OPINION COMMENTARY:

Despite a national mental health crisis, access to care remains a significant challenge, particularly in underserved areas. The PSYPACT initiative offers a crucial solution, enabling licensed psychologists to provide telehealth and temporary in-person services across state lines. Virginia Gleason, ALI Fellow ’22, examines the urgent need for the eight states and three U.S. territories still restricting access to vital mental health care.

How can businesses integrate human rights and sustainability into their core operations? Former German Human Rights Commissioner Markus Löning shares insights on the EU’s game-changing directive and discusses the journey towards corporate accountability in an exclusive interview by Mattias Bosch, ALI Fellow ’23.

ALI Fellow Elliot Davis '22 explores Poet Laureate Ada Limón's groundbreaking project, You Are Here: Poetry in Parks. Launched at Cape Cod’s National Seashore, this initiative brings poetry to public spaces in seven national parks, merging words with nature to inspire creativity, reflection, and a deeper bond with our planet.

Corporate sustainability faces a crossroads amid political backlash against diversity and climate initiatives. A Trump return could roll back progressive policies, but market forces may resist. The key question: Will sustainability falter, or will global corporate leaders and financial markets continue to drive it forward, recognizing its strategic business value, especially in tackling climate change?

In 2023, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, led by Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum and Mayor Karen Bass, exceeded their goal of rehousing 17,000 people — bringing over 21,000 indoors. ALI Fellows Belinda Juran ‘20 and Paige Warren ‘21 interview Dr. Adams Kellum to explore how innovative programs like Inside Safe and master leasing, fueled by unified government efforts, are transforming the fight against homelessness in Los Angeles.

OPINION COMMENTARY:

As corporate America faces pushback on diversity efforts, the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) leads the charge for change. President and CEO Alfonso David outlines how reshaping economic opportunities and strengthening democracy for marginalized communities fosters inclusive growth and safeguards democratic values in the face of global challenges.

From empowering independent candidates to safeguarding electoral processes, discover how two Harvard ALI Fellows — Maryfrances Metrick ’17 and Rex VanMiddlesworth ‘23 are tackling vulnerabilities and building resilience in American electoral systems.

With mpox re-emerging as a global health threat, particularly in resource-constrained African countries and with severe impacts on children, Dr. Marie Roseline Darnycka Belizaire of the WHO examines the rapid resurgence since the 2022 outbreak, inequities in the response, and strategies for addressing the crisis through collaboration and community-centered interventions.

OPINION COMMENTARY:

Imagine if every package – bottles, boxes, or phials – didn’t go to waste but was reused, helping to reduce pollution and conserve resources. Rajan Mehta advocates for a Common Design Reusable Packaging system to standardize reusable containers across industries, reduce environmental impact, and create a more sustainable cycle.

Building a robust corporate transition plan is challenging yet critical to achieve our net zero ambitions. University of Oxford Professor Ben Caldecott, Co-Head of the TPT Secretariat, discusses with Emily Chien, ALI Senior Fellow, how the “gold standard” TPT Disclosure Framework will transform the way companies and governments develop, monitor and apply transition planning best practices to help make businesses more sustainable.

Dr. Satchit Balsari highlights his transformative work with SEWA, India’s Self-Employed Women’s Association, and its “economy of nurturance,” exploring resilient, community-driven strategies for survival and adaptation. He emphasizes the urgent need for interdisciplinary solutions, local innovation, and data-informed policies to tackle complex global challenges.

Native American drama breathes life into the stories behind policy, illuminating realities of tribal sovereignty and the impact of federal laws on Indigenous lives. Antíkoni exemplifies how theatre can make these issues visible, encouraging audiences to understand, empathize, and carry these insights into conversations about justice and cultural respect.

For smallholder farmers, overcoming the digital divide could mean a shift from subsistence to sustainability. Harnessing AI has the potential to unlock new possibilities — boosting productivity, providing better market access, and securing their economic futures in an interconnected world.

Addressing the challenges of medical care from medical school to the battlefield to city streets to overcome disparities in health, Dr. Jonathan Woodson discusses his journey at the intersection of education, government, and the practice of medicine to train healthcare professionals and leaders to provide effective medical care.

OPINION COMMENTARY:

Your senator greets you with a smile and makes you feel so important that you contribute to his campaign, only to learn that he doesn’t need your money; he’s a shoo-in for re-election. John Carroll urges people to direct their giving to competitive political races and social missions that serve their local communities.

At the edge of the Sahara, a revolution is growing — one rooted in traditional agriculture that holds the key to Africa’s climate resilience. While the continent contributes just 4% to global emissions, it bears the brunt of climate change's devastating impacts. Discover how local knowledge and ancient farming techniques are being revitalized to restore ecosystems, and bolster food security.

Women often do not receive gender-specific health care, leading to disparities in treatment and outcomes. Megan Greenfield and Lucy Perez from McKinsey & Co. explore the reasons behind the global women's health gap and propose actionable steps to bridge this divide by 2040.

Among today’s most urgent challenges is how natural resources should be managed sustainably. Michelle Atala Urrea Vivas provides a primer on how the field of political ecology focuses on power imbalances in environmental conflicts to better understand why overexploitation and social injustice often result from disconnects between power dynamics and sustainable stewardship of natural resources.

OPINION COMMENTARY:

The 2024 election will be consequential, and fortunately, it's easier and more important than ever to become involved. Rex VanMiddlesworth presents a number of ways to do so, from working the polls to joining campaigns.

As antimicrobial resistance becomes one of the most worrisome challenges to global public health, Dr. Emilio Emini, former CEO of the Gates Medical Research Institute, examines root causes and hopeful pathways to address the crisis, from foundational biology and private sector incentives to public policy and the need for social impact investment.