TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION IN SOCIAL IMPACT SERIES:

Cat Wade, a researcher who has been affiliated with the Harvard University Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and Embedded EthiCS, discusses some reasons for and effects of racism in technology as well as select interventions to address these negative effects.

HUMAN RIGHTS CRISES AND MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:

Mathias Risse, Director of the Harvard Kennedy School Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, provides an introduction to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the human rights movement that emerged from it, discusses some major insights about economic inequality under capitalism, argues that increasing inequality is a challenge to the human rights movement, explores the ways in which the digital revolution that unfolds all around us could be a threat to human rights, either directly or through the ways in which it enhances inequality, and warns of the human rights stakes in the 2024 presidential election.

HUMAN RIGHTS CRISES AND MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:

OPINION COMMENTARY:

Ambassador Jeff Bleich and Dr. Bradley Strawser, with great insight and experience in law, public policy, technology and ethics, use autonomous vehicles as a case study of the tension between technological innovation and human rights. They conclude that only by drawing upon the lessons from past technology revolutions can we ensure our technological aspirations align with our human ones.

HUMAN RIGHTS CRISES AND MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:

Juliette Kayyem, Professor in International Security at Harvard Kennedy School, where she is also faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects, discusses her book, The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in the Age of Disasters. In this interview, Professor Kayyem discusses the importance of corporate structure in preparing for crises, the preparedness paradox, how human nature makes preparing for crises challenging, and finally how leadership skills are critical in all crises, particularly the current crisis in Ukraine.

HUMAN RIGHTS CRISES AND MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:

Matthew Smith, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fortify Rights, discusses how their team of human rights defenders investigates, engages people with power, and strengthens community-based responses in the fight for human rights, focusing particularly on the genocide of the Rohingya in Myanmar. Smith underscores the role of Russia in supporting the military junta in Myanmar and the plight of children in the largest refugee settlement in the world -- the Rohingya camps near Cox’s Bazar in southeast Bangladesh.

HUMAN RIGHTS CRISES AND MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:

The world is aghast at the atrocities Russia is committing on the territory of Ukraine, an independent Member State of the United Nations. How effective will the World Court be in holding Russia to account for its international law breaches? Pieter Bekker discusses the question of enforceability of rulings issued by the International Court of Justice and addresses various facets of the human impact when sovereign states defy international law.

HUMAN RIGHTS CRISES AND MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:

The rights of transgender and nonbinary persons are under siege in the United States, including the right to abortion. Allison Whelan advocates for why we need an inclusive approach to reproductive justice that acknowledges the unique burdens that antiabortion laws impose on transgender and nonbinary persons, as well as other historically marginalized communities.

OPINION COMMENTARY:

One driver of the wealth gap in America is that households of people of color are less likely to own stock. Anthony Mohr, a 2021 ALI Fellow, says we should give students real shares to cultivate their interest in investing and creating wealth.

SHAPING AND EMPOWERING THE FUTURE OF LATINOS IN THE U.S. SERIES:

For over 50 years, UnidosUS has addressed the social, economic, and political issues facing Latinos in the U.S. through advocacy, programs, and partnerships. Sonia Pérez, COO of UnidosUS, discusses their work and the current issues affecting Latinos, a growing demographic now comprising 62 million people and almost 20% of the U.S. population.

SHAPING AND EMPOWERING THE FUTURE OF LATINOS IN THE U.S. SERIES:

The daughter of migrant farmworkers, activist, and change-agent, Mónica Rámirez shares her work on bringing visibility to and advocating for the largely unseen migrant worker community. Ramirez’s impact includes authoring influential pieces including the “Dear Sisters” letter from the voice of women farmworkers standing in solidarity with women in Hollywood, which sparked the TIME’S UP movement.

SHAPING AND EMPOWERING THE FUTURE OF LATINOS IN THE U.S. SERIES:

By activating networks and collaborative partnerships, Amplify Latinx is building economic and political power for the Latino community in Massachusetts. Co-founder Betty Francisco presents their model on increasing Latinx civic engagement, supporting Latino-owned businesses, and driving leadership representation across sectors.

OPINION COMMENTARY:

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for a revived labor movement that looks drastically different from the stereotype of white men working in a factory. Americans who want all workers to live a life of dignity must get involved.

Michael Brennan and Adam Selzer, co-founders of Civilla, discuss the importance of embedding human-centered design from concept to implementation to address the process and system challenges plaguing our public-serving institutions.

Professor George Serafeim discusses the latest news of the Harvard Business School Impact-Weighted Accounts Project, an initiative that will mark a critical turning point for capitalism as we know it. The goal is to enhance Milton Friedman’s ‘fair rules of the game’ by fixing one of the most significant deficiencies of modern-day capitalism: social and environmental externalities.

Former Congresswoman Jane Harman discusses what it takes to win a seat in the House and pass bipartisan legislation. The job requires hard work, authenticity, and collegiality.

Polarized politics have infected local school boards, which have historically been nonpartisan. With school boards now on the front lines of the culture wars, Andrea Gabor outlines steps to strengthen school boards to function effectively given the mounting pressures facing them.

TRANSFORMING CITIES SERIES:

Baltimore City Schools (BCS) has adopted an ambitious agenda to transform the city’s schools. Dr. Sonja Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Schools, discusses the pillars of BCS’s Blueprint for Success, her belief that excellence in urban education is possible at scale, and the importance of leadership for the adults and students in the school system and the community.

TRANSFORMING CITIES SERIES:

Resilient, sustainable cities require law enforcement officers who are not only well-trained, but also deserve the confidence of people they serve. Gerald Chaleff has devoted over two decades to this subject, overseeing reform measures and consulting on constitutional policing issues.

TRANSFORMING CITIES SERIES:

Failing to apply a rubric for social impact, government-funded infrastructure has been culpable for legacies of segregating communities, spurring blight or displacement, and devastating natural environments. Daniel Balmori discusses how innovative efforts to reimagine underutilized public spaces -- including prior infrastructure follies -- have demonstrated that, deployed thoughtfully and with a lens toward equity, infrastructure improvements have the potential to positively transform the quality of life for entire communities, catalyze economic opportunities, and make environments more resilient.

TRANSFORMING CITIES SERIES:

Planners and engineers in the 50's and 60's often built freeways directly through African American communities, severing neighborhoods and dismantling small businesses in the way. Sally Bagshaw, Scott Bonjukian, John Feit, and other advocates and government leaders are now speaking out against these 70-year-old road design practices, offering solutions to restore and reconnect neighborhoods.