UMass McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies

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Our Mission

The Center for Social Policy provides expertise on policies and practices that reduce social and economic inequities in Massachusetts and the nation.

Through active community engagement, CSP takes a critical look at the structural causes for low wages, housing affordability problems and the unequal distribution of resources. In our family centered approach to research, we use innovative and pragmatic ways to reshape policies to promote solutions that address the root causes of poverty; we carry out this work by collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including people from communities most affected by state and federal social welfare policies, as well as service providers, policymakers, employers, labor unions, and philanthropic organizations.

CSP strives to:

•	Focus on policies that most affect low-income people;
•	Amplify the perspectives of low income community residents and practitioners;
•	Turn data into meaningful knowledge;
•	Form active partnerships;
•	Improve processes, enhance outcomes;
•	Help shape social policies that build on strengths and foster family and community well-being;
•	Disseminate meaningful information widely --- locally, nationally and internationally.

Thank you for joining the dialogue on June 4^th

As you know, poverty continues to plague our society.  Even before the current economic crisis plunged new multitudes into economic hardships, homelessness, poor nutrition, meager incomes, and a constant battle for a decent life were the condition of millions.  The United States is a rich country, but far too many of our people live in poverty. 

And Massachusetts, though a rich state, has a full share of residents unable to make ends meet.  From “The War on Poverty” onward, this reality has been known; new policies have been initiated from year to year and from decade to decade.  But the policies have failed.  Insufficient, contradictory and piecemeal, anti-poverty policies have not done the job.  It is time for new approaches.

The Center for Social Policy (CSP), building on years of research and engagement with policy advocates, local practitioners and people in need, is initiating a five year project to reshape poverty policy in Massachusetts and beyond.  We plan to advance interconnected social policies that reduce inequalities, enhance the economic well-being of low income families and their home communities, and benefit workers and their employers.

Four core principles underpin the policies we seek to formulate and advance: universality whenever possible; support for families’ efforts to progress economically; interruption of intergenerational cycles of poverty; and an equitable distribution of public resources.

21st century families and communities demand new solutions to poverty.  Local innovators are already crafting policies and developing practices that work better than those from the past.  Our federal and state policies should support these local, promising innovations.

Beginning with the invitational gathering on June 4th, with a broad and diverse group of stakeholders and social innovators, we look forward to formulating new policies that effectively meet the needs of 21st century low-income families and communities, while advancing the interests of society at large.   Building upon the thinking of participants, our analytical work and strategic partnerships, we will, in the coming years, continue to develop viable, innovative policy options in strategic quarterly dialogues and annual events.

We invite you to learn more and to join us on June 4, 2009.

Best wishes,
Donna Haig Friedman, Director, Center for Social Policy  

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