UMass Boston: Center for Social Policy: Bridging The Gaps About Us

Noteworthy:

11/07: When Wages Don't Pay the Bills.
Learn More:
Link to a 11/1/07 Boston Globe Editorial.

Center for Social Policy,
McCormack Graduate School, University of Massachusetts Boston

100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393

Phone: (617) 287 5550
Fax: (617) 287 5544

About Us

The Center for Social Policy

The Center for Social Policy (CSP) is an applied research and technical assistance center within the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. CSP engages in research, program evaluation, consultation, tecnical assistance and educational activities aimed at improving the lives of low-income people in Massachusetts, New England and throughout the country. CSP accomplishes this mission through active engagement with communities most directly affected by local, state an federal social welfare policies. CSP has developed a strong reputation for the quality of its research and its ability to collaborate with community-based organizations and policymakers.

Bridging the Gap Massachusetts Funders

This project has been supported through funding from The Ford Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Stoneman Family Foundation.

Project Team

Randy Albelda, Ph.D.
Senior Research Fellow and Professor of Economics
randy.albelda@umb.edu
617-287-5516

Françoise Carré, Ph.D.
Director of Research
francoise.carre@umb.edu
617-287-5516

Donna Haig Friedman, Ph.D .
Center Director and Research Associate Professor
donna.friedman@umb.edu
617-287-5565

Michelle Kahan, M.M.H.S.
Senior Research Associate
michelle.kahan@umb.edu
617-287-5529

Jennifer Shea MA, MS
Ph.D Candidate and Project Manager
jennifer.shea@umb.edu

Elaine Werby, M.S.W.
Special Assistant to the Director
elaine.werby@umb.edu
617-287-5542

Massachusetts Bridging the Gaps Project Advisors

Elisabeth Babcock
President and Chief Executive Officer
Crittenton Women’s Union

Susanne Beaton
Campaign Director
One Family, Inc.

Noah Berger
Director
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

Ramon Borges-Mendez
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs
University of Massachusetts Boston

Mary Coonan
Director
Project Hope’s Transition to Work

Maria Cristina Cuerda
Legal Advocate
Western Mass. Legal Services

Lisa Dodson
Research Professor, Sociology Department
Boston College

Deborah Harris
Staff Attorney
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Pierre Imbert
Former Director, Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants
Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Margaret Leonard
Executive Director
Project Hope

Elena Letona
Executive Director
Centro Presente

Jeff McLynch
Northeast Regional Director
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Dianne Phillips
Career Advocate
Project Hope’s Transition to Work

Marta Rosa
Consultant
MTR Consulting Services

Gerry Thomas
Director, Family & Community Support
Boston Public Health Commission

Doreen Treacy
Director, Civic Health Institute
DotWell

Paul Watanabe
Director, Institute for Asian-American Studies and Professor, Department of Political Science
University of Massachusetts Boston

State Partners

There are currently 9 states and the District of Columbia working with us on this project.

District of Columbia
DC Fiscal Policy Institute
820 First Street, NE Suite 610
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 408-1080
Fax: (202) 408-8173
Contact: Ed Lazere

Illinois
Center for Urban and Economic Development
Graduate Program in Public Administration
College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
University of Illinois, Chicago
412 S. Peoria St., CUPPA Hall 139
Chicago, Illiniois 60607
Phone: (312) 413-2419
Fax: (312) 996-8804
Contact: Sharon Mastracci

Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
50 East Washington St., Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: (312) 263-3830
Fax: (312) 263-3846
Contact: John Bouman

Iowa
Iowa Policy Project
120 N. Dubuque Street, Suite 208
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Phone: (319) 338-0773
Fax: (310) 354-4130
Contact: Kristi Lohmeier

Massachusetts
Center for Social Policy
McCormack Graduate School
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Phone: (617) 287-5550
Fax: (617) 287-5544
Contact: Randy Albelda

Minnesota
Children's Defense Fund Minnesota
200 University Avenue W., Suite 210
St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: (651) 227-6121
Fax: (651) 227-2553

HousingMinnesota
Minnesota Housing Partnership
1821 University Ave. W.
Suite S-137
St. Paul, MN 55104-2891
Phone: (651) 649-1710; (800) 728-8916
Fax: (651) 649-1725
Contact: Baris Gumus-Dawes

JOBS NOW Coalition
400 Selby Avenue, Suite Q
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 290-0240
Fax: (651) 290-0162
Contact: Carrie Thomas

Legal Services Advocacy Project
Midtown Commons
Suite 101
2324 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: (651) 222-3749
Fax: (651) 603-2750

Minnesota Budget Project
2314 University Ave W. #20
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: (651) 642-1904 ext. 230
Fax: (651) 642-1517
Contact: Nan Madden

Minnesota Community Action Association
MCIT Building
100 Empire Drive, Suite 202
St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: (651) 645-7425
Fax: (651) 645-7399

New York
Fiscal Policy Institute
11 Park Place, Suite 701
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (518) 786-3156
Fax: (518) 786-3146
Contact: Trudi Renwick

North Carolina
North Carolina Justice Center
PO Box 28068
Raleigh, NC 27611
Phone: (919) 856-2570
Fax: (919) 856-2175
Contact: John Quinterno

Ohio
Policy Matters Ohio
2912 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 931-9922
Fax: (216) 931-9924
Contact: Amanda Woodrum

Texas
Center for Public Policy Priorities
900 Lydia St.
Austin, Texas 78702
Phone: (512) 320-0222
Fax: (512) 320-0227
Contact: Celia Hagert

Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources
3001 Lake Austin Blvd.
Suite 3200
Austin, Texas 78703
Phone: (512) 471-7891
Fax: (512) 471-0585
Contact: Deanna Schexnayder

Washington
Seattle Jobs Initiative
330 6th Avenue North, Suite 301
Seattle, WA 98119
Phone: (206) 628-6975
Contact: Juliet Scarpa

About Us

The Center for Social Policy

Bridging the Gap Massachusetts Funders

Project Team

Massachusetts Bridging the Gaps Project Advisors

National and State Partners

State Partners