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This is turning out to be a quite a year for the Public Policy Center, with new projects coming in at a remarkable rate. While we continue to collaborate with partners throughout the Southcoast, we are very pleased to also be working with clients in other regions of the state, most recently in Provincetown and the Metrowest region.
The Public Policy Center is also excited to announce that Michael McCarthy - long-time graduate research assistant and UMass-D Public Policy program alumnus - has joined the ranks of the full-time staff as our new Research Associate. You can read more about this transition on our blog.
Meanwhile, Trevor Mattos is wrapping up his time with us and Jason Wright has increased his time commitment for the remainder of the summer. Trevor has begun working as a researcher at the Mauricio Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at UMass Boston. He will also be enrolled in the Applied Economics Masters Program at UMass Boston in the Fall of 2016.
We will continue to share information through our PPC website
, which includes recently released studies, our blog, and recent media appearances. Also, if you haven't already, follow us on Twitter @PublicPolicyCtr where regular updates are posted. Thank you for your interest and continued support for our work across the region, the Commonwealth, and beyond.
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Identifying the Needs of Metrowest Suburban Edge Communities
The 495/Metrowest Suburban Edge Community Commission has partnered with the PPC to investigate and study development challenges being experienced by the region's edge communities.
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Providing Technical Assistance to Provincetown, MA
The PPC has entered into a strategic partnership with the town of Provincetown, MA to provide technical assistance and applied research support as the community begins to systematically grapple with various economic and demographic challenges. In support of these efforts, the PPC was awarded a grant from the UMass System President Marty Meehan's Creative Economy initiative.
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Evaluating the Center for Education Innovation's Programs in the New Bedford Public Schools
The PPC will continue its work evaluating the educational programs of the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI).
CEI works to increase the effectiveness of New Bedford Public Schools
teachers by providing them with high-caliber training, technology, and coaching.
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Providing Technical Assistance to SHIFT
The PPC will continue to provide technical and research assistance to the Southeastern Health Initiative for Transformation (SHIFT) program, which aims to reduce health care costs across the Commonwealth by preventing chronic conditions.
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Recently Completed
Projects
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Identifying Barriers Faced by Prospective Nursing Students
The UMass Dartmouth College of Nursing (CON) collaborated with the PPC on the Diversity Nursing Scholars Program, which aims to increase the pipeline of nursing students from the New Bedford area. The study identified barriers to enrollment for underserved students and opportunities for CON engagement. You can access a copy of the report by clicking here.
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Cancer Disparities Capacity Building Pilot Project
The PPC assisted the Greater New Bedford Allies for Health and Wellness, Inc with an evaluation of the Cancer Disparities Capacity Building Pilot Project. The final progress report is available here.
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Evaluating Taunton's Hope VI Project
The final evaluation of the Taunton (MA) Housing Authority's HOPE VI project was recently completed by the PPC. This project involves replacing distressed public housing with two new developments, while providing supportive services to the residents of the now-demolished Fairfax Gardens. Final report forthcoming.
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Measuring the Size and Impact of the Massachusetts Maritime Economy
The PPC is leading an in-depth study of the Massachusetts Maritime Economy that is being conducted on the behalf of the Seaport Economic Council in collaboration with leading state and industry stakeholders.
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Informing a New Vision for Fall River Housing
The PPC is presently engaged in an analysis of how Fall River’s housing demand has changed over time in relation to demographic changes in its population, testing some commonly held assumptions about the socioeconomic forces driving population change in Fall River, and analyzing how these dynamics influence housing demand in the City.
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Assessing Cross-border Economic Relationships
In cooperation with the SouthCoast Development Partnership, the PPC is hard at work re-examining regional economic patterns, demographic changes, and trading relationships in order to develop an evidence-based understanding of the functional economic region that includes the Southcoast. This includes evaluating the extent of the cross-border connections with our neighbors in Rhode Island.
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Supporting the LifeWork Project of the Women's Fund
The Women's Fund of Southeastern Massachusetts is working with the PPC on an evaluation of the LifeWork Project. Lifework provides a comprehensive support system for women, creating pathways out of poverty for low-income women and single mothers in the New Bedford area. The 2015 analysis will track progress for four cohorts of program participants.
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Southcoast Urban Indicators Project
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As always, we continue to update the data on the SCUIP cite and add new indicators. SCUIP is designed to meet the information needs of citizens and leaders of Fall River and New Bedford.
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- 06/21/16: The New Bedford Standard-Times discusses the potential regional impact of a looming change in ownership at the Acushnet Company (Titelist) with Professor Goodman.
- 06/17/16: Professor Goodman comments on the critical importance of closing the “degree gap” in the Leominster Champion.
- 05/23/16 Professor Goodman comments on socioeconomic patterns in participation in the Massachusetts State Lottery in the New Bedford Standard-Times.
- 05/13/16: Professor Goodman’s keynote address before the annual meeting of the Metrowest Economic Research Center at Framingham State University is highlighted in the Metrowest Daily News.
- 04/25/16: The American Prospect discusses the economic development lessons that can be learned from the recent relocation of GE headquarters from Connecticut to Massachusetts with Professor Goodman.
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Executive Director, Groundwork Southcoast
Groundwork Southcoast is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial. and collaboratively minded individual to be its first Executive Director. Groundwork Southcoast is focused on revitalizing the Flint and Acushnet Avenue neighborhoods in Fall River and New Bedford, Massachusetts, respectively, through environmentally focused initiatives. Click here for more information.
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Human Capital Services Representative, New Bedford Public Schools
Works within the Office of Human Capital Services to ensure efficient operations of the Human Resources functions, so as to maximize a positive impact on the education of students. Requires three years of relevant experience. Click here for more information.
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Manager of Annual Giving, Meeting Street and the Schwartz Center
Looking for experienced development manager to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward existing and new donors from throughout Southeastern Massachusetts to support Meeting Street’s mission. Click here for more information.
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Multiple Positions; People, Incorporated
People, Incorporated - a human service Agency in Fall River, MA - has several new positions available. They offer positions in Human Services, C.N.A, LPN’s, RN, Social Work, Early Childhood Educators, Early Intervention and Finance. Visit the website at www.peopleinc-fr.org.
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Hiring? Let us know and we'll spread the word.
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ABOUT THE PUBLIC POLICY CENTER
The Public Policy Center (PPC) is UMass Dartmouth's applied social science research, technical assistance, and public service unit. The PPC's primary goal is to inform public policy discussions by providing policymakers with university quality research, technical assistance, and analytical services designed to help make our state, region, and communities better places to live, work, and do business. We do this by leveraging the substantial skills of our students and faculty partners, and enhancing the connections between the University and the communities it serves.
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Executive Director
Michael Goodman, Ph.D.
Director of Research
David Borges, M.P.A.
Senior Research Associate
Elise Korejwa, M.S., M.P.P.
Research Associate
Michael P. McCarthy, M.P.P.
Graduate Research Assistants
Trevor Mattos
Jason Wright
Holly Stickles
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jawanza Foster
Administrative Assistant
Jodie Beksha-Tinsley
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508-990-9660
ppc@umassd.edu
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
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