Read the latest news, commentary, and analysis from the Ash Center.
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Commentary
Ten ways to take down the political temperature
The intensification of political polarization in recent years has raised pressing concerns about the health of democratic discourse and the rise of political violence. Ash Center Senior Fellow Stephen Richer shares ten principles he believes provide a framework for fostering more constructive engagement: encouraging self-reflection, prioritizing substantive dialogue over hyperbole, and creating incentives that reward integrity and ideas rather than division.
Public Narratives and Organizing: A Case Study of the Stand Up with the Teachers Campaign in Jordan
Organizers and practitioners around the globe have long utilized “public narratives” as a way of connecting their work to leadership by learning to tell a story of self, a story of us, and a story of now. In this panel discussion, Ash Center Democracy Fellow Dr. Emilia Aiello examined how public narratives can contribute to community building and power building even under constrained conditions. Dr. Aiello was joined by leaders and practitioners of the Qom Ma’al Muallem (Stand Up with the Teachers) Campaign, which has been organizing for female workers rights in Jordan. The campaign was originally supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO), and coached by Ahel, a community-based organization that has aided organizing efforts that promote freedom, justice, and human rights for over ten years in countries across the Middle East, such as Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon.
Panelists include:
Nisreen Haj Ahmad, Director of Ahel; Alumni of Harvard Kennedy School
Nariman Al-Shawaheen, Coordinator of Stand Up with the Teachers Campaign, Jordan
Reem Aslam, International Labor Organization, Jordan
Dr. Emilia Aiello (Moderator), Marie Sklodowska-Curie Post-doctoral Fellow, Ash Center, Harvard Kennedy School
Navigating the American Rescue Plan Act: A Series for Tribal Nations, Session Two
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides the largest single infusion of federal funding into Indian Country in the history of the United States. More than $32 billion is directed toward assisting American Indian nations and communities as they work to end and recover from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic – which was made worse in Indian Country precisely because such funding has been so long overdue.
From setting tribal priorities, to building infrastructure, to managing and sustaining projects, 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 presented a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts.
This second session, titled “Where Other ARPA Monies Live — How to Avoid Tribes Leaving $12 Billion on the Table” featured a range of experts including:
Stacey Ecoffey, Principal Advisor for Tribal Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Heather Dawn Thompson, HLS 2000, J.D, Director of the Office of Tribal Relations, USDA
Burton Warrington, President, Indian Ave Group
Moderated by Karen Diver HKS 2003, M.P.A., Board of Governors, Honoring Nations, Harvard Project
Navigating the American Rescue Plan Act: A Series for Tribal Nations, Session One
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides the largest single infusion of federal funding into Indian Country in the history of the United States. More than $32 billion is directed toward assisting American Indian nations and communities as they work to end and recover from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic – which was made worse in Indian Country precisely because such funding has been so long overdue.
From setting tribal priorities, to building infrastructure, to managing and sustaining projects, 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 presented a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts.
This first session, titled “How Tribal Governments Can and Can’t use ARPA” featured:
Joseph P. Kalt, Ford Foundation Professor (Emeritus) of International Political Economy & Co-Director, Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development
Del Laverdure, Attorney and Former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior
Burton Warrington, President, Indian Ave Group
Jennifer Weddle HLS 2000, J.D., Principal Shareholder, Co-Chair American Indian Law Practice Group, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Andy Werk, Jr., President, Fort Belknap Indian Community
Moderated by Karen Diver HKS 2003, M.P.A., Board of Governors, Honoring Nations, Harvard Project
Combatting Anti-Asian Racism and Misogyny: What is our Local Community Doing?
This public discussion highlighted key challenges of racism, misogyny and other discrimination faced by our Asian and Asian-American community, the responses of local organizations who have long sought to address such challenges, and what more needs to be done in our own communities. Speakers represented perspectives from the Harvard Kennedy School’s staff, faculty and student groups, as well as leading local non-profits.
Speakers included:
Anisha Asundi, Research Fellow: Gender Specialist, Harvard Kennedy School Women and Public Policy Program
Carolyn Chou, Executive Director, Asian American Resource Workshop
Dr. Kathy Pham, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Nick Sung, Harvard Kennedy School MPP ’21
Dr. Kaori Urayama, Senior Program Manager, Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center
William Huang, Harvard Kennedy School MPP ’22, gave the welcome.
Police Violence, Memory, and Mobilization in Brazil
The Ash Center’s event featured members of Mães de Maio (Mothers of May), a collective of mothers whose children were killed by police in May 2006 in one of the largest police massacres in Brazilian history.
