d like to read more of Dr. Fasasno’s research on COVID-19, please click here. Resources: Here is the full report on Pediatric COVID-19 Response Here is some more information on Dr. Fasano CDC guidelines on protecting yourself and others from COVID-19
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On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Sarah Cherry Rice, founder and Executive Director of Digital Ready and Year 13, aiming to support students in Boston and prepare them to thrive in a diverse, vibrant economy. An innovator in the education sector, Sarah’s work with Digital Ready seeks to break down systemic barriers that historically have prevented many from achieving social mobility and access from high paying jobs in Boston and ultimately rethink K-12 education. As a former teacher, district administrator, and social entrepreneur, Sarah brings innovative thinking of urban public school districts. Before working with Digital Ready, she worked at IDEO to launch an initiative to help public school districts build cultures of creativity and innovation, where teachers and students are empowered to create change. Sarah previously launched Parachute Teachers out of The Harvard Innovation Lab, a start-up that brings community members and industry experts into classrooms as part-time facilitators to generate high quality, real-world learning. Digital Ready aims at preparing the next generation of innovators for Boston — students will become artificial organ designers, massive 3D printed building designers, biomimicry engineers, and more. This year marked the launch of Year 13, a post-secondary year for students in Boston to gain real world experience and provide access in a growing field. In partnership with the Wentworth Institute of Technology and multiple organizations and companies, Year 13 participants leave the program with 18 college credits, a headstart on a Bachelor of Science degree, and access to high paying jobs in Boston’s innovative economy. If you’d like to read more about Sarah’s work at Digital Ready, please visit the links below: Digital Ready and Year 13 Links: Digital Ready website Digital Ready Values
Here is an article from The Boston Globe discussing Year 13 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Mariel Novas, the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Engagement for The Education Trust. A resident of Boston, first generation college student and immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Mariel works toward equitable education experiences for all students, particularly black and brown students. In her work Mariel supports the Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership, a collective effort of civil rights, social justice and education advocates from across the commonwealth, working together to promote educational equity for historically underserved students in our state’s schools. Moving to Boston from the Domincan Republic at five years old, Mariel spent the beginning of her educational journey in Boston Public Schools before moving to a suburban private high school with the support of her teachers and the Steppingstone Foundation. Witnessing the education inequities her fellow students of color and siblings faced as well as being a person of color in a predominantly white private high school, Mariel strives to advocate and support those students today in her work with EdTrust and MEEP while addressing and tackling systemic racism in order to create a more equitable future for all students. If you’d like to read more about Mariel’s work, please check out the links below. Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership:
Here is the MEEP op-ed that was published in the Boston Globe this morning titled “State must fulfill its promise to underserved students”.
Here is MEEP’s “founding” document of sorts: “#1 for Some: Opportunity & Achievement in Massachusetts”.
Link to MEEP’s website (more advocacy resources can be found there)
Education Trust Links:
Here is a link to EdTrust’s website
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On today's episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to the Executive Director of Educators for Excellence, Sarah Iddrissu. At age 11, having suffered through five different elementary schools in two different countries, Sarah took matters into her own hands. She found a challenging school 15 miles from home, which offered a rich and engaged learning experience. Sarah became the first in her family to graduate from college. Sarah has dedicated her career to transforming the educational inequities in the Commonwealth and giving teachers a voice in the policies that impact their students and their profession. Sarah is a former Massachusetts teacher, Boston Public Schools district administrator, and liaison to the Massachusetts commissioner for school and district transformation. Our conversation with Sarah covers her teacher advocacy work, racial inequities, and police in schools. E4E is a teacher-led organization that ensures teachers have a leading voice around issues that are important to them. With 80% of its cohort being union members, Sarah works to build teachers as leaders to drive change. Sarah strives to ensure that police officers are not functioning as disciplinarians or first responders to student distress. Research suggests that having police in schools actually makes students feel less safe Sarah also discusses her co-founded March Like a Mother for Black Lives movement, which was established after the murder of George Floyd. This rally and protest allow mothers from all walks of life to engage in a meaningful conversation with a community committed to racial justice. Transforming systemic educational inequities is challenging. We are grateful for innovators like Sarah, who continue to work to provide better and more equitable outcomes for teachers and students. Connect with Sarah and with her work at the links below. Educators for Excellence links:
Link to E4E Boston's website
Read more on our campaign to invest in kids not cops
Hear directly from educators on how remote learning is going here.
March like a Mother links:
Link to website:
Link to webinar with Ayanna Pressley on Childcare Reform
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On today's episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to the President of the Boston Teachers Union, Jessica Tang. She is the first person of color, first openly queer and first woman in over thirty years to serve in this role. Jessica is a co-founder of the Teacher Activist Group-Boston and serves as a board member for several civic and labor groups, including Citizens for Public Schools and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. As a teacher-activist, she has been involved in many different community organizations working to advance racial, social and economic justice. Our conversation with Jessica covers the Boston Teachers Union, Boston Public Schools, Covid-19, and back to school plans. Jill and Jessica discuss the Boston Public Schools hybrid Reopening Plan and The Boston Teachers Union Reopening Plan. One of the BTU’s biggest concerns is reaching the highest need students. Jessica points out in this conversation that one of the most significant learnings from spring was how difficult it was to engage students to get online at all.Teachers don’t feel comfortable going back into buildings that aren’t equipped with basic needs to ensure health and safety. Jessica’s perspective on reopening schools rests on these guiding principles: having the funding to do this right, putting safety first, and focusing on social, racial, and economic justice. Boston Public Schools’ 2020-21 school year will start in a few weeks, and families are still waiting for a finalized reopening plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to behavioral scientist and professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, Todd Rogers, Todd has dedicated his career to studying the gap between intention and action, helping families effectively support student success, and improving democracy. In our second podcast with Todd, we dive deeper into absenteeism through a pre-COVID lense, and also hear about two other initiatives on which Todd is currently focused: contact tracing, and social connectedness for students and families. Before COVID-19, absenteeism was a major concern. We know that the more school days that students miss lead to lower graduation rates, standardized test scores and grades, less connectedness with peers, and later in life, lower earnings. The impact of COVID-19 has made it difficult to understand what to measure and optimize. Todd believes that as school restarts in the fall, it will be crucial to assess and develop plans for where students currently are academically. He also believes that inequities that existed before COVID-19 will likely be exacerbated. Todd discusses his concerns about the disparity between students who have the family, school and peer support to continue to show up for school versus the kids who don’t. His research shows how physically being in school has a significant impact on student outcomes. He also shares his perspective on how schools can be great resources for contact tracing and how his company, EveryDay Labs, has been working on interventions to help students build relationships to support student and family connectedness. Todd continues to work to provide better and more equitable outcomes for students across the country. Learn more about Todd Rogers and his work and the New York Times article about chronic absenteeism referenced in the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s episode, we talk to Tom Kane. An economist and Walter H. Gale Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has committed his career to both K-12 and higher education efforts focused on school accountability systems, teacher recruitment and retention, financial aid for college, race-conscious college admissions, and the earnings impacts of community colleges. Our conversation with professor Kane unpacks the current impact of COVID on our kids in schools, transforming education through innovation, and the racial achievement gap. Through an analysis of an urban medium-sized school district, professor Kane found that about 28% of students had not logged in for school over a month and a half. He talks to us about a possible virtual tutoring solution that has shown promise even before COVID. The Student Opportunity Act added $1.5B of funding to public school education in Massachusetts. $10M of that funding was committed to the 21st Century Education Trust Fund. Professor Kane shares the importance of this fund as it provides opportunities to innovate, including testing and piloting in education as we do in healthcare. Massachusetts’ National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) scores haven’t improved since 2007. Further, the racial achievement gap hasn’t changed since 1996. Professor Kane discusses the immediate need to shift from having discussions to intentionally closing the gap. He believes allocating funds to innovative methods and testing those methods could make all the difference. Professor Kane’s work and his perspective encourage us to think about how evidence-based processes can improve innovation and racial inequities for kids in schools. Learn more about his work, and as referenced in the episode, the Coleman Report. This report is widely considered the most important education study of the 20th century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to Dan Giusti, the founder of Brigaid. A world-class chef who formerly served as the head chef at Noma, in Copenhagen, Dan left the #1 restaurant in the world and headed back to the U.S. to work in school food. Dan started Brigaid, with the mission of helping school districts trade processed meals for meals made from scratch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to Todd Rogers. A behavioral scientist and professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. He has dedicated his career to studying the gap between intention and action, helping families effectively support student success, and improving democracy. Our conversation with professor Rogers explores the ins and outs of behavioral science, cost-effective strategies to reduce absenteeism in schools, and the power of persuasion in voting. Behavioral science explains the drivers of behavior, and professor Rogers’ work analyzes how we use what we learn from those drivers to help people follow through on their virtuous intentions.
As referenced in professor Rogers’ Reducing Student Absences at Scale by Targeting Parents’ Misbeliefs paper, 10% of U.S. public school students are chronically absent each year. In a large-scale randomized experiment to reduce absenteeism, professor Rogers tested repeated rounds of mail-based messaging targeting parents of at-risk students. This experiment reduced total absences by 6% and chronically absent students by 10%. Professor Rogers’ Harvard EdCast: Reducing Absences, Capturing Days, highlights that motivating and empowering parents with useful information plays a significant role in student success. Professor Rogers is a leader in improving democracy. His work focuses on translating insights into voter mobilization. A Pew Research Center analysis showed that millennials continue to have the lowest voter turnout of any age group, where approximately 46% voted in the last presidential election. Through research, he’s discovered that peer pressure can be a motivational tool and yield a better voter turnout. Professor Rogers reminds us all that being silent is complicit, and creating plans to shift from intention to action is so important. We appreciate his forward-thinking work around why family engagement to improve student attendance, and exercising your right to vote is essential. As mentioned in our conversation, learn more about professor Rogers' company, InClass Today, now, EveryDay Labs, his paper, Poison Parasite, and New York Times bestseller, Nudge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s episode of Catalysts During Covid, we talk to Tim Daly, founding partner of EdNavigator. With nearly two decades of experience in public education, Tim has been an advocate in supporting public education and working to help ensure greater access of high quality schools to all families and assisting families understand and work with the public education system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to Tim Daly, founding partner of EdNavigator. With nearly two decades of experience in public education, Tim has been an advocate in supporting public education and working to help ensure greater access of high quality schools to all families and assisting families understand and work with the public education system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of our special series, Catalysts During the Crisis, we talk with Jon Feinman, CEO and Founder of InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW). Having previously talked with Jon, this conversation focuses on how ICW has adapted and changed due to COVID-19 and his response to important problems that ICW faces on a daily basis. Jon’s work is a clear example of change agents throughout the city forging ahead to accomplish their missions, and solving new problems along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, we hear from Manny Lopes, President of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC). We hear how EBNHC has adapted to continue to support their patients and those being affected by COVID-19, the community response in East Boston, Chelsea and Revere, and what needs to continue to happen to support communities being impacted the most by this pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today’s Catalyst for Change, we talk to Jon Feinman, Founder and CEO of InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW). Working with those most impacted by gun violence and incarceration in the City of Boston, Jon works to provide economic mobility and social inclusion through InnerCity Weightlifting’s Impact Model. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joining us for this episode of Catalysts for Change is Will Austin, CEO of the Boston Schools Fund. A graduate of the Boston Public School system, and a former educator in Boston, Will works with and invests in high-performing public, private and charter schools to help them increase the number of seats in their schools and move the city to a goal of providing high quality seats for all Boston students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today on Catalysts for Change we are joined by John Connolly, former City Councilor for Boston and founder of the non-profit organization School Facts. A lifelong resident of Boston, John’s work focuses on helping Boston families advocate for positive changes in education and other sectors across the city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, Jill is joined by Mayor Marty Walsh to discuss the release of the film Eat Up, a documentary about transforming school food in Boston. Jill and Mayor Walsh, along with others from the city, the Boston Public Schools and the Shah Family Foundation, play starring roles in this entertaining film, produced by the VII Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today’s episode, we talk to Keri Rodrigues, mom-in-chief at Massachusetts Parents United. Keri is an advocate for safer neighborhoods, stable, secure, and supportive homes, and high quality education for every child. In addition to her work at Massachusetts Parents United, Keri is also on the executive committee for the Massachusetts Democratic Party and on the advisory board for Democrats for Education Reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mande helps explain why we have a growing malnutrition problem in America, and shares his point of view on where we go from here in making healthy food more accessible to all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, we talk to Dr. Hyman about provocative data from research currently being done in food and nutrition, and what both unhealthy and healthy meals mean for our youth, including impacting academic performance, and physical and behavioral health. We also press him to help us define what “good food” is - and isn’t. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We talk with Councilor Campbell about her goals for the next two years, her education plan, and what she sees as the most critical needs of her constituents. We also discuss how her past, education, and family have influenced her work to help and inspire others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today we talk to Meggie Noel, who, as a senior at Boston Latin, spearheaded the Black at BLS movement, which eventually grew into the Black at BPS movement, illuminating the need for greater awareness and support of diversity and equity for students of color across the city of Boston. This Bostonian of the Year winner in 2016 talks to us about growing up in Boston, her education journey to BLS, and her experience as a student of color in two low diversity schools. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today we talk with Gene Roundtree, current headmaster at Snowden International School, an open enrollment high school in the Copley/Back Bay area. We talk to Gene about his efforts at Snowden to create more opportunities for students and grow the International Baccalaureate college preparatory curriculum to help prepare all of his students for life beyond high school. Gene also looks back at his experiences at Madison Park Vocational Technical High School, and we briefly discuss its future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today we talk with Lisa Barrow, an acclaimed economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Lisa’s recent work explores the impact of work done by Chicago Public Schools to increase diversity in their schools, as well as the results of this work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This podcast features a conversation with Kelly Glew, President of The Steppingstone Foundation, and Chris Parris, its Chief Program Officer, who talk about their program, it’s expansion, and the support they offer to students across Boston Public Schools. Steppingstone aims to provide support and tutoring services to diverse students who are working to attend some of the top high schools in Massachusetts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today we get insight into the ISEE with Associate Professor of Economics at Brandeis University, Joshua Goodman. Mr. Goodman recently published a policy brief on BPS exam schools last year titled Increasing Diversity in Boston’s Exam Schools. We talk about four ways in which BPS might increase its pipeline of qualified Black and Latinx candidates for admissions to the exam schools, as well as discuss other, more systemic changes that could benefit all students and driver performance up across the district Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today we talk with Michael Contompasis: long-time authority in BPS and current overseer of a turn-around of the Devers school in Dorcester. He talks with us today about running a low-performing elementary school, and the efforts underway to transform it into a successful and high-performing one. We also discuss how he feels race and income play into outcomes and readiness for academic success, and what will need to happen in the future for all schools in BPS to provide equal experiences to all students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Our guest this week is Tony Benoit, Benjamin Franklin Institute for Technology's President. The Career Pathways Working Group focused specifically on giving students access to CTE experiences through internships and opportunities like the one that BFIT offers, and there is much that the district can leverage from what has already been a successful dual enrollment partnership with BFIT. The question now is how to make such a partnership sustainable and scalable in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In our last podcast, we learned about the work that’s being done by Manny Allen and his team to re-engage students by helping them find purpose in their education. This week we are joined by Tommy Welch, the Academic Superintendent who oversees the schools and programs that are set up to operationalize Manny’s message. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Manny Allen was a Boston Public Schools drop out because of life circumstances that forced him to de-prioritize a school system that didn’t serve him as a youth. Today, with a high school degree, a college degree, and an MBA, Manny runs the BPS Re-engagement Center, which he helped found ten years ago. Manny joins us to talk about being a marginalized youth in Boston, the brilliant and effective work of the REC, and his ideas for continually improving our alternative education options in Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the final installment of our series about MassCore, Jill Shah interviews Orin Gutlerner about the challenges of scaling rigorous and engaging curriculum and teaching practices. They dissect a report called “The Opportunity Myth,” which attempts to answer the question of whether K-12 schools are fulfilling the fundamental promise that if students put in the effort and succeed with their work, they will be prepared for higher education. The short answer: It's not even close. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In part 2 of Understanding MassCore, Jill talks with Paul Reville, a key architect and advocate for MassCore, about topics that are key to understanding the intentions and context for this policy, such as: The role of globalization and the standards movement in the crafting of the MassCore policy; How and why the state viewed it through a lens of educational equity; Why it was a recommended—rather than required—framework for a high school diploma; And, the challenges of its adoption, particularly in BPS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the spirit of enrichment and connectivity, we offer this three part series on the topic of MassCore. Part 1 features a blog post: Understanding MassCore, and a podcast that looks at the current context of graduation requirements in BPS High Schools. Stay tuned for parts two and three that will be released over the next two Wednesdays in podcast form, and include a fascinating discussion with Paul Reville. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode we share with you a live event, recorded at our offices. We invited a team from Boston Public Schools, local funders, non profit leaders, and elected officials to come together and discuss how we can use recent reports that were written as tools for taking action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices