News and Analysis
Read the latest news, commentary, and analysis from the Ash Center.
Newest
Video
Two Americas Emerging: Voting Rights in the States
In the nearly one year since the November 2020 elections, the diverging directions state legislatures took on expanding or contracting voting rights created a huge fault line in American democracy, described by some as ‘two Americas’. A Voting Rights Lab tracking report as of September 13, 2021, identified 27 states representing 70 million voters that had passed laws to expand voting opportunities, and 13 states with 55 million people that had passed sharply restrictive legislation. And state legislatures were still at work. What’s causing this divergence?
How are voting rights advocates advancing their work in such disparate political environments? What does it mean for upcoming elections and the future of American democracy? Join the Ash Center as voting advocates from two key states that have gone in opposite directions and policy experts evaluated the trends, discussed the present, and looked into the future.
Speakers include:
- Mimi Marziani, President and CEO Texas civil rights project
- Henal Patel, Director of the Democracy & Justice Program, New Jersey Institute of Social Justice
- Randy Perez, Program Director, Voting Rights Lab
- Jake Grumbach, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington
- Miles Rapoport, Ash Center Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy, Moderator
Communique Magazine
Fall 2021 Communiqué Magazine
In this issue, as the Chinese Communist Party celebrates its 100th anniversary, Ash Center experts delve into the historial legacy of the party as well as what the future holds for the party and China. We share profiles of the scholars and students who make the Ash Center such a unique institution, and introduce new research and ideas from across our thirty programs, projects, and initiatives.
Video
Book Talk — Nothing is Impossible: America’s Reconciliation with Vietnam
The Ash Center invites you to a book talk with former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Ted Osius, author of the book “Nothing is Impossible: America’s Reconciliation with Vietnam.” Osius was joined in discussion by Thomas Vallely, Senior Advisor for Mainland Southeast Asia at the Ash Center.
Video
Building Back Better: Intelligent Infrastructure and Civil Works
Join us for an Ash Center virtual discussion on how developing intelligent infrastructure is crucial for helping the United States tackle the challenge of inequitable, inaccessible, and inadequate roads, bridges, dams, sidewalks, and water systems throughout the country. In this talk co-author Betsy Gardner introduced the recent paper, “Toward a Smarter Future: Building Back Better with Intelligent Civil Infrastructure — Smart Sensors and Self-Monitoring Civil Works”, followed by co-author Jill Jamieson and subject matter expert Professor Luna Lu spoke about innovation in infrastructure. The conversation was moderated by co-author Professor Stephen Goldsmith.
Tune in us as Gardner, Jamieson, Lu, and Goldsmith made the argument for a strategic, smart infrastructure plan that integrates digital technology, sensors, and data to not only address existing issues but to mitigate risks and improve the conditions and structures that shape our daily lives.
Commentary
Crowd Counting Consortium: Demographic Change and Anti-CRT Protest in U.S. Counties
Video
Navigating the American Rescue Plan Act: A Series for Tribal Nations, Session 7
From setting tribal priorities to building infrastructure to managing and sustaining projects, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) presents an unprecedented opportunity for the 574 federally recognized tribal nations to use their rights of sovereignty and self-government to strengthen their communities. As the tribes take on the challenges presented by the Act, the Ash Center’s Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development hosted a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts.
During this session, the seventh in the series, following a round of discussion between the panelists, a brief Q+A session was held to maximize the opportunities for audience participation.
This session, titled “Direct Relief for Tribal Citizens: Getting beyond Per Caps” featured:
- Rodney Butler, Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
- Cathy Chavers, Chairwoman, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
- Miriam Jorgensen, HKS 1991 MPP 2000 PhD, Research Director, Native Nations Institute, University of Arizona
- Kevin Killer, President, Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Karen Diver, Moderator, HKS 2003 MPA, Board of Governors, Honoring Nations, Harvard Project
Commentary
Crowd Counting Consortium: Right-Wing Backlash Against COVID-19 Mitigation Measures
Video
Navigating the American Rescue Plan Act: A Series for Tribal Nations, Session 6
From setting tribal priorities, to building infrastructure, to managing and sustaining projects, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) presents an unprecedented opportunity for the 574 federally recognized tribal nations to use their rights of sovereignty and self-government to strengthen their communities. As the tribes take on the challenges presented by the Act, the Ash Center’s Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development hosted a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts. During this session, the sixth in the series, following a round of discussion between the panelists a brief Q+A session was held to maximize the opportunities for audience participation.
This session, titled “Investing in Your Tribes’ Infrastructure” featured:
- Lael Echo-Hawk (Pawnee Nation), Principal, MThirtySix, PLLC
- Wendy Helgemo (Ho-Chunk Nation), Senior Legislative Attorney, Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP
- Joe Valandra (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), Executive Director, Native American Contractors Association
- Moderated by Karen Diver (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), HKS MPA 2003, Board of Governors, Honoring Nations, Harvard Project
Video
Navigating the American Rescue Plan Act: A Series for Tribal Nations, Session 5
From setting tribal priorities, to building infrastructure, to managing and sustaining projects, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) presents an unprecedented opportunity for the 574 federally recognized tribal nations to use their rights of sovereignty and self-government to strengthen their communities. As the tribes take on the challenges presented by the Act, the Ash Center’s Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development hosted a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts. During this session, the fifth in the series, following a round of discussion between the panelists a brief Q+A session was held to maximize the opportunities for audience participation.
This session, titled “Investing In Your Tribes’ Behavioral Health” featured:
- Stacy Bohlen (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), CEO, National Indian Health Board
- Del Laverdure (Crow Nation), Attorney, Former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Department of Interior
- Lynn Malerba (Mohegan Tribe), Lifetime Chief, Mohegan Tribe
- Moderated by Karen Diver (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), HKS MPA 2003, Board of Governors, Honoring Nations, Harvard Project