Cambridge, MA -- The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a leading research center at the Harvard Kennedy School, today launched China’s Most Generous, a groundbreaking new initiative on China’s philanthropic sector. The interactive site examines China’s contemporary philanthropic landscape by analyzing the background and giving of China’s most generous individuals.

The rise of private wealth is one of the most important developments in modern China, with implications for the Read more about New Ash Center Research Initiative Maps China's Philanthropic Landscape

Cambridge, Mass. – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and Brookings Institution Press are pleased to announce the publication of Ash Center fellow Hollie Russon Gilman’s first book:

Democracy Reinvented: Participatory Budgeting and Civic Innovation in America

The first comprehensive academic treatment of participatory budgeting in the United States, Democracy Reinvented situates it within a broader trend of civic technology and innovation. This Read more about New Ash Center Book is First Comprehensive Examination of Participatory Budgeting in U.S.

Cambridge, MA – Today, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School is pleased to announce a generous gift from the Dalio Foundation to support the establishment of the Center's new China Philanthropy Project. The project enables a range of activities that support the recently launched China Global Philanthropy Institute (CGPI) in Shenzhen, China, and will build talent within China’s charitable organizations and provide an important platform for international cooperation. 

The new project at Ash supports students, visiting scholars, training Read more about Ash Center Receives Gift From Dalio Foundation to Support China Philanthropy Project

Cambridge, MA -- The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School today kicked off the application process for its prestigious Innovations in American Government Award.  For the second straight year, the Ash Center is also funding a second innovation award, the Roy and Lila Ash Innovations Award for Public Engagement in Government, to better highlight the work of public engagement and participation programs, policies, and initiatives from around the country.

The Innovations in American Government Awards are heralded as the Read more about Ash Center launches 2016 call for applications for Innovations in American Government Awards

Cambridge, MA --  In the wake of last winter’s severe service disruptions and the ongoing debate over cost overruns associated with the Green Line extension, Charles Chieppo, a senior fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School today released a report outlining a number of reforms intended to put the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) fiscal house in order.

Chieppo’s Read more about Chieppo Report Calls for Additional Reforms to Stave off Fiscal Crisis at MBTA

Cambridge, MA -- the cities of Salem and Winthrop, Massachusetts today signed agreements with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation to formally collaborate with the Center’s Innovation Field Lab.

“Today’s announcement will strengthen and expand the Kennedy School’s efforts to help Massachusetts cities develop innovative solutions to tough social problems,” said Jorrit de Jong, Lecturer in Public Policy and Academic Director of the Innovations in Government Program at the Ash Center.

The Innovation Field Lab is an ambitious Read more about Salem, Winthrop join partnership with Ash Center’s Innovation Field Lab

Cambridge, MA -- The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a leading research center at the Harvard Kennedy School focused on the intersection of government and technology, today announced the winners of its #Tech4Democracy Showcase and Challenge.  Over 350 people attended #Tech4Democracy, a HUBweek event, and voted for 28 different teams competing to take home a $5,000 People's Choice prize.  A second $5,000 Judge's Choice prize Read more about Ash Center Announces Winners of #Tech4Democracy Showcase and Challenge

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University announced today the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department Five Keys Charter School as the winner of the 2015 Innovation in American Government Award. Participatory Budgeting in New York City from the New York City Council’s office was also announced the winner of the Roy and Lila Ash Innovation Award for Public Engagement in Government. Both winners will receive their $100,000 award, aimed at replication and dissemination of their innovations, at ceremonies in their home Read more about San Francisco, New York Named Winners of Harvard's 2015 Innovation in American Government Award

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a research center at the Harvard Kennedy School today announced the appointment of former Indonesian Finance Minister Dr. Muhamad Chatib Basri, as senior fellow.

“Dr. Basri brings to the Ash Center a wealth of experience managing growth and attracting foreign investment into one of Asia’s most dynamic and emerging economies,” said  Jay Rosengard, Lecturer in Public Policy and Director of Read more about Dr. Muhamad Chatib Basri, Former Indonesian Finance Minister joins the Ash Center

Cambridge, MA -- The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School today hailed the government of Vietnam’s decision to formally provide a license for the establishment of Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV).  The license, which was presented to the Board of the Trust for University Innovation in Vietnam by Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam during his groundbreaking visit to the United States last month, marks a critical milestone in the creation of FUV.  The new university will be built on the foundation of the Read more about New Fulbright University Vietnam to Build Upon Collaborative Effort between HKS’ Vietnam Program and the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City

Cambridge, MA -- As part of Hubweek, a collaboration between Harvard University, MIT, the Boston Globe, and Massachusetts General Hospital, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a leading research center at the Harvard Kennedy School, today, announced a call for applications for its #Tech4Democracy Showcase and Challenge to be held on Friday, October 9th at 5pm at the John F Kennedy Jr Forum at the Harvard Kennedy School.

The #Tech4Democracy Showcase and Challenge will bring together Boston-area civic tech innovators and those with Read more about Harvard Ash Center Announces Call for Applications for #Tech4Democracy Showcase and Challenge

Cambridge, MA – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School today announces the appointment of Egyptian technologist and Internet activist Wael Ghonim as a senior fellow. Ghonim recently cofounded Parlio, a new online community focused on elevating thoughtful discourse.

Ghonim’s research during his fellowship will focus on how technology can be harnessed to create space for civic-minded citizens, experts, opinion-makers, academics, and officials to engage each other in discussions of the most pressing social, political, and economic issues Read more about Harvard Ash Center Announces Appointment of Wael Ghonim as Senior Fellow

Ash Center Announces Finalists, Top 25 Innovations in Government

Cambridge, Mass. – May 5, 2015 – Today the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, announced the Top 25 programs in this year’s Innovations in American Government Awards competition, including the five finalists who will compete for the $100,000 grand prize on May 20 in Cambridge. These government initiatives represent the dedicated efforts of city, state Read more about Top 25 and finalists for Innovations in Government Award announced by Ash Center

Ash Center Announces Finalists, Top 10 Programs for Public Engagement in Government Award

Cambridge, Mass. – May 5, 2015 – Today the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, announced the Top 10 programs for the Roy and Lila Ash Innovations in Public Engagement in Government Award, including the four finalists who will compete for the $100,000 grand prize on May 20 in Cambridge. In commemoration of its tenth anniversary, the Ash Center is hosting nationally Read more about Finalists and Top 10 Programs Announced for Public Engagement in Government Award

San Francisco, Ca. – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School today announced the winners of #Hack4Congress SF, a competition to create common-sense solutions to make the U.S. Congress more efficient, effective and accountable to citizens. The event, held over March 21 and 22 at Code for America in San Francisco, drew nearly 100 students, software developers, academics, and everyday Americans from across the country, leading to nine innovative proposals to tackle five major threats to the future of democracy in America. Read more about Harvard Ash Center Announces Winners of #Hack4Congress SF

Cambridge, Mass. – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, recognized today 124 innovative government programs as part of the 2015 Bright Ideas program. This year’s cohort includes programs from all levels of government – school districts; county, city, state, and federal agencies; as well as public-private partnerships Read more about Harvard's Ash Center Announces 124 Bright Ideas in Government

13 Teams Competed in “Not-Just-for-Technologists” Hackathon to Fix Congress

Cambridge, Mass. – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and The OpenGov Foundation today announced the winners of last weekend’s #Hack4Congress competition to create common-sense solutions that would make the U.S. Congress more efficient, effective and accountable to citizens. The two-day event drew over 150 students, software developers, academics and everyday Americans Read more about Ash Center and The OpenGov Foundation Announce Winners of #Hack4Congress

Cambridge, Mass. – A Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Faculty Research Working Paper examining the politicization of the American judiciary finds that the higher the court, the more conservative and polarized it becomes. The paper’s authors, HKS Assistant Professor of Public Policy Maya Sen and Stanford University Assistant Professor of Political Science Adam Bonica, employed an original set of data largely derived from campaign contributions Read more about New Paper Explores Partisan Incentives to Politicize the Judiciary

Cambridge, Mass. – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and the OpenGov Foundation today kicked off registration for its January 30-Feb 1, 2015 “not-just-for-technologists” hackathon – #Hack4Congress.

Though the founders envisioned Congress as the linchpin of democracy in the United States Read more about Ash Center, OpenGov Foundation Launch #Hack4Congress, A “Not-Just-for-Technologists” Hackathon to Fix Congress