HARVARD + KENNEDY CONFRONTING THE PANDEMIC RECKONING OVER RACE AND INJUSTICE

SEEKING LEADERSHIP AMID SCHOOL UNCERTAINTY magazine summer 2020

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

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ROCHELLE LINDSAY MC/MPA 2020 celebrated her graduation with her daughter. The 605 members of the Harvard Kennedy School Class of 2020 tuned in on May 28 for a virtual graduation celebration, with remarks from Dean Doug Elmendorf and guest speaker Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister of Nigeria.

PHOTO BY RAYCHEL CASEY

summersummer 20202020 | harvard kennedy school 1

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AT HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL we have experienced the most unusual spring and early Associate Dean for summer in recent memory—as I know many of you have as well. But despite the obstacles Communications and Public Affairs posed by the pandemic, we are pursuing our teaching, research, and outreach with great Thoko Moyo vigor and intensity. Managing Editor I am writing this message on the day I welcomed the new mid-career class to the Kennedy Nora Delaney School. I shared my excitement about the year that lies ahead and told these students that Editor they, like generations before them, would fi nd their time with us to be thought-provoking, Robert O’Neill empowering, and inspiring. Indeed, our faculty and staff are focused intently this summer on Director of Alumni Relations building new online courses and cocurricular arrangements, and our students are working Karen Bonadio with us in these efforts. Designers In our research and outreach, we are helping public offi cials around the world respond Janet Friskey Raychel Casey to the pandemic with effective public management, economic programs, social policy, crisis Rachel Harris leadership, international relations strategy, and much more. This issue of the magazine Contributing Writers features insights from our Dan Harsha faculty on what a post- Susan Hughes Cara Myers mpa/id 2018 pandemic world might look Jessica McCann (second from left) in the like, and how we can best field in Mozambique Mari Megias ALISON YIN protect people’s lives and Ralph Ranalli livelihoods. We are also Alessandra Seiter working actively to help James F. Smith overcome the entrenched Printer challenge of racial and ethnic Lane Press FEATURES injustice. This issue offers Harvard Kennedy School our experts’ views on race, Magazine is published two times 12 Policymaking in a Pandemic In a world gripped by the pandemic, HKS experts outline the role a year by the John F. Kennedy protests, and policing—how School of Government Offi ce of policymakers can play. we ended up where we are and Communications and Public Affairs what we can do to create more 79 John F. Kennedy Street 22 Destination Unknown How do leaders make decisions in uncertainty? just societies. Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Along with the work of Phone: 617-495-1442 28 A Movement Greater Than This Tragic Moment Leading thinkers from HKS analyze our faculty and students, we Email: [email protected] a reckoning over race and injustice. With all campus activities taking place remotely this spring, showcase in this issue the Copyright © 2020 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. the breakfasts with the dean were virtual too. efforts of alumni who are The Mozambique School Lunch Initiative founded by Cara Myers mpa/id 2018 is All rights reserved. 34 A New Harvest using what they learned at Magazine Advisory Board helping to feed children and build local agriculture. the Kennedy School to serve others. Melissa Hortman mc/mpa 2018 is serving her state as Joe Bergantino mc/mpa 1985 speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Taurai Chinyamakobvu mc/mpa 2019 Phil Cronin mpp 1996 38 To Be More Than We Were For Melissa Hortman mc/mpa 2018, the pandemic and the killing has helped create a website to share accurate public information about the coronavirus while Tiziana Dearing mpp 2000 of George Floyd have changed the meaning of leadership. protecting user data. Sarah Bell mpp 2003 is helping central banks deal with economic crises, Melodie Jackson mc/mpa 2001 and Cara Myers mpa/id 2018 is improving nutrition for children in Mozambique. David King, faculty At the virtual graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020, I reminded our graduates that Chris Olver mpp 2012 mc/mpa their fundamental and ongoing responsibility as members of the HKS family is to serve others. Craig Sandler 2000 DEPARTMENTS Janice Saragoni mc/mpa 1989 These past few months have demonstrated just how important that responsibility is. I hope Remote Teaching | 40 Bully pulpit Ngozi Okonjo- 44 Alumni voices Classnotes | Jeffrey Seglin, faculty 4 Ideas that all our alumni—from the newest to those who graduated many years ago—take this sense mpp Ken Shulman mc/mpa 2004 Research Briefs Iweala | Sumbul Siddiqui | Leah Sara Minkara 2014 | Jerome Holmes of public purpose to heart. Our mission matters. Steven Singer mc/mpa 1986 Wright Rigueur | Sara Nelson | Jim mc/mpa 2000 | Theodora Skeadas mpp Profiles Sarah Bell mpp 2003 | Dean Doug Elmendorf Scott Talan mc/mpa 2002 8 McGovern | Paul Ryan | Lena Sun 2016 | Mark Iwry mpp/jd 1976 | W3D | mc/mpa Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy Donald Tighe mc/mpa 1999 Taurai Chinyamakobvu Adamas Belva Syah Devara mpa 2016 | 42 In print Why Do We Still Have July 2020 2019 Graduation Celebration the Electoral College? | The

CARA MYERS 9 Faculty Jane Mansbridge | Condemnation of Blackness | 64 Ways and means Fundraising Todd Rogers

ESY OF ESY OF The Hidden Face of Rights | Finding at HKS in the COVID-19 Era This magazine is printed on 100 percent Allies and Making Revolution | postconsumer waste paper (text) and 30 percent postconsumer waste paper On Trade Justice 66 Exit poll (cover) and is fsc® certifi ed. COURT PHOTO 2 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 3

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Each term, the Dean’s Discussions give the HKS community a chance to engage with faculty outside the classroom. This spring and summer, the sessions, which typically are live events, went online, attracting hundreds of participants. The When students couldn’t come sessions, moderated by Dean Elmendorf’s to campus, faculty members chief of staff Sarah Wald, focused on the got creative: coronavirus pandemic:

> A faculty-led, online teach-in during spring break > COVID-19: Leadership in Crisis, Leadership Through Crisis helped students transition to remote learning. Over Panelists: Matt Andrews, Julia Minson, Wendy Sherman fi ve days, faculty held 48 sessions with more than > COVID-19: The Economic Costs and Consequences 3,000 students. Panelists: Linda Bilmes, Karen Dynan, Jason Furman, > Lecturer in Public Policy Mark Fagan shifted his Rema Hanna course “Supply Chain Management for Public Service > COVID-19: Global Crisis Response and Management Delivery” to focus on health care during the pandemic. Panelists: Marcella Alsan, Juliette Kayyem, Dutch Leonard

> This year Spring Exercise, which allows fi rst-year > COVID-19: The U.S. Response and Its Impact on International Harvard Kennedy School MOVED TO ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING students to work with public leaders and policymakers Relations to study real-world public challenges, pivoted to Panelists: Nicholas Burns, Samantha Power, Kathryn Sikkink last spring in order to protect the community during the pandemic. address COVID-19. Remote learning brought more fl exibility to the classroom. As Dean > COVID-19: Race and the Pandemic > Marshall Ganz, the Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer Panelists: Desmond Ang, Cornell William Brooks, Doug Elmendorf wrote in a message to the HKS community, “Our in Leadership, Organizing, and Civil Society, held Kahlil Gibran Muhammad, Leah Wright Rigueur sessions to train HKS faculty members to use online mission is not changing, but the way we advance that mission needs > COVID-19: Gender and the Pandemic pedagogy effectively. to adapt to our new circumstances.” Panelists: Hannah Riley Bowles, Kimberlyn Leary, > The Peter Wertheim Professor in Urban Policy Gordon Zoe Marks, Janina Matuszeski By early May, more than a thousand class sessions had taken place over Hanson and MPP Director Eleni Cortis developed new > COVID-19: Threats to and Opportunities for Democracy summer programming. An impressive series of more Zoom, along with countless meetings, conversations, offi ce hours, seminars, Panelists: Matthew Baum, Cornell William Brooks, than 20 faculty-led workshops was held over Zoom for Erica Chenoweth, Archon Fung and events—and more than a few coffee breaks and happy hours. On June 3, incoming and returning students. While classes were HKS made the decision to move to remote teaching and learning in the fall, not for credit, this initiative provided an opportunity > COVID-19: Effects in Developing Countries continuing the work of the spring semester. for students to connect with faculty and peers. Panelists: Eliana Carranza, Jeffrey Frankel, Rema Hanna, Isabel Guerrero Pulgar

4 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 5

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Research Briefs Maximizing Research Excellence — WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO high levels of research productivity and impact? In her new working paper, “What Maximizes Research Excellence? Productivity and Prioritizing Public Value Impact in Political Science,” Paul F. McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics PIPPA NORRIS analyzes a large-scale survey of political scientists STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, writes Derek Bok Professor of the around the world. She explores three areas that might shape Practice of Urban Policy STEPHEN GOLDSMITH, are the “vital excellence: personal characteristics, such as gender and organs of the city.” When designed and operated effi ciently, they qualifications; working conditions, such as academic rank bring people together, encourage the movement of and job security; and role priorities around the importance of capital and ideas, enable healthy behaviors, and academic research. Her findings show that these considerations, contribute to cleaner air. But poor design can lead particularly working conditions, can affect scholars’ potential for success to negative effects for a community—including in complex and nuanced ways. The paper provides insights into the barriers congestion, pollution, and safety concerns. In his that academics face and opportunities for mitigation—including, for example, new working paper, “Prioritizing Public Value in enhancing the path forward for early-career, women, and minority scholars. the Changing Mobility Landscape,” Goldsmith looks at how — mobility patterns have changed in recent years and how this information could be applied to street and sidewalk planning. By using mapping and data tools, social media feedback, and data from bicycle and scooter rentals, for example, city agencies could make smarter and better-connected decisions around land use, sustainability, public safety, transportation, and employment. As The Case for No First Use Goldsmith notes, these issues have grown even more important in SINCE THE DAWN of the Cold War, when the light of the coronavirus pandemic, which illustrates the critical need Soviet Union enjoyed a preponderance of Pathways for light rail, cars, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians intersect along Berliner for smart, fl exible urban planning in regard to public health. conventional forces in Europe, the United Platz in the center of Bonn, Germany. — States and its NATO allies have made “first use Enforcing Environmental Law Getting What You Pay For of nuclear weapons if necessary” a cornerstone PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT poses important challenges AROUND THE WORLD, with few exceptions, the public sector pays higher of their defense policy. But for many Latin American countries. Driven by international average wages than the private sector does for employees of similar according to JOHN HOLDREN, demand for agricultural commodities, the rapid expansion of rank and skill. The rules determining public-sector salaries also differ A Three-Pronged Climate Policy the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of croplands and cattle ranching has heightened from those in the private sector: Salary increases tend to Environmental Policy and a former science social confl ict and environmental destruction be abrupt and irregular, driven by the forces of labor FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, environmental activism and policy have focused on advisor to President Obama, this position in a region characterized by extreme land supply or political concerns rather than by employee one strategy to fight climate change: mitigation, or the curbing of greenhouse is long overdue for a change. In his article inequality, decentralized governmental productivity, and salary caps provide less incentive gas emissions. However, this one-pronged strategy has failed: In the face of high “The Overwhelming Case for No First Use,” systems, and weak institutions. A new article by for skilled workers to excel. Rafi k Hariri Professor of costs and weak political will, emissions have drastically increased, Holdren writes that adopting a “no first Ford Foundation Associate Professor of Democracy the Practice of International Political Economy RICARDO and global surface temperatures have risen to dangerous use” policy—a guarantee that the United CANDELARIA GARAY, “The Multilevel Politics of Enforcement: HAUSMANN’s new working paper, “You Get What You Pay For: Sources and levels. In their new working paper, “Three Prongs for Prudent States will never initiate a nuclear strike— Environmental Institutions in Argentina,” examines how Consequences of the Public Sector Premium in Albania and Sri Lanka,” Climate Policy,” JOE ALDY, professor of the practice of public would raise the country’s credibility in its environmental regulations explores these differences in Albania policy, and RICHARD ZECKHAUSER, the Frank Plumpton Ramsey stance against proliferation, reduce foreign can be effectively enforced. and Sri Lanka, the sources of wage Professor of Political Economy, offer an alternative. In addition to adversaries’ incentives to acquire nuclear Looking at the conservation of compression, and how they determine mitigation, they argue, policy should focus on adaptation, which weapons, lower the risk of nuclear accident Argentina’s Chaco Forest, Garay individual self-selection into public- or involves investing to offset the damage caused by changing or miscalculation, and stop the race for and her co-author explore how private-sector work. Hausmann fi nds weather and rising seas, and amelioration, or investing in ever-more-powerful nuclear weapons that various nonstate actors, such that although the economies of these geoengineering projects to counteract climate impacts produced could make a first strike effective. as conservation groups and two upper-middle-income countries by high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They Regardless of whether other world powers producers, along with language differ in important ways, they display explore the case for solar radiation management, a geoengineering instrument follow suit, Holdren writes, adopting this ambiguity in legislation, can similar patterns when it comes to that involves injecting aerosols into the upper atmosphere to reflect back solar policy offers “the most conspicuous lead to wide differences in public-private pay differences, providing rays, as the most promising amelioration measure. This detailed strategy offers opportunity not yet taken for the United enforcement and thus in valuable information about public-sector policymakers important tools for widening the scope and efficacy of current States to devalue the currency of nuclear subnational deforestation rates. issues on a larger scale. environmental policy. weapons in world affairs.” Slash-and-burn forest clearing along the Rio Xingu in Brazil — — STEWART MARTHA BY PORTRAITS FACULTY NORALI EMILIO, CENTER, SPACE JOHNSON NASA AMERICAN HISTORY OF MUSEUM NATIONAL FUSCO, SPISKE, MATTEO BINGHAM, MARKUS STEPHEN — — 6 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 7

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PROFILE

FACULTY Values and Leadership

legal issues and social impact. JANE MANSBRIDGE, the Charles F. Adams When time is of the essence, Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic you have to think about how to Values, has retired from Harvard Kennedy frame these considerations in a School after 24 years. Before joining the School, comprehensive way to be able to she taught at Northwestern University and the FACULTY act decisively. I think the difficulty University of Chicago. of that can’t be underestimated— “During a long and distinguished career, Good Behavior you have to accept a certain she has made fi eld-defi ning contributions to

threshold for potential failure. our understanding of the theory and practice STEWART MARTHA With hindsight, there were things of democracy, political representation, and we policymakers could have deliberation as well as feminist theory,” the done better in the last financial Skytte Foundation noted in awarding Mansbridge WORKING IN POLLING OUT OF COLLEGE, TODD ROGERS quickly crisis. But it was really important the prestigious Johan Skytte Prize in Political came to the realization that there was a science of behavior change that the leaders at that time were Science in 2018. “Her distinction between that wasn’t being used in politics. So he decided to pursue an ambitious and motivated to act confl ict- and consensus-driven democracy interdisciplinary doctorate at Harvard that combined organizational quickly, as they are now. Another laid the foundations for her own and others’ behavior, psychology, economics, and political science. He returned to big lesson I took from that infl uential research into direct democracy and politics, co-founding and leading the Analyst Institute, where insights period—and I guess more so from the importance of deliberation for democracy.” from behavioral science were used to improve get-out-the-vote drives, the period that followed—was the Iris Bohnet, academic dean and the Albert fundraising, messaging, and volunteer recruitment. But academia importance of communication Pratt Professor of Business and Government at pulled him back. “As time passed,” he says, “I realized there was a to the public. The Fed wasn’t as the Kennedy School, says, “Jenny, as Professor need for these powerful tools to be used to help families help kids.” ALUMNI accustomed to communicating Mansbridge is known to many, not only Moving Forward in a Time of Uncertainty as frequently and transparently infl uenced the School through her pathbreaking You began your career using behavioral science for voter engagement, but now as it is now. That was a big lesson scholarship and as founding faculty chair of you apply those insights to education. Why did you shift research to social support for policymakers at the time—the the Women and Public Policy Program but also for students? importance of not only doing through her teaching and mentoring of students SPRING EXERCISE at the end of her whole career; most recently, the last few years as chief of staff, what you’re doing, but at the My Student Social Support R&D Lab at HKS’s Center for Public Leadership develops scalable her first year at HKS was about before retirement, she was the before coming to the BIS where same time explaining it clearly to interventions that mobilize and empower the people who care about students: parents, an imaginary smallpox epidemic, director of Meals on Wheels in I am currently the adviser to the the general public. I think central grandparents, coaches, peers, teachers. Students in the United States spend around 75 percent of and Sarah Bell mpp 2003 was San Antonio. My dad is a doctor general manager. This role gives banks all around the world have their waking hours outside school, yet the vast majority of our resources and attention are focused her team’s lead on the economic in a rural part of the state who me a broad view of activities moved in that direction of greater on the 25 percent of time they spend in school. There’s a lot of low-hanging fruit when it comes to impact assessment. Nearly has also worked in tropical across the BIS and in the central transparency, and that’s been an helping make those who care about kids more effective. It’s an asset-based view of families, as two decades on, Bell’s career medicine. I always knew I wanted banking community. What I amazing development. leaders such as Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Karen Mapp write. in central banking has seen to be in public service. But I got out of my experience at the What’s the highest-impact project you have worked on in your lab? her weather a few more (real) always thought I wanted to do Kennedy School more broadly, What do you think is the crises—including Puerto Rico’s it at the macroeconomic level though, was training in how to role of central banks in this One of the most successful interventions in the behavioral science fi eld compares your energy use banking crisis in the mid-2000s rather than the community level. think about policy decisions in moment of crisis? to your neighbor’s using a monthly, mail-based report. People tend to conform to the behavior of and the financial meltdown the context of a high degree of Central banks are in a unique others, and this report is remarkably potent. My research shows that the effect grows over years of of 2008. Now at the Bank for How did you get into central uncertainty. That has definitely position right now, because in treatment and even partly persists after treatment is discontinued. The fi rst education intervention International Settlements banking? been a theme for me through many ways they can act more I developed aimed to reduce students’ absenteeism by applying the model of the home energy (BIS) in Switzerland, a bank As an undergraduate, I studied my career. quickly than fiscal authorities reports to informing parents’ beliefs about their students’ absences. (I was initially turned on to for central banks that also acts politics and economics, and can. They have the operational and faculty colleagues.” Bohnet notes, “I was student absenteeism by the work of Hedy Chang mpp 1989, the preeminent national advocate as a forum for member central I was focused on economic What has your experience capabilities to stand up facilities one of the benefi ciaries of her wisdom and for measuring and improving attendance.) Across several large randomized experiments, this banks to cooperate and discuss development—in Africa in taught you? rapidly, particularly given the care, and will remain forever grateful. Jenny is intervention proved to be incredibly effective—about 50 times more cost-effective than the next best developments in the world particular. When I got to the One of the important lessons experience in the last crisis. So a wonderful role model for all—especially for known student absenteeism interventions. I have worked with school districts around the country in economy and financial markets, Kennedy School, I thought I was is the need to seek out and it has been incumbent on them women faculty.” my outside time to implement these efforts through an organization I started called EveryDay Labs. she’s dealing with perhaps the going to concentrate on economic incorporate diverse and to come out with unprecedented Mansbridge is the author of Beyond Adversary Watching this work scale to help so many families and districts has been incredibly fulfi lling. greatest crisis yet—the global development. But I took courses multidisciplinary perspectives measures to support the flow Democracy and the award-winning Why We Lost pandemic and the economic on regulation and markets, to provide a robust framework of credit. And that’s been an the ERA. She was president of the American K–12 education has been tremendously affected by the COVID-19 crisis. What insights contraction that has followed in and I got more interested in for policymaking in a time of essential role in the first stage Political Science Association from 2012 to from behavioral science could be helpful to educators and families during this time? its wake. those topics. One memorable great uncertainty. Economists of the pandemic. Less urgently 2013. Her recent work has included studies of I’ve been helping education leaders communicate more effectively, and I’m considering writing class on financial markets and dive deep into analysis of perhaps but just as important, representation, democratic deliberation, everyday a short book project on behavioral science–informed guidelines for communicators. The most What sparked your interest in institutions included a field trip situations with a certain central banks also have a role activism, and public understanding of free-rider important organizing idea is that people have limited time, attention, and reading abilities, so public service? to the Federal Reserve. After approach, but central banks to play in pointing out systemic

SARAH BELL SARAH problems. As a response to the current political leaders should cut words, minimize reading level, make messages skimmable, and chunk messages When I was growing up in Texas, that visit, I was kind of hooked. I also need to consider a broad vulnerabilities that have emerged polarization, she also recently headed a project at into a program of communications. Something the mathematician Blaise Pascal wrote to a friend my parents were in different did a summer internship at the set of perspectives on a host in the wake of the crisis and ESY OF HKS producing cases and simulations for teaching captures it: “I am writing you a long letter because I don’t have time to write a short one.” I love that ways involved in public service. New York Fed and then spent 15 of issues related to financial calling for those risks to be fundamental negotiation techniques to state and quote, especially because his 17 words could have conveyed the same message in just 10 words if My mother ran a nonprofit for years working there, including markets, public communications, addressed.

MARTHA STEWART MARTHA federal legislators and high-level staffers. he’d had more time: “With more time I would have written a shorter letter.” PHOTO COURT PHOTO

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platforms often expose people to data mining and security we discovered is, for example, that a class can run on Zoom, and privacy vulnerabilities. Chinyamakobvu repeats a common but once the Zoom session ends, the conversation stops,” saying about social media platforms: “If you’re not paying for Chinyamakobvu says. “So people can create group chats and a service, you are the product.” He focused on developing a the entire class can join.” social media model with an emphasis on user security, inspired In March, the LoopChat team developed a quick spin-off by a course on digital transformation in government taught by project in response to the pandemic. Concerned about the David Eaves, a lecturer in public policy and the director of the lack of information—and the prevalence of misinformation— digital HKS initiative. regarding COVID-19, they put their heads together. Could Chinyamakobvu fleshed out his thinking at the Harvard they use their technical know-how to help provide the public Innovation Lab and then joined forces with a team at the with accurate, clear information about the coronavirus? University of California, Berkeley, that was focused on the same Chinyamakobvu and his team thought so. In short order, concept: building a social networking tool that protects its the 10-person group developed an informational website, users’ data and privacy. The bicoastal partnership led to the www.livecoronaupdates.org. It features regularly updated creation of LoopChat in 2019. “The mission is to have a platform information on COVID-19 cases in the United States, advice to where you can have secure interaction,” Chinyamakobvu prevent the spread of disease, media updates, and opportunities says, “creating a private space where people can socially for community members to connect with one another. network without the fear that their data is manipulated or “We started on a Sunday and then worked through the exploited.” He explains that LoopChat does this in a few night,” Chinyamakobvu explains. “We deployed it after four different ways: “Unlike other apps that enable you to discover days.” The idea, he says, was to deliver an immediately useful and communicate with whoever is on the platform as long you and easily accessible service. “We were really motivated by have their phone number or other contact details, LoopChat a desire to serve the public and provide a single place where allows you to communicate with only the people you want to people can find reliable information that will help keep them engage with by sharing your account QR code.” Chinyamakobvu healthy and safe.”

“The mission is to have a platform where you can have secure interaction, creating a private space where people can socially network without the fear that their data is manipulated or exploited.” TAURAI CHINYAMAKOBVU

also points out that Chinyamakobvu believes that online resources like his some encrypted team’s COVID-19 website and social platforms like LoopChat apps notify users were especially valuable when employers had to rapidly figure BUILDING A SAFE VIRTUAL SPACE when people in their out how to move online while people were quarantined. He contacts join the app. is particularly interested in what work will look like in the Taurai Chinyamakobvu mc/mpa 2019 has harnessed technology to improve “This doesn’t happen on immediate future. “There’s been a lot of talk about the future LoopChat, as we see it as an of work,” Chinyamakobvu says, “but the entire infrastructure remote learning and information sharing during the coronavirus pandemic. invasion of privacy,” he says. of the global economy is not designed for remote workers.” He The tool was tested in a few courses at notes that people are social by nature and that “for us to be UC Berkeley and proved useful when in-person teaching for the productive, we have to congregate,” but that it’s often more TAURAI CHINYAMAKOBVU mc/mpa 2019 enjoyed classroom discussions during his time at Harvard Kennedy spring 2020 academic term was replaced by remote learning difficult online. He is interested in finding a technological School, but he was sometimes frustrated that conversations with classmates could not continue seamlessly because of the pandemic. It has grown rapidly since, with more solution that would allow people to gather and work together after class. “When the class is done, the conversation often stops,” he says. than 50,000 users registered by the end of June from Harvard, seamlessly while ensuring that their privacy and data are He saw potential for a digital solution that would allow students to connect, discuss, and share UC Berkeley, Yale, UCLA, the University of Washington, Boston safeguarded. “What we found out is that when suddenly people information outside the classroom. With a background in blockchain technology and fintech (the financial University, and other institutions. had to break apart and social distance and work from different technology industry), Chinyamakobvu knows the digital landscape well. He even founded a cryptocurrency Chinyamakobvu hopes that LoopChat will allow students spaces, it forced a change,” he says. exchange in his home country, Zimbabwe. to continue their conversations with classmates seamlessly The future of work—and of school—is happening now, in the way they might, say, in the cafeteria over lunch. “What Chinyamakobvu believes, whether we like it or not. Although the benefits of digital platforms are undeniable, he knows that real risks exist. Social media POLITIC THE OF COURTESY JOHN HERSEY

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FOR MONTHS, THE CORONAVIRUS has stalked the globe. It has PUBLIC LEADERSHIP passed through millions, one person at a time, reaching every AND MANAGEMENT corner of the earth. And it has infected not only people but every — aspect of human culture. Policymakers and the public sector face their biggest test in generations—some say ever—as life Democratizing Work POLICYMAKING and livelihood hang in a delicate, terrible balance. Facing health crises, economic collapse, social and political disruption, we try Julie Battilana, Alan L. Gleitsman Professor of Social Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School; Joseph C. to take stock of what the pandemic has done and will do. We Wilson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard IN A PANDEMIC asked HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL FACULTY, in fields ranging from Business School; founder and faculty chair of the climate change to international development, from democracy Social Innovation + Change Initiative to big power relations, to tell us how this epochal event has AS THE UNITED STATES AND COUNTRIES around the changed the world and what policymakers can do. world consider reopening after COVID-19, we are faced with a crucial question: Is our current societal model working, and if not, what kind of model do we want for tomorrow? Staying the course would be a recipe for disaster. Current levels of social and economic inequality both globally and locally have become untenable, and the current pandemic only reinforces them. Moreover, we are pushing the limits of what our natural world can endure. The status quo must change if we hope to survive the combined health, social, economic, political, and environmental crises at hand. In May, Isabelle Ferreras, Dominique Méda, and I joined forces to ask a simple question: What can we learn from the crises we’re facing? At the time, admittedly, our thinking was focused on making it through the COVID-19 period only. And yet, the solution we put forth in a joint manifesto, which has now been signed by 5,000 academics around the world, outlines a solution—democratizing work—that we hope can contribute to fighting the health, economic, social, and political crises stemming from COVID-19, as well as the long-standing crisis of anti-Black racism, about which calls for change have intensified in the wake of the tragic murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. What these crises are teaching us, first and foremost, is that humans are not now and never were resources. They invest their lives, their time, and their sweat to serve the organizations they work for and their customers. As we say in the manifesto, workers are not just one type of stakeholder among many: They hold the keys to their employers’ success. Without workers, there would be no manufacturing plant, no deliveries, no production. All workers are essential. They are thus a firm’s core constituency. And yet they remain

KAI PFAFFENBACH excluded from participating in the government of their

1212 www.hks.harvard.edu www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 13

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 1re4s-1_512-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 12 8/6/20 3:30 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 13 88/2/60//20 31::3501 PM workplaces—a right that is still monopolized by capital investors. This exclusion is unfair and unsustainable, and it prevents organizations from reaping the benefits of workplace democracy. What I have seen in my research is that workplace democracy may well be critical to the success of corporations in the future. I have been studying organizations that pursue social and environmental objectives alongside financial ones for more than a decade. It is time we turn to these organizations and learn from their work as the economy as a whole transitions toward setting clear goals for employee well-being and environmental and social metrics, in addition to financial performance. My research reveals a critical “Instead of debates link to workplace democracy: Organizations that are more democratic—that give a voice to their workers—are better at over austerity in staying the course and pursuing these multiple objectives. the wake of the Finally, democratizing workplaces is one of the most financial crisis, we promising avenues for creating more-just (including more racially just) workplaces where all workers—workers of color, might have broad women, workers with disabilities—have real control over agreement on the resources, and an actual say, as equals in the governance critical role of fiscal of their organizations. By giving employees representation and monetary in decision-making bodies and the right to participate and control their organization’s strategic decisions, we can expansions after collectively build institutions that are truly equitable and fair. this crisis.” — JASON FURMAN MIKE SEGAR The Rainy Day Is Here Linda Bilmes, Daniel Patrick Moynihan Senior Lecturer ECONOMY in Public Policy Meanwhile, local communities face an existential crisis. that often fall on the most vulnerable. If night bus routes are Revenues from sales taxes and user charges (tolls, parking curtailed, the night-shift nurse will be left standing outside the — THE SINGLE BEST WAY to strengthen the national economy now fines, hotel and restaurant taxes, and the like) have dried hospital waiting longer to get home. is to help reboot local economies, which are reeling from the up. And across America, small businesses—many of which Studies conducted during the 2008 crisis showed that each economic fallout of the pandemic. The United States has are owned by minorities and women—are failing. Local dollar invested this way produced a return to GDP of $1.30 The End of Austerity? 90,000 jurisdictions—including cities, towns, school governments will face a second fiscal crisis if property values to $1.55. In the current environment, we need to strengthen Jason Furman, Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy districts, and transit systems—that together provide fall, leading to a decline in property taxes. local communities by providing a flexible program of cash-flow the public with schools, water, sanitation, trash State and local governments have already laid off 1.5 assistance and long-term liquidity to states and localities. THE ECONOMIC RESPONSE to the pandemic by the United collection, fire safety, emergency medical response, million employees, most of them teachers. Millions more are in — States and other advanced economies has been faster and infrastructure. danger of losing their jobs. Congress has provided some $200 and larger than anything we have ever seen before, Local governments are on the front line in fighting the billion in aid to states, but that is no match for the estimated including dramatic policies of central banks and pandemic: responsible for organizing local testing; contact $1.3 trillion revenue shortfall expected over the next three Everyone Stays Home extraordinary actions by fiscal policymakers. tracing, treatment and isolation programs; buying protective years. The Federal Reserve’s $500 billion Municipal Lending Juliette Kayyem, Belfer Senior Lecturer in International Security As a result, household incomes are actually up equipment; and setting up a system to eventually deliver a Facility is welcome, but it is available only to states and very rather than down in many countries, and although vaccine. But their revenues have collapsed. large jurisdictions and must be repaid within three years. That THE NEXUS BETWEEN WORK AND HOME has raised some consumer spending has fallen, at least in the United State revenues are a mixture of sales and income taxes, won’t help thousands of medium-sized communities that interesting questions about how we prioritize “care,” mainly States it has fallen by much less than it did during the federal aid, and user fees. Following the 2008 financial crisis, wish to issue longer-term debt to finance critical infrastructure child care, as a critical infrastructure that needs to be 2008 financial crisis. If policymakers follow through, this most states prudently set aside rainy-day funds to improve projects that generate jobs. prioritized in any crisis management response. We could be a demonstration that early, large, and sustained their balance sheets. This time the revenue shortfall will be far States and municipalities are already taking steps to often think about a disaster, such as a hurricane or fiscal policy responses can be successful in protecting deeper and will quickly deplete those funds. Many revenue- mitigate the damage. These include restructuring their balance an earthquake, as impacting water or food supply, families from the worst ravages of recessions and getting the producing activities—such as tourism, international airports, sheets, entering into regional recovery efforts, carefully or an electrical grid. But what if the response to the economy back on track more quickly. Instead of debates over conventions, and sporting events—are unlikely to return to pre- examining operating costs, adopting job-shares, monetizing crisis is that everyone—absolutely everyone—stays austerity in the wake of the financial crisis, we might have pandemic levels for years. States that entered the pandemic in fixed assets, pruning overheads, and working closely with home? We can wish for an “opening up,” but if our kids broad agreement on the critical role of fiscal and monetary a poor fiscal position are especially vulnerable. And, unlike the community banks. But at the end of the day, those efforts are home—if we haven’t figured out the school and even the expansions after this crisis. college issue—then it all seems rather beside the point.

federal government, states must balance their budgets. alone will not be enough to prevent cuts in vital local services STEWART MARTHA BY PORTRAITS FACULTY — — 14 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 15

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 1re6s-1_712-39_R2_8.11.20.indd 14 8/11/20 3:52 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R2_8.11.20.indd 15 8/1210/20 31:521 PM INTERNATIONAL Globalization—defined as interdependence across AFFAIRS continents—is the result of changes in the technologies of — transportation and communication, which are unlikely to stop. Some aspects of economic globalization, such as trade, will be curtailed; but while economic globalization is influenced A Dangerous Turn by the laws of governments, other aspects of globalization, such as pandemics and climate change, are determined by the R. Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor laws of biology and physics. Walls, weapons, and tariffs do of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations not stop their transnational effects. WE ARE FACING THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL set of challenges Thus far, American foreign policy has responded with since the Great Depression and World War II. The United denial and blaming others rather than taking the lead on “COVID-19 is causing the States, in particular, is at a dangerous turning point, international cooperation. For a speculative counterfactual, biggest economic downturn facing four fundamental crises: imagine an American administration that took its cue from the post-1945 U.S. presidents I describe in Do Morals Matter? The coronavirus crisis: With more than 150,000 developing countries have Presidents and Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump. For example, Americans dead, inadequate testing, and irresolute ever seen. Governments and the United States could launch a massive COVID-19 aid federal leadership, we are not well organized for a program—a medical version of the Marshall Plan. Instead the international community possible second wave; of competing in propaganda, leaders could articulate the have prepared for a tropical The economic crisis: More Americans are unemployed now importance of power with rather than over others and set up storm, but it increasingly than at any other time since 1933, with no clear administration bilateral and multilateral frameworks to enhance cooperation. looks like a Category 5 plan to encourage a recovery; Recurrent waves of COVID-19 will affect poorer countries The racial crisis: There is nothing more dangerous to our future less able to cope, and a developing-world reservoir will hurt hurricane.” RICARDO HAUSMANN than continued domestic dysfunction, especially the denial of everyone if it spills northward in a seasonal resurgence. In SANTIAGO ARCOS SANTIAGO justice to African Americans and other minority groups; 1918, the second wave of the pandemic killed more people The leadership crisis: President Trump has failed to address these than the first. Both for self-interested and humanitarian and other crises. His active attempt to divide Americans on race is reasons, the United States could lead the G-20 in generous the most disgraceful act by an American president in our lifetime. contributions to a major new COVID-19 fund that was open The Perfect Storm The Tide Is Rolling Back to all poor countries. If a U.S. president were to choose such There is hope. Americans have taken to the streets in cooperative and soft-power-enhancing policies, it might create Ricardo Hausmann, Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of Rema Hanna, Jeffrey Cheah Professor of South-East Asia the largest peaceful demonstrations in recent decades. Our a geopolitical turning point to a better world. More likely, International Political Economy Studies businesses and universities lead the world in the digital age. The however, the coronavirus will simply accelerate existing trends courts, career public servants in Washington, and the military toward nationalist populism, authoritarianism, and tense COVID-19 IS CAUSING the biggest economic downturn developing COVID-19 IS A GAME-CHANGER for most of the developing and leadership are defending democracy. Our students are ready to relations between the United States and China. countries have ever seen. Governments and the international emerging countries of the world, and not in a good way. Virus lead and to write the next chapter in the American story. community have prepared for a tropical storm, but it hot spots are flaring up in many low-income countries, — — increasingly looks like a Category 5 hurricane. They need and however difficult it is to combat the disease to act, and act fast, to ensure that they are adequately in developed countries, developing ones face financed to withstand a collapse in tax revenues and even graver challenges. Fighting its spread is very Global Trends and A New Energy Landscape? the need for increased health and social expenditures. hard. Social distancing remains nearly impossible Foreign Policy Meghan O’Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Absence of such action will lead to a combination of in the dense megacities. The lack of clean water , Harvard University Distinguished Service Practice of International Affairs currency, debt, and banking crises. Recovery from such in many poorer towns and villages prevents effective Joseph S. Nye Jr. Professor, Emeritus avoidable events is slow and painful. handwashing techniques. For those who do become ill, health THE CORONAVIRUS and the immobilization of much of the — systems are less developed, with fewer hospital beds and WILL THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGE or accelerate pre-existing global economy that followed have created enormous medical personnel per citizen, less technology, less medical global trends? Many commentators predict the end of the challenges for energy markets. These challenges have been equipment, and less personal protective equipment. era of globalization that has prospered under U.S. most pronounced in oil, in large part due to the fact But it is not just the disease that will take a human toll. It Will Never Be the Same leadership since 1945. Some see a turning point at that the majority of the world’s oil consumption is The corresponding slowing of the global economy from the Lawrence Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor which China surpasses the United States as a global for transportation. Constraints on the mobility of pandemic is leading to unemployment and food insecurity. power. Certainly, there will be major changes in many billions of people around the world resulted in a COVID-19 IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT in my For the first time in more than 20 years, we expect global economic and social dimensions of world politics, drop in oil demand of approximately 25 million professional lifetime. The 1918 pandemic, the 1929 poverty to rise. That, in turn, may roll back gains in nutrition, but humility is in order. One must be wary of assuming barrels a day, out of a pre-COVID-19 demand of 100 economic decline, the 1968 social implosion, and education, and preventive health care. that big causes have predictable big effects. For example, million. This cratering of demand led to a dramatic the Andrew Johnson presidency all at once is how it’s — the 1918–1919 flu pandemic killed more people than World decrease in prices, including a day in which the American been described. Labor markets, financial markets, and War I, yet the major global changes were a consequence of the benchmark for oil went into negative price territory. international relations will never be the same. war, not of the disease. These developments, and fear that such volatility in one — 16 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 17

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 1re8s-1_912-39_R2_8.11.20.indd 16 8/11/20 3:56 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R2_8.11.20.indd 17 8/1210/20 31:561 PM “Critical questions of the world’s largest and most strategic industries could Instead, COVID-19 is more remain, and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included abundant use of such green Rebuild What? And How? further exacerbate a teetering global economy, led to an likely to reinforce divisive debates are raging incentives. Now the European Union’s proposed Economic William C. Clark, Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, unprecedented mobilization of international actors. In an trends that were under way about whether the Recovery Plan does likewise. Whether such an approach is Public Policy and Human Development; Alicia G. Harley, Post- extraordinary shift from past positions, the G-20, the United before the first case was used this year and next year in the United States, however, will Doctoral Fellow, Sustainability Science Program States, and even President Trump personally became actively detected. In particular, it energy landscape depend upon difficult domestic politics—not to mention the involved in brokering a deal among OPEC members and other will accelerate a retreat from will ever return outcome of the November election. OUR WORK ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT invites a long- allied producers to agree to the largest oil production cut globalization; raise new to pre-COVID-19 — term perspective on today’s overlapping crises, of which the in history. This cut, and market forces that brought several barriers to international trade, coronavirus, racism, and climate heating are only million more barrels of oil off-line in the United States, investment, and travel; and parameters.” the most visible faces. From that intergenerational Canada, and elsewhere, has helped stabilize oil markets, give both democratic and MEGHAN O’SULLIVAN SOCIETY AND HEALTH perspective, shocks and surprises are the norm, albeit from historic lows. nondemocratic governments not the exception. Sometimes they stem from But critical questions remain, and debates are raging greater power to track and monitor their citizens’ lives. Global — wars, sometimes from environmental degradation, about whether the energy landscape will ever return to pre- economic growth will be substantially lower than it would sometimes from technological innovations, COVID-19 parameters. One of the most important questions have been had the pandemic not occurred. Relations among sometimes from revolutionary ideas … and sometimes revolves around whether this abrupt rupture in energy the major powers will continue the downward trend that was A New Look at Business and from pandemics. Such disruptions invariably markets can be translated into a boost for the transition to apparent before the pandemic struck. Government impoverish or kill some people while opening a more environmentally sustainable global energy mix. The In short, the post-COVID-19 world will be less open, less Amitabh Chandra, Ethel Zimmerman Wiener Professor of opportunities for others. They can also lay bare answer to this question depends on how durable changes in free, less prosperous, and more competitive than the world Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School; Henry and Allison underlying social inequalities that incumbent regimes consumer behavior are (particularly around travel) and whether that many people expected to emerge only a few years ago. McCance Professor of Business Administration, Harvard have ignored or papered over. That is certainly the case governments seize the opportunity that pumping economic — Business School today, when it has become starkly clear that the burden of our stimulus into their economies gives them to advance the energy overlapping crises is falling disproportionately on people who transition. Europe has already demonstrated a willingness to CORONAVIRUS AND OTHER HEALTH PANDEMICS will happen again, are Black or poor or otherwise socially marginalized. use its stimulus packages to further the transition; China’s Good and Bad News for Climate and sooner than we think, because of climate change. COVID-19 The long-term perspective of the quest for sustainable provides an opportunity to seriously examine the roles of actions demonstrated a mixed intent, and—thus far—there has Robert N. Stavins, A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and development also highlights the reality that however terrible business and government in society: to figure out what been little indication that advancing a clean energy transition is Economic Development the immediate impacts of history’s cataclysmic disruptions, their high on the list of U.S. policymakers’ priorities. The world has at each is best at doing, what each is ill-suited to deliver, ultimate consequences for human well-being are not foreordained least one opportunity to create a silver lining from the COVID-19 THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC will likely have profound effects on and what they must do more of together. Those but rather depend on how we choose to rebuild in their wake. crisis, but it will require vision and action to realize. both climate change and climate change policy. These impacts determinations must be made in a clear-eyed manner, But rebuild what? And how? — are mainly—but not exclusively—due to the severe with data, incentives, and a tremendous sense of social Research suggests that the prospects for rebuilding a more economic downturn that has been brought about by justice for the poor and vulnerable. just and prosperous world—and a world better prepared to the response of governments, firms, and individuals — weather the next inevitable shocks—depend on long-term Sounding a Retreat to the pandemic. With depressed economic activity, programs of action to strengthen and maintain the following six interdependent social capacities: Stephen Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of there has been and will continue to be a net reduction The Worrying Rise of Digitalization International Affairs of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse • The capacity to conserve and enhance the natural and gases linked with the observed net decrease in energy Mathias Risse, Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Philosophy and anthropogenic resources that constitute the productive THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC is the most disruptive global event demand. Without the pandemic, global emissions overall might Public Administration base of society. since the Great Depression and World War II. More than 12 have peaked in 2024. Instead, it now appears that they may • The capacity to ensure greater equity in access to that million people have been infected in less than six have peaked in 2019. That’s good news for climate change, IN TIMES OF CRISES, such as pandemics, all of society’s resource base and the flow of goods and services produced months; more than 550,000 people have died; but economic recession is surely not a desirable approach to underlying vulnerabilities are laid bare: The long history of from it. and many more deaths will occur even if effective mitigating emissions. injustice, of not respecting people’s rights as citizens vaccines or treatments are eventually found. The The impact of economic recession is no doubt less positive and as human beings, lifts its ugly head once more. • The capacity to adapt to unexpected shocks through economic costs are staggering: Much of the world for the course of environmental and climate change policy. We hardly need reminders that not all is well in the identification and provisioning of essential reserves and has fallen into recession, public debt levels are Political will for environmental policies and regulations always human rights domain, but COVID-19 definitely is one. through practice in mobilizing them. soaring, and future growth prospects have dimmed. decreases during economic downturns. However, governments’ Also, many of the responses to this pandemic, in • The capacity to transform unsustainable development Yet despite these far-reaching effects, the current pandemic financial responses to the recession can compensate for this, one way or another, have rather forcefully driven along pathways into more-sustainable ones through the will not transform the essential nature of world politics. at least partly. Short-term financial assistance and economic the digitalization of our lifeworlds. The possibilities for disempowerment of incumbents vested in unjust aspects of The territorial state will remain the basic building block of relief have reasonably been focused on helping economies surveillance as practiced by both governments and the private the status quo. sector will increase enormously. The Universal Declaration international affairs, nationalism will remain a powerful recover as rapidly as possible, and targeting relief to those • The capacity to link knowledge with action in ways that of Human Rights was formulated in response to centuries of political force, and the major powers will continue to compete in society who have been particularly disadvantaged. But a enhance the effectiveness of political agitation aimed at hardship in a thoroughly analog world. COVID-19 is one more for influence in myriad ways. Global institutions, transnational long-term economic stimulus could include elements that help equitable improvements in well-being. networks, and assorted nonstate actors will still play important move the economy in a green, climate-friendly direction—less very big step into an increasingly digital world in which human • The capacity to govern—to work together to achieve what we roles, but the present crisis will not produce a dramatic and reliance on fossil fuels, greater reliance on renewable sources rights must be not only rethought in their new context, one by can’t achieve alone—and thus to develop and implement enduring increase in global governance or significantly higher of energy, and greater efficiency in the production and use of one, but also defended in ways that themselves make use of all the other capacities in an integrated and mutually levels of international cooperation. energy. In the previous recession, the American Recovery and the compulsory digitalization that is happening all around us. — supportive fashion. 18 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 19

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 2re0s-2_12-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 18 8/6/20 3:30 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R2_8.11.20.indd 19 8/1210/20 31:571 PM An integrated strategy of capacity building is no substitute health and map the way to recovery. Some businesses and for immediate action to meet the basic needs and redress the nonprofits took costly action early to protect their employees violent injustices facing us in today’s crises. But such a strategy and communities. Labor and community advocates organized is a historically informed alternative to the temptations facing immediate aid, but also spoke up for the least advantaged. each of us to focus exclusively on the single ill or capacity There are more shoots visible in the huge protests about which we feel most strongly. The capacities we list here following George Floyd’s killing. People of many races and are complementary, not competitive. Society has already built classes have awakened to the reinforcing harms of economic a significant understanding of how to foster each of them, inequality, disease, and racism. Himself an avatar of this and has sometimes learned to integrate them in sustained intersectionality, Floyd lost his job as a security guard because programs that support deep and long-lasting social change. of the pandemic, contracted COVID-19 in April, and was killed Such programs should be put into action today by diverse actors several weeks later by a Minneapolis police officer. at multiple scales in concerted efforts to rebuild a more just and Will these shoots multiply into a robust new American sustainable world from the wreckage of our current crises. democracy? Or will they be mowed down by the juggernauts — of racism and plutocracy that preceded the pandemic? The answer is up to us. DEMOCRACY — “Good information — is more than Information Is Survival Gear a democratic A Just and Democratic Nancy Gibbs, Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, value; it is Politics and Public Policy; Visiting Edward R. Murrow Professor survival gear.” New Normal of Press, Politics and Public Policy Archon Fung, Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship NANCY GIBBS 2020 and Self-Government THIS PITILESS SPRING OF has exploited the forces that already weakened us: our political divisions, our doubts, and A PERFECT STORM OF THREE CRISES is battering America: a our intersecting injustices. Partisan division turned public health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic; a civic crisis public health measures into performance art; of widespread protests sparked by racist police abuse; distrust of institutions deepened as they struggled spreading? We aren’t likely to agree on the way forward, so the took shelter indoors and followed along closely online, where and an economic crisis of record unemployment and to respond; and the weight of suffering, physical next test will be how well we create the conditions for debate— social media platforms amplified both truth and misinformation dislocation. Between now and November, we may and economic, on communities of color has inspired listening with open minds, putting the public interest first, and about COVID-19. Rumors and conspiracy theories about well face a fourth political crisis surrounding the people all around the world to risk their own health realizing that the tension between values can be a source of medical recommendations, which are difficult for public health presidential election, its conduct, and perhaps even and safety to come into the streets in solidarity. strength, not an excuse for surrender. professionals to address, sit alongside data about potential risk its outcome. These crises have vanquished all sense Early in this crisis, the World Health Organization warned of — and harm. Some health misinformation underpins in-person of normalcy for now. But in the longer term, will we be an “infodemic”—people overwhelmed by information, some of rallies to reopen the economy in the United States, where able to create a better new normal? What world will COVID-19 it true, much of it not, that made it harder for anyone to know activists claimed that COVID-19 was a grand hoax by Democrats leave behind? what to believe. In the months since, we’ve seen just how viral When Misinformation to hijack the election. When misinformation mobilizes, it can Writing in the Financial Times, Peter Atwater foresees a “K”- conspiracy theories can be, spread by those looking to divide Mobilizes endanger the public. shaped recovery. The upward part of the K—people who will us even further or profit from our fears. So, both the media Joan Donovan, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy; Research Director For the past decade, we have witnessed social media do better than before these crises—consists of professionals and the platforms that control so much of our information at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, become and others at the top end of the income distribution. The ecosystem face a reckoning that was long overdue. We the most indispensable conduits of information during social bottom half consists of have-nots who may fare even worse are seeing that play out in real time, from the serial policy AS A RESEARCHER OF CRITICAL INTERNET STUDIES who specializes upheaval, elections, and natural disasters. But look back than they did before the crisis: essential but sometimes adjustments at Facebook and Twitter to the soul-searching in in media manipulation and disinformation, I am often asked to their origins: They were not designed to be such critical disposable workers, sometimes lacking health care, sick leave, our largest newsrooms to the desperate efforts to save what about how social media impacts society. When it comes communication infrastructure. YouTube began as a dating site; or employment; and low-income people and people of color, remains of local news. to thinking about health misinformation on tech Facebook was a place for college students to network; and who we now know suffer much more damage from COVID-19. Good information is more than a democratic value; it is platforms, we must recognize how quickly behaviors Twitter’s purpose as a microblog was described by CEO Jack If the future is this K, COVID-19 will merely have accelerated survival gear. When people show up in emergency rooms after change when people are exposed to new information. Dorsey as “a short burst of inconsequential information.” How the trends toward economic, social, political, and health drinking bleach in hopes of preventing infection, or blame 5G, Questions about how to protect oneself and one’s things have changed! inequities that have been widening in the United States for the GMOs, or Bill Gates for the spread of the virus, we have failed family from COVID-19 became a breeding ground for The lessons we learn today about how to handle health past 40 years: a quickening of the old normal as we knew it. to protect our information streams from lethal toxins. Out of misinformation, where political polarization exacerbated misinformation may hold the key to developing public policy on But perhaps it is within our grasp to create a different new this crisis, for all our divisions and distrust, should come a an already contentious issue. To wear or not to wear a mask other forms of disinformation, especially as it relates to the role normal, one that is more equitable and democratic. We can see deep and broad debate over rules and norms about speech: became a show of partisanship as a relatively innocuous social media companies will play in curating content online. Tech shoots of this better new normal in the civic federalism of local Who controls what we read and see and hear? How do we recommendation turned into a topic of political discussion on companies are slowly coming to the realization that it’s not just responses to COVID-19’s damage. Many governors and mayors honor both freedom and fairness? What can we do to promote social media. their corporate reputations at stake. It’s also our lives. stepped up with energy and creative solutions to protect public reliable information even as we prevent misinformation from As the pandemic hit, like a slow-moving hurricane, many — 20 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 21

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 2re2s-2_312-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 20 8/6/20 3:31 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 21 88/2/60//20 31::351 PM Destination Unknown How do leaders make decisions in uncertainty?

“I KNOW THAT I KNOW NOTHING.” This observation, loosely attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, raises a host of questions: What can you do when you know if not nothing, then not enough? When you are a public leader responsible for the well-being of a community, how can you best serve people? What should you do when the stakes are high but you have little knowledge to guide you? With the coronavirus pandemic, the world is experiencing an unprecedented and long-lasting public health crisis that has left almost no community untouched. Leaders must make crucial and time-sensitive decisions that affect the lives, health, and economic well-being of the people in their communities, but they must do so with limited information. In these conditions of uncertainty, decision making is a challenge even for experienced leaders. How can leaders decide when to open up schools and businesses? What should they take into account? BY NORA DELANEY Harvard Kennedy School faculty members offer advice for decision making in times of uncertainty—from the practitioners who have managed crises during stints in government to behavioral scientists who can provide insight into how emotions affect choices. Faculty members have reached out ILLUSTRATIONS BY to inform and counsel public leaders and policymakers in the United States ADAM MCCAULEY and across the world though Zoom videoconferences, blogs, opinion pieces, and podcasts reaching hundreds of participants—in addition to the lessons they provide to the internal Kennedy School community through courses,

22 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 23

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 2re4s-2_512-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 22 8/6/20 3:31 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 23 88/2/60//20 31::351 PM “Be honest. Empower people with facts. And be modest and give yourself the space

to pivot when you need to.” MATT ANDREWS

special teaching sessions, and community conversations like the appointed, elected, or hired—pulling together whomever they can to this topic, Andrews observed, “Even if you don’t have all those Dean’s Discussions, a series of talks over the spring and summer reach to face into our collective challenges creatively and together.” resources, there’s an incredible amount that you can do by better that focused on the coronavirus and included a session on race Second, we need trustworthy authorities who will figure out authorizing people, by mobilizing and inspiring people.” and the pandemic. how to gain, renew, or repair trust on an ongoing daily basis so that For a series spanning several weeks, Andrews spoke with The HKS faculty has shared a wealth of diverse evidence- they can then “provide the critical coordinating mechanisms of policymakers and public leaders in developing countries that do based ideas about leadership during times of crisis and how action and can educate people with the daily emerging truth, with not have robust institutions to handle a public health crisis. He leaders can be effective even under conditions of extreme its uncertainty, so that people can engage in the work that only they held Friday Zoom sessions—most of which drew 50 or 60 people uncertainty. This knowledge should give public leaders hope. can do—the ongoing and changing adjustments they have to make.” from around the world—to talk through the nuts and bolts of In Heifetz’s view, the pandemic is teaching us that meeting this leadership as the crisis unfolds in real time. “If ever there was a adaptive challenge requires shared responsibility, shared losses, time when leadership matters, it’s now,” he says. Technical versus adaptive and widespread innovation in every family, business, schoolhouse, Andrews has been sharing a few takeaways with leaders. Most nonprofit organization, and government office. “Building new people he has spoken with have basic questions about what One way to think about the COVID-19 crisis is as an adaptive capacity to meet an adaptive challenge often requires widespread the public health response should be. “We don’t have a lot of problem. RONALD HEIFETZ, the King Hussein Bin Talal Senior behavioral change,” he says, and “leading from positions of resources, and we don’t have a lot of tools to throw at this,” he Lecturer in Public Leadership, developed a framework—known as authority requires titrating hope and despair daily, to buffer the says. “So the public response everywhere has been to observe adaptive leadership—that is used around the world. losses while also engaging people realistically, because the losses is shared losses and shared responsibility for the welfare of the social distancing to try to stop the spread.” Leaders who begin Heifetz distinguishes between challenges that are technical need to be worked with and cannot be avoided.” community. Public officials have to find a way to give the work this earlier, Andrews says, will have more tools to work with. To and those that are adaptive. Unlike technical problems, adaptive Heifetz believes that the coronavirus crisis is giving us a back to their various publics with presence, heart, transparency, be effective, they should communicate well, mobilize people to problems often require that people develop new capacities. They shared global experience that is generating billions of adaptive and decisive action, even if those decisions will require change.” be on their side, and manage the politics of the situation so that are frequently generated by novel and unpredictable challenges, efforts—some unsuccessful, but many encouraging—from which “Particularly in an era of widespread distrust of authority,” societies are unified rather than fragmented. and usually no clear-cut approach to solving them exists. we can learn much, both for this moment in the pandemic and for Heifetz says, “the mindset of authorities in the midst of a crisis What should leaders do when they communicate with their “When a problem is technical—when it is a known problem other challenges that will demand adaptive change. needs to be a mindset of repair and renewal. They must tend to constituents? Andrews suggests, “Be honest. Empower people with for which we can engineer a solution—we can design a critical Without a clear path, Heifetz says, leaders need to improvise trust on an ongoing basis.” facts. And be modest and give yourself the space to pivot when you path from point A to point B and be pretty good at sticking to that and take corrective action often; this is the nature of adaptive need to.” He adds that being calm and reliable is equally important. path to get to where we want to go,” Heifetz says. “But adaptive work. “Leadership is an improvisational art,” he says. “You may In addition to communicating effectively, leaders need to problems—such as the coronavirus pandemic—do not have that have an overarching vision—that’s the easy part. The hard part Lessons for leaders in organize people well. In times of crisis, Andrews says, leaders kind of certainty and predictability, and that puts enormous is reading a changing reality and pacing the work so that your developing countries often tend to “circle the wagons” and gather small teams around pressure on authorities to do the impossible: to resolve the people can adjust and innovate in their lives and organizations at them. But a command-and-control approach, working through uncertainty quickly and restore people to their normal lives. a rate they can absorb.” MATT ANDREWS, the Edward S. Mason Senior Lecturer in a rigid hierarchy, is often too brittle to be very effective. He That’s one of the major reasons why we see a lack of leadership Like many other faculty experts, Heifetz emphasizes the International Development, is the faculty director of the School’s says, “We found that actually most organizations—and this is in from people in authority positions: It’s dangerous to disappoint importance of trust: “There are bonds that hold a community Building State Capability program, housed in the Center for keeping with the literature—do that for a week, do that for two people. Authorities are under tremendous pressure to treat together. Bonds of trust, bonds of affection, bonds of affiliation, International Development. Andrews has created a blog series— weeks, and then they actually find that things start to crumble.” adaptive challenges as if they were technical problems.” bonds of mutual identification, that enable us to stay in the tough Public Leadership Through Crisis—that offers ideas to help According to Heifetz, the crisis is making two key properties of conversations against the divisive forces that would allow us to leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this blog, he adaptive change very real. fly off into isolation.” According to him, these bonds are holding shares insights from the Building State Capability program and How emotions can sway decisions First, he says, we need people to step up and practice communities together. from “problem driven iterative adaptation” (PDIA) methodology, leadership throughout society to mobilize adaptive work, from Some elements of trust are hard: Public officials must which brings together teams of officials and stakeholders to JULIA MINSON, a social psychologist who studies conflict, the micro level of families, to people within organizations pulling acknowledge the difficulties that people face in a crisis like the identify complex problems and break them down into more- negotiations, and judgment and decision making, has tips drawn together to seize new opportunities or sustain revenue, to every coronavirus pandemic. Heifetz believes that leadership requires manageable components. from her research for leaders communicating in times of crisis. level of government—from local to national—as it is managing respecting and speaking to the severity of losses in people’s lives. Andrews’ work is focused primarily on developing and Minson, who is an associate professor of public policy at the through the crisis, decisively solving its technical components and Delivering tough messages requires “an enormous degree of transitioning governments, but he notes that many of the countries Kennedy School, is particularly interested in the “psychology generating adaptability. Heifetz says, “We need people to lead just empathy, humility, and transparency,” he says. “Public officials he works with are struggling with the same questions and issues of disagreement”—that is, how people engage with opinions, because they see the need to take the initiative, without waiting need to learn to speak with an authoritative voice when the that government officials are facing in the United States. In an judgments, and decisions that differ from their own. She observes for the coach to call them into the play, without waiting to be message is uncertainty … and when the only way through this episode of the Kennedy School’s podcast, PolicyCast, devoted that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused conflict and become

24 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 25

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that’s exactly how you’re seen.” JULIA MINSON

a source of argument, with people debating what is factual. “A is to be apart. And for leaders to figure out how to bring people information is limited. “It’s just honest,” she says. “That’s all lot of the things we have been observing, for example, with the together by telling them to stay apart is a very difficult thing to do. you have got: numbers and hope.” climate change debate are happening again,” she says. “There is So we all should be somewhat generous to our leaders, because a set of scientific and medical facts, and all of a sudden, people they’re all going to fail at some level. And what a good leader does are finding reasons to debate them. You have people who are is learn from that failure quickly and be able to pivot.” Three essential tasks for deeply, passionately committed to a particular set of values, to a The Kennedy School teaches policy design and delivery responding to crises particular set of perspectives, that are backed by facts and data. concepts that are crucial in making sound leadership decisions, And they absolutely cannot communicate with people who don’t Sherman points out. The principles that students learn in their Although the COVID-19 response sessions themselves were open see the world the same way they do.” courses and in practical experiences like the first-year MPP to city leaders only, the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Minson also believes that many leadership challenges are Spring Exercise—which this year focused on responding to Initiative has posted takeaways and insights on its website. These communications challenges. “A level of buy-in is required,” COVID-19—can help in understanding the complexity of crises, in tools for crisis management and crisis communications target she says, because the pandemic necessitates a great deal making decisions on the basis of evidence, and in communicating local leaders, but they are valuable for anyone in a leadership of voluntary cooperation from the public to observe social- clearly. But in addition to the core interpersonal and technical position. Among the takeaways are three leadership tasks crucial distancing measures. “So the question becomes, ‘How can we skills that leaders need to do their jobs, and that the Kennedy to responding to a crisis (drawing on the work of Leonard, Kayyem, communicate in a way that garners that cooperation around an School teaches its students, context matters a great deal. and de Jong, as well as ARNOLD HOWITT and DAVID GILES from the issue that has become partisan and conflict-laden?’” “The context for this crisis is perhaps one of the most Kennedy School’s Program on Crisis Leadership): immensely difficult that any leader anywhere in the world has Her advice for leaders is to understand that it is OK to pivot if • Assess where you are in the life cycle of the crisis with as had to define,” Sherman says. “It is, quite frankly, more difficult facts on the ground change and you have evidence that suggests Leading through crisis in practice much accuracy as possible. This will inform how you allocate than the 2008–2009 financial crisis. It is even more difficult a new course. Leaders might worry that they will come across as your attention and activities and organize the work. indecisive, but studies suggest that they will be seen as better WENDY SHERMAN provides a few overarching principles of leadership than the aftermath of 9/11.” It is also more challenging, in decision makers and as more competent (if less confident) that she has observed and learned through her experiences in Sherman’s opinion, than the Ebola crisis, which unfolded while • Establish a problem-solving process for a novel threat. Routine leaders. “What people are looking for right now are competent, government. Sherman, who served as undersecretary of state for she was serving at the State Department. “This is going to go emergency management processes will not be sufficient for thoughtful decision makers,” Minson says. “And when you political affairs in the Obama administration, was the lead U.S. on for a very long time,” Sherman says. “And the uncertainty of responding to this crisis, which will require rapid integration change your mind in the face of evidence, that’s exactly how negotiator in the talks with Iran that resulted in a nuclear agreement what’s ahead—the unknowingness of what’s ahead—requires of new (and incomplete) information, learning on the fly, and you’re seen.” in 2015. She also led talks with North Korea during the Clinton tremendous humility on the part of leaders.” nimble reactions to emergent issues. administration. Now she serves as a professor of the practice of Like Sherman, JULIETTE KAYYEM has handled crises in She and her colleagues have developed a “recipe” to help • Understand the political aspects and identify risks to be public leadership and the director of the Kennedy School’s Center practice. Kayyem, the Belfer Senior Lecturer in International people communicate better in conditions of disagreement and managed so as to keep order, secure and retain support, and for Public Leadership. Security, has been an active voice on crisis response during have built an algorithm that identifies words and phrases that can create the conditions for effective collaboration under extreme Sherman says that the pioneering leadership studies scholar the pandemic. Along with her colleague DUTCH LEONARD, the make people on the other side of a conversation feel understood. circumstances. “They are not rocket science,” she says. Warren Bennis offers a good sense of the qualities needed to lead George F. Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Management, Kayyem These communication tips include acknowledging the other in uncertain times. Bennis, she says, “talked about a leader having has frequently contributed to a series of sessions over the Like the military model “Be–Know–Do,” these three tasks person’s point of view and finding common ground. “There’s a guiding vision, having passion, hope, and inspiration” along spring and summer for mayors and city leaders managing emphasize using available knowledge and evidence and drawing almost always something in common,” Minson says. “In the with integrity, candor, maturity, humility, curiosity, and “daring the pandemic’s fallout. The sessions were a collaboration on a problem-solving skill set to address a crisis, even when much current situation, both people want to get through this as quickly wonder.” Sherman believes that trust is also both a product of and between the BLOOMBERG HARVARD CITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE is uncertain. as possible, or both are very concerned about the implications for a requirement for good leadership: “It’s not something that just and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Coronavirus Local Response Although few surefire answers can be found to the questions the economy, or both recognize that kids have a very hard time exists. It’s given in that contract between people.” Initiative and were hosted by JORRIT DE JONG, the faculty director that emerge in unprecedented crises like the coronavirus pandemic, when they’re out of school for a long time. So finding agreement She also draws from a model of leadership used by the U.S. of the initiative and a senior lecturer in public policy and leaders can take some basic actions to arm themselves with the best means reaching beyond the current conflict and looking for some armed forces, summarized as “Be–Know–Do.” Leaders should management. Each Zoom session attracted hundreds of mayors knowledge possible—using lessons from the adaptive leadership very basic things that we as humans can agree on.” embody certain virtues and character traits, such as integrity. and other urban leaders. In the first of these videoconferences, model and from problem-driven iterative adaptation, from practical Minson also advises against using the language we tend to They should possess certain capabilities, including interpersonal Kayyem drew on her experience as an assistant secretary at the crisis management experience and expertise, from decision science adopt when we want to win arguments. She says that “linguistic and technical skills. And they should act. Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration. and more. From pillars of the community to mayors to heads of state, markers of debate”—the words because, therefore, and actually, for Sherman emphasizes that leaders benefit from knowing when During her tenure, she was involved with the federal leaders should listen to expert opinion, communicate clearly, and example—can sound condescending. If you are careful with your to pivot in a crisis. “No leader can corral all the forces necessary government’s response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. mobilize people to act. Kennedy School experts show that even word choice, she says, other people will feel that you are listening to get to a perfect solution in the first instance,” she says. “We Kayyem observes that in crisis situations, leaders must clearly under conditions of uncertainty, leaders can use a wealth of tools to them rather than trying to force your own opinion on them. are all interconnected. Viruses know no borders. But the solution communicate the information and data they have, even if that and skills to make wise, informed decisions.

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The killing of George Floyd has reverberated across the country.

A movement greater than this tragic moment Protests erupted from coast to coast. The United States, already struggling with a pandemic, an economic collapse, and political polarization, seems to be at a defi ning moment.

We asked Harvard Kennedy School faculty members for their analysis of the crisis and their thoughts on a pathway out of it. OLIVER DOULIERY summer 2020 harvard kennedy school 29 2828 www.hks.harvard.edu www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | | harvard kennedy school 29

HKSMag_su20_Faculty_Roundup_Race_FC.docx

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 3re0s-3_12-39_R2_8.11.20.indd 28 8/12/20 1:49 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R2_8.11.20.indd 29 8/1220/20 1:4581 PM America Aflame: Why Now, and What Next? Cornell William Brooks is the Hauser Professor of the Practice of Nonprofit Organizations; Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership and Social Justice; and a former president and CEO of the NAACP.

MILLIONS HAVE WATCHED the pornographically violent video of George Floyd dying under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. Traumatized and outraged, Americans have taken to the streets in mostly peaceful protests, punctuated by both civilian and police violence. With protesters, police, and military in our streets, many ask two questions that are both historical and moral: Why now? What next? Why has the police homicide of Floyd sparked national protest and even civil unrest? And why now? Floyd’s homicide is neither unique nor even rare. The sixth leading cause of death of young Black men is police homicide. Young Black men are 21 times more likely to be killed by the police than their white counterparts. Indeed, one in a thousand Black men will die at the hands of the police. Black men are wildly overrepresented among the approximately 900 to 1,000 people who are killed by the police each year. Given these statistics, why did this alleged murder spark such unrest now? The video. Videos of police homicides and hashtags of Black men (and boys alleged to be men)—Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Laquan An anti-racism protester shows a McDonald, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Freddie Gray, to name a photo of George Floyd to police tragically prominent few—are as morally disturbing as they are frequent. officers dressed in riot gear. This video may differ from others in that not only was Floyd’s death JIM WATSON caught on camera, but he died in a close-up of violence. He was killed under a police officer’s knee, not shot at a distance like Scott, Rice, McDonald, and Castile. The videotaped homicide, with a soundtrack of Valuing Black Lives Floyd’s pleas for help, takes place over nearly nine minutes. It creates an Megan Ming Francis was a visiting associate professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School for the uneasy intimacy with violence, visceral revulsion, and outrage. America’s 2019–2020 academic year. These comments are based on remarks she gave during an event hosted by the reaction to the Floyd video is similar to African Americans’ reaction to Jet Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. magazine’s publication of the photograph of the disfigured Emmett Till, a Black child tortured and murdered by white racists in 1955. The moral revulsion elicited by the Floyd video has precipitated mass PUBLIC POLICYMAKERS AND INDIVIDUALS increasingly So where do we go from here? One of the points resistance to long-standing police brutality. Given the history of police think and speak about the #BlackLivesMatter that has been so clear from the history of the Black misconduct, and having been involved in protests, legislation, and movement as if this project is a new one. But it is not. freedom struggle is that Black people have been Black people in the United States have been fighting articulating a different vision of democracy and A demonstrator holds up a sign investigations related to most of the major police homicides of the past five years, I contend that this with the names of Black people moment is distinctive, not unique; tragic, but providing hope. Emmett Till’s death and photograph on for their lives for a very long time. institutional accountability for a very long time, and “One of the points killed by police. the eve of the 1955 Montgomery boycott inspired the modern civil rights movement, federal legislation, In my book Civil Rights and the Making of the we must pay much more attention. This is a terrible that has been so investigations, and prosecutions. Floyd’s death and video may yet inspire a movement far greater than Modern American State, I chronicle how the National moment, but I’ve never witnessed so many people clear from the this tragic moment. This, of course, is largely in our hands. Association for the Advancement of Colored People who urgently want something radically different; history of the — mounted the largest campaign in history against people want new ideas and strategies around harm Black freedom lynching and racist mob violence in the early 20th reduction and accountability. So many people have struggle is that century. Focused on the protection of Black lives from been holding on, thinking we can reform policing Black people have state-sanctioned violence, the NAACP organized mass around the edges. But now, lots of people have been articulating This Is a Real Fight. Are You Ready? demonstrations, advocated for an anti-lynching bill shifted and no longer believe meaningful reform is a different vision Marshall Ganz is the Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing, and Civil Society in Congress, and won a landmark criminal procedure possible inside and are asking what else is actually of democracy decision in front of the Supreme Court. out there. And so I’ve seen this opening—at least of and institutional THESE PROTESTS ARE REAL.They reveal our failure to free ourselves of the racism, More than 100 years later, racial violence has people’s imagination—to think about other kinds accountability for a violence, and lawlessness—a legacy of slavery—embedded in our institutions. reemerged on the national political scene as the defining of institutional arrangements that actually value very long time, and We don’t need more “conversations” about race. We need action—action that civil rights issue in contemporary United States politics. the community and the people that are in these we must pay much MEGAN MING FRANCIS MEGAN takes on the institution of policing itself: purpose, strategy, hiring, training, Responding to the murders of Breonna Taylor and communities much more, and that is hopeful. I more attention.”

accountability, culture, and leadership. But the deep, persistent, crippling TESY OF George Floyd and chanting “Black lives matter,” activists believe listening to Black people who have been MEGAN MING FRANCIS inequalities of wealth, health, education, housing, and all the rest are not a policing problem, have taken to the streets in cities like Minneapolis and articulating a different vision is part of what the although they often seem to be treated that way. Make no mistake about it: This is a real fight. Louisville to bring attention to the disposability of Black mattering of Black lives is all about. Are you ready? lives at the hands of law enforcement. — FACULTY PORTRAITS BY MARTHA STEWART, CLAY BANKS CLAY STEWART, MARTHA BY PORTRAITS FACULTY COUR PORTRAIT — 30 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 31

3w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0nfdeda t u 3re2s-3_312-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 30 8/6/20 3:31 PM 3_HKSmag_su20features_12-39_R1_PROOF_7.30.20.indd 31 88/2/60//20 31::351 PM From Protest to People Power Archon Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government formalized, the union steps in. The “blue wall” is raised at Harvard Kennedy School. around the officer. The union will not acknowledge bad behavior, will not accept any discipline of a brother or DEMOCRACY LITERALLY MEANS PEOPLE (demos) POWER One way to end the protests is, as our president sister officer, no matter how outrageous the behavior. This (kratos). Democracy is a way of organizing our lives urges, “to dominate” with police and military force happens even though each offending officer places the together so that we have power over the important to shut these protesters up, to deny them even this whole profession in disrepute. decisions that affect us. form of voice, and to use repression to further exclude Three groups of people could address this problem and It has enabled some of us to create a government the communities they represent from the democratic “These protests move us forward to better, fairer policing. that gives us the home-mortgage-interest deduction, enterprise. are an attempt to First, officers must accept the real danger these problem delivers the mail, makes sure the streets and parks Another way is to extend democracy—people grab a modicum of colleagues present. They must demand that union leaders are in good shape, runs nice suburban schools, and power—to individuals and communities that do not power—to punish rehabilitate such people or separate them from police protects us from theft and other crimes. now have it. There are several ways to do that. and perhaps service. Second, union leaders must make measurably But many of the people who protested in hundreds First, create opportunities for residents to exercise change the police effective efforts to rid departments of badly performing of cities around the nation this May and June lack real power over the parts of government that affect whose practices officers at the same time that they protect good officers. power over very basic aspects of their lives and their their lives the most. For example, involve them in likely killed They must clearly demonstrate that the status quo of government. For them, government is the police and deciding how police operate in their neighborhoods George Floyd.” shielding problem officers is unacceptable. Third, state prosecutors who run a system in which one in three and how their schools are run. legislators must get serious about fixing the various ARCHON FUNG Black men can expect to be in prison during their Second, strengthen neighborhood initiatives and legislative deals that have protected police officers from lifetimes. As the cases of Eric Garner, George Floyd, and local government to enable people, especially in appropriate oversight. many others demonstrate, that system kills, often with communities of color and low-income neighborhoods, Addressing the issue of intransigent police unions would impunity. For these people, government is made up of to determine the shape of their lives. The Dudley Street help to prevent bad police behavior. It would improve policing in the community, on the street, with real Protesters kneel and hold signs the social service workers who can deny support and Neighborhood Initiative in Boston offers an inspiring people. It would tear down the impenetrable wall. Unions can do this. Unions must do this. It will take in support of Black lives. tell them how to run their family lives, the stingy public model. So does the practice of participatory budgeting, courage on the part of officers, union leaders, chiefs, and legislators. We need that courage, now. support systems that fail to provide economic security in which people in city neighborhoods decide how — or even health care, and the dilapidated schools. These public money is spent. people don’t have democracy; they don’t have power. Third, strengthen the groups that organize and The protests are an attempt to seize a modicum of advocate at local and national levels for the interests power—to punish and perhaps change the police whose and lives of people of color. Police unions and chambers The Violence, And the Threat of It, practices likely killed George Floyd. Protesting and of commerce generate power for their members. At the Heart of American Democracy disrupting are the only ways some people can exercise Democratic power for people of color requires robust Khalil Gibran Muhammad is a professor of history, race, and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School and power. They are what people who lack more-effective organizations as well—churches and civil rights the Suzanne Young Murray Professor at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. His comments first avenues of influence sometimes do. As Dr. Martin Luther organizations, to be sure, but also newer groups such as appeared in Politico. King Jr. said, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” the Movement for Black Lives and Black Voters Matter. — FROM SOME VANTAGE POINTS, the protests might appear more controlled than what we saw after the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. This time, officials and the media have clearly defined “peaceful” protesters who have a right to take to the streets, versus rioters, looters, and extremists who don’t. The What Police Unions Must Do sheer number of daytime white protesters alongside Black community members has also changed the Frank Hartmann is an adjunct lecturer in public policy and a senior research fellow in the Program in political calculus, perhaps even limiting overzealous, militarized displays of force. “As officials try to Criminal Justice Policy and Management at the Kennedy School. The excerpt below is from an op-ed Yet, given the nationwide scale of protests, there are many more rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, and protect property Hartmann wrote with former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis for the Boston Globe. flash grenades flying toward protesters than in years past. There are also reports across different cities and defend of excessive uses of force, like two New York Police Department SUVs that drove into a crowd of dozens people’s right to DEREK CHAUVIN, THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER accused of the murder of George Floyd, had of protesters for blocking traffic. In Atlanta, six officers were charged after pulling over and tasing a Black protest peacefully 18 previous complaints lodged against him, yet the city’s police chief had no way to impose couple—students at Morehouse and Spelman colleges—who were trying to leave a protest after curfew. for victims of police serious discipline on the officer. Again and again, progress in policing has been frustrated by It seems that the police have been more violent and aggressive, particularly when day turns to night, and violence, the police collective bargaining agreements negotiated by police unions and signed by elected officials. especially in response to those who deliberately destroy property. From the White House to governors’ risk killing even It is time to raise the issue again. The cost of not addressing it, not fixing it, is far too high. mansions, officials are branding after-hours protesters violent criminals and calling for law and order. “New more people.” Police work can be difficult and dangerous. It is understandable that officers want fair treatment in York was lost to the looters, thugs, Radical Left, and all others forms of Lowlife & Scum,” President Trump KHALIL GIBRAN MUHAMMAD disciplinary matters, someone on their side. They should not be the victims of unfounded accusations. But tweeted on June 2. recurring bad conduct is not acceptable. It must be stopped. There have been far too many gross violations There’s a profound irony in this latest moment of civil unrest. As officials try to protect property and of citizens’ rights, even to the point of death. defend people’s right to protest peacefully for victims of police violence, the police risk killing even more Police officers know when a fellow officer is out of control. They are wary of such officers. It is difficult people. It doesn’t make much sense, and only demonstrates how much state violence and the threat of it to stand up to bad behavior. When, as invariably happens, a citizen is harmed and an accusation is still rests at the heart of American democracy.

FACULTY PORTRAITS BY MARTHA STEWART MARTHA BY PORTRAITS FACULTY BANKS CLAY —

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THE MOZAMBIQUE SCHOOL LUNCH INITIATIVE FOUNDED BY CARA MYERS MPA/ID 2018 IS CARA MYERS MPA/ID 2018 SAYS THAT A TRUISM from her HELPING TO FEED Harvard Kennedy School education, which she has field- tested in the rural schools and farmsteads of southern A NEW CHILDREN AND Mozambique, is that your solution to a problem could be the right one—and still go wrong. BUILD LOCAL “You can be technically correct, but that doesn’t matter if you don’t have the right institutions and the right AGRICULTURE. management to make something happen,” says Myers, HARvEST the founder of the Mozambique School Lunch Initiative, a nonprofit that feeds 1,200 children daily with the aim of keeping them both nourished and in school. “That has really been true to my experience.” Much of her current approach to partnering with rural communities in Mozambique to alleviate childhood BY RALPH RANALLI malnutrition, she says, comes from courses with “It’s not just the technical Matt Andrews, Edward S. Mason Senior Lecturer in knowledge of how much International Development and director of the Building State Capabilities program, including “Getting Things fertilizer you need to apply. Done: Management in a Development Context” (MLD-102) It’s more about how do and ”Problem-Driven Interactive Adaptation in Action” (MLD-103M). “I think it’s being able to take more of an you get people to work ecosystem perspective, and really trying to think about together? How do you what actually leads to impact, not just an outcome,” she sustain change?” says. “You know: What are you really trying to solve?” CARA MYERS MPA/ID 2018 In Mozambique that has meant linking two problems— childhood hunger and farmers’ income—and their solutions in a holistic way to give the program more long-term sustainability with locally sourced food. The initiative has collaborated with farmers on everything from money for their families. “Last year we doubled farmer modernizing their methods to irrigation equipment to income—that’s transformational change,” Myers says. working collective fields instead of individual plots. The Mozambique School Lunch Initiative won the 2018 “It’s not just the technical knowledge of how much Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge Crowd’s Choice fertilizer you need to apply,” Myers says. “It’s more about Award and was a finalist team in the 2017 New Venture how do you get people to work together? How do you Competition at Harvard Business School in the Social sustain change? And that is much more complicated. Enterprise track. But when Myers started out, she had no We’re building capability.” intention of creating a significant program that would still When the program started, in 2016, southern be around four years later. In fact, she says, her road to Mozambique was experiencing a severe drought. “Even Mozambique was “a bit random.” if we wanted to buy from local farmers, there was nothing It started when Myers was a sophomore at Middlebury available,” Myers says. Since then, the initiative has built College and decided to take a one-year intensive course in up a supply chain of nearly 50 local farmers with 25 acres Portuguese for Spanish-speakers. She had always loved under cultivation, raising sweet potatoes, beans, onions, studying languages, she says, and thought that “this kale, tomatoes, cabbage, and even chickens. The farmers was a great deal to basically become fluent in another PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MOZAMBIQUE SCHOOL LUNCH INITIATIVE sell a portion of their production to the school lunch language in just two semesters.” As an international program, providing high-quality fresh food and earning politics and economics major, she was interested in

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“Last year we doubled working for a global organization after graduation; thanks farmer income—that’s a subsistence level and didn’t have the resources to Andrews has worked in Mozambique himself. He says to her facility with Portuguese, she got an opportunity in transformational change.” increase production so that they would have a surplus he was intrigued—but not surprised—that Myers would Mozambique with Samaritan’s Purse, an international to sell. After group meetings in each of the communities, focus her efforts there. “It’s far away and a hard place to CARA MYERS MPA/ID 2018 relief and development organization. Myers and her team decided to launch the Seed Support work, so it was clear that Cara was not looking for easy,” She worked in Mozambique in 2013 and then went program, whereby local farmer groups would receive he says. “I know that this is what makes her a great social to work for Innovations for Poverty Action in Kenya, agricultural inputs, including seeds, to increase their entrepreneur: She is humble, hardworking, and focused where she first encountered Harvard’s international production. Today, more than half of the school lunch on building real capability in the world. She really was the development efforts, meeting the economist and soon- program’s food is procured locally from those groups. student that every professor wants the privilege to teach.” to-be Nobel Prize winner Michael Kramer on a project. Myers says that this part of their model is key to Working in difficult places like Mozambique has Throughout that time, she remained connected with tackling the root causes of child malnutrition in rural become even more complicated because of the COVID-19 several former colleagues in Mozambique, especially Mozambique. Because the lunch program is a reliable pandemic. Myers says the disease has not hit the Talvina Ualane and Roberto Mutisse. buyer, farmers can invest more in their farms and earn region hard because the population is largely rural During the 2015–2016 drought in Mozambique, Ualane more income. That increases the productivity of local and well dispersed, but there is fear of a spillover from and Mutisse alerted her to the severity of the crisis and agricultural systems and reduces poverty—essential steps neighboring South Africa, which has been significantly how heightened food insecurity was causing kids to drop for sustainable development. affected. out of school. The situation was getting so bad that the Myers now employs numerous skills she learned at Since the pandemic began, the Mozambique School three decided they should try to do something to help. “It HKS, including data-driven analysis and working with Lunch Initiative has had to adapt to new realities on the was originally intended as a one-month project … it wasn’t market dynamics. Her year as a Cheng New World Social ground. Schools are temporarily closed, so the program is my idea to have this five-year plan,” Myers says. “It was Enterprise Fellow at HKS also helped her develop a better providing monthly take-home food rations to vulnerable more like just trying to meet this pressing need and see if understanding of systems-level change and the various students while continuing to work with local farmers with it would work.” stakeholders involved in the process. She stays in regular enhanced safety precautions. Although Myers has been They started serving midday meals to students contact with classmates and mentors, including Michael unable to travel physically to Mozambique, she is in in three schools. Almost immediately, attendance Woolcock, an adjunct lecturer, and Matt Andrews. constant contact with Ualane and Mutisse. increased, not only at those schools but among students Andrews had an early sense that Myers would apply Since graduating from HKS, Myers has also worked from another one more than five miles away. It was clear, her HKS education in a significant way, he says. “You as a consultant for the World Bank, focusing on the Myers says, that they had found a significant need they could see that she was consuming every class and feeding constraints on growth in rural Mozambique. “It’s could serve. off her classmates, always thinking of the fields in which interesting to work from that macro-level perspective When the drought finally ended, in 2017, a new she would sow her new seeds of knowledge. She also as well,” she says, “while still working on the survival opportunity arose: Local farmers wanted to get involved insisted on bringing a practical view on everything into of our team and making sure everyone still cooks and selling crops to the school lunch program. However, class, and often helped ground the discussions everyone is still paid and that they are taking care of the most most of these smallholders were producing at only was having in reality.” vulnerable kids.”

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That new challenge came just four months after Hortman’s first become an executive running an organization and directing the entire big leadership test: tough negotiations between DFL lawmakers and institution to be effective.” Republicans on a state response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “There Hortman’s fellow DFL lawmakers elected her as speaker in November was already a burden on all of us to be more than we were, to focus on 2018, after she helped engineer an 18-seat election pickup that gave the things that matter, and to operate in a nonpartisan way in what has their party control of the House. Working with DFL Governor Walz, become a hyper-partisan environment,” she says. Hortman’s new majority came in hoping to expand health care coverage As both crises have unfolded, Hortman says she has been glad to fall and benefits for workers, increase education spending, and launch new back on her Harvard Kennedy School training. “The leadership piece of infrastructure projects. But they couldn’t do it without the cooperation the Kennedy School education was definitely what was most valuable for of Minnesota Republicans, who still controlled the state Senate by a me,” she says. one-vote margin. To Be She credits a class on diplomacy with Berthold Beitz Research Things got off to a promising start in 2019, with Hortman and Senate Professor in Human Rights and International Affairs John Ruggie, for Majority Leader Paul Gazelka coming together to pass some challenging instance, with providing perspective on how to approach multi-party measures, including the state’s $48 billion two-year budget. A year later negotiations on complex issues. “Multi-layer complex negotiations are the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Hortman says, and all of a sudden legislative More exactly what we're dealing with in state government, because we don't collaboration both inside the House and across state government just have police reform and accountability—we also have to take care became a matter of protecting lives. of our colleges and universities and pay our state troopers,” she says. “We began working to achieve a full majority and minority caucus “These are times you think about what makes a good leader in a time agreement on all COVID-19-related items. It became really important Than of crisis. I would say some of the most valuable time that I spent at the for me to work with the minority leaders in a way we had not before,” Kennedy school was looking at leadership through history.” she says. Hortman took two years to earn her degree, attending the fall We Were semesters of 2016 and 2017 and accepting her degree at Commencement in 2018. She says the Mid-Career MPA Summer Program was both a highlight of her time at HKS and a “pivotal” bonding experience for her and many of her classmates. That bond was renewed during a group trek to Bhutan Hortman took with many of her mid-career classmates in December 2017. She says she still has a strong WhatsApp network of more than 140 classmates in the United States and abroad who regularly stay in touch to swap knowledge and experiences. mc/mpa 2018 “It’s very social, but it’s also about policy,” she says. The group has Six months after graduating, Melissa Hortman was been invaluable, she says, because “the commonality of experiences is elected to a state leadership position. A year later, the pandemic and pretty remarkable … we’ve been tracking government responses on the ground in all these different countries. We’re all living it together.” the killing of George Floyd changed what leadership meant. Hortman’s personal path to the Kennedy School—and to Harvard for BY RALPH RANALLI that matter—was anything but a straight line. As a junior in the Anoka- Hennepin School District in her hometown of Brooklyn Park, she told her “There was a burden on all of us to be more high school guidance counselor she wanted to attend Harvard College. MELISSA HORTMAN MC/MPA 2018 has already had a career’s worth emotion is to get people to the table and to slog through the work that “You won’t get in,” the counselor replied. “Why not?” Hortman asked. of watershed leadership moments since becoming speaker of the has to happen.” than we were, to focus on the things that The counselor replied that the small district didn’t have the type of Minnesota House of Representatives just two years ago. In late July, Minnesota passed a police reform law, negotiated matter, and to operate in a nonpartisan coursework and extracurricular offerings that wealthier districts had. One came on May 25, when a picture of Minneapolis Police officer by Hortman, that limits the use of neck restraints and chokeholds, way in what has become a hyper-partisan So Hortman went to Boston University as a political science and Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck landed in her Twitter prohibits departments from offering controversial warrior-style training, philosophy major. But attending Harvard was still a dream, she says, feed. “My very first reaction was: That’s murder,’” she says. She and creates an independent state unit to investigate when a police environment.” MELISSA HORTMAN so she applied to Harvard Law School. She wasn’t accepted, instead immediately realized that a firestorm would be coming soon over the officer kills someone or is accused of sexual misconduct. The law earning her law degree at the University of Minnesota. It would be killing of Floyd, who died after Chauvin kneeled on him for nearly nine also strengthens citizen input and data collection at the state’s police A class with Lecturer in Public Policy Richard Parker, “Presidents, another 22 years before she finally stepped onto the Harvard campus as minutes, ignoring Floyd’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe. licensing and disciplinary board and reforms the arbitration process that Politics, and Economic Growth: From FDR to Donald Trump” (DPI-132), a matriculated student, a tribute to the perseverance she says has been She was right. Floyd’s killing during an arrest for allegedly passing a governs officer discipline. After signing the bill into law, Governor Tim helped her “understand the interrelation between economic forces and an asset in both her educational and political career. counterfeit $20 bill thrust Minnesota into the center of a national debate Walz credited Hortman with keeping lawmakers from her Democratic- policy decisions and really getting into macroeconomic forces and how “It took me three tries to get elected too,” she says with a laugh. But about police brutality and systemic racism. Hortman says she knew Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party and Republicans working at the negotiation we as policymakers have influence—or not—on them.” Hortman says her it was all worth it, she says. quickly that she would need to have a legislative response that went table until they reached a significant result. studies with Robert Livingston, lecturer in public policy, also provided “This is a moment when the electorate really understands and beyond sound bites. “Minnesotans can be incredibly proud of someone who puts important management training. appreciates the value of good governance, when people are reliant “In politics, often the easiest thing for anyone to do is run to a Minnesota’s interests first and foremost and has the skills necessary to “Becoming speaker meant changing from being an advocate to being on the government to have an effective response, and the value of microphone, sharpen their dagger, and see who has the best press navigate and move pieces of legislation through a process that is meant a leader,” she says. “In our role as legislators, we are advocates for government is absolutely clear,” she says. “What I am focused on is conference,” she says. “But what's excruciatingly difficult in all this high to be very difficult,” Walz said. particular policies and causes, but in the higher levels of leadership, you trying to sustain that moment.” GETTY IMAGES/MEDIANEWS GROUP/ST. PAUL PIONEER PAUL GROUP/ST. IMAGES/MEDIANEWS GETTY FROST EVAN

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EVENT In the Service of Others

AS THE SCHOOL MOVED ONLINE following the onset of the STEWART MARTHA pandemic, so did the rich variety of events outside the classroom. The Institute of Politics quickly pivoted to a “Fast Forum” format, THE BUZZ allowing dozens of speakers and thousands of participants to continue to meet online through the spring and summer. One of the School’s biggest annual gatherings—its graduation celebrations—also went virtual. The Class of 2020’s 605 graduates tuned in from 85 countries and 42 U.S. states, along with friends and family, to hear remarks by Dean Doug Elmendorf and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, chair of GAVI, the global vaccine alliance; special advisor to the World Health Organization on the COVID-19 “Back in those “We need to response; and former finance minister of Nigeria. “I really wanted to “When I received the invitation to speak prior to the pandemic, “The protests days, we couldn’t make sure that “The coronavirus merge my interest get much is demonstrating, I wanted to speak on public service, reflect on and share my we see now in policy and public the people can “There’s going to experience, and share why public service matters, even if at times attention for literally, the it seems thankless,” Okonjo-Iweala said. “I wanted to press all of are about the service together, vote and that be a big fight for overlapping these stories everybody who’s foundation of you to carry on and never lose your passion. With social distancing and for me, in because of unions—that an the soul of the and lock-ins—the brave new words in our vocabulary—I thought failures of eligible to vote has the topic even more relevant.” elected office, impeachment injury to one is conservative America.” that right to vote.” “A final intertwined lesson that we learn from this crisis is the I think I saw that and politics.” an injury to all.” movement in the lesson of leadership and the generosity of the human spirit,” she Professor Leah Wright Massachusetts Congressman opportunity.” post-Trump era.” told the audience, echoing Mahatma Gandhi. “Even in these Rigueur at a June event Washington Post reporter Jim McGovern speaking on the Sara Nelson, international on race, protests, and Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Lena Sun talking about the need for accessibility to voting president of the Association of Former House Speaker difficult and uncertain times, even as you face the world not quite democracy hosted by Siddiqui speaking at an early days of the pandemic at during the pandemic at a Flight Attendants-CWA, at a March Paul Ryan at a Fast sure what it has in store for you, be bold, be courageous, be

the Ash Center. IOP Fast Forum in April. an April Fast Forum. March Fast Forum. STEWART MARTHA event on labor issues. Forum in April. selfless! Go out and lose yourself in the service of others!” — 40 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 41

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Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College? As urgent today as it was in Sikkink writes. “People hope that others will take action and they can On Trade Justice Alex Keyssar, Matthew W. Stirling, Jr. Professor of History and 2010, The Condemnation of Blackness free ride.” A Philosophical Plea for a Global New Deal Social Policy explores the historical discourse To spur individual and shared action, Sikkink says, people have Mathias Risse, Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Philosophy and Public about race and crime—especially in to be motivated to be responsible. “To encourage people to assume Administration; faculty director, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy northern American cities such as New responsibilities,” she writes, “we need to think of how to mobilize A LONG-CELEBRATED HISTORIAN of U.S. democracy and electoral York, Philadelphia, and Chicago—from the full range of human emotions and motivations, including the 1890 U.S. Census through the fi rst altruism and a sense of satisfaction one gets from performing civic politics, Alex Keyssar has for years been fascinated by the question COMMERCIAL INTERESTS HAVE BEEN PLYING international trade half of the 20th century. “This book responsibilities, and not just the pursuit of narrow self-interest.” that titles his latest book. He has good reason: For more than 200 routes for millennia, moving goods aboard everything from ancient tells an unsettling coming-of-age story,” In this sense, she believes, a framework of responsibilities can work years the United States has chosen its most powerful public offi cial reed rafts to today’s cargo jets and container ships. But as an area for Muhammad writes. “It is a biography hand in hand with a human rights framework. through a process that is ill understood philosophical study and thought, international trade has traditionally of the idea of Black criminality in the — by many Americans, widely criticized by been a road less traveled. making of modern urban America.” offi ceholders and policymakers, and never Now Mathias Risse and Gabriel The Condemnation of Blackness is an essential text for anyone replicated by another sovereign body in Wollner MPP 2012, a professor of who wants to understand the history that has linked ideas of race and Finding Allies and Making Revolution the world. Why Do We Still Have the political philosophy at the University criminality in America—particularly in the urban North. Through deep The Early Years of the Chinese Communist Party Electoral College? is a skillful attempt to of Bayreuth in Germany, have tackled research and analysis of census data and crime statistics, Muhammad excavate this question. Tony Saich, Daewoo Professor of International Affairs; Director, this complex and challenging subject helps the reader understand how we got to our current narrative about Keyssar does not seek to join the ranks Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation in On Trade Justice: A Philosophical race and crime, and why it doesn’t have to be this way. of the countless authors who have already Plea for a Global New Deal, blending — debated the merits and shortcomings contemporary analytical philosophy of the Electoral College. Instead, he WHAT DOES A LITTLE-KNOWN DUTCH MARXIST have to do with the rise with an examination of current global invaluably augments existing scholarship The Hidden Face of Rights of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the early 20th century? Drawing trade frameworks and historical by writing from the perspective that the on extensive archival research, a new book by Daewoo Professor of perspective. Their book explores both Toward a Politics of Responsibilities persistence of the Electoral College is not self-evident and therefore International Affairs Tony Saich reveals how Henk Sneevliet’s work philosophical ideas about global requires explanation. Keyssar traces four distinct periods of U.S. Kathryn Sikkink, Ryan Family Professor of Human Rights Policy in China helped give birth to the most justice and the application of morality to practical questions about history—from the Constitutional Convention to the present day—to enduring and successful communist party international trade. The problem of exploitation in its many forms illuminate the various strategies that have been at the center of of the past century. In Finding Allies and fi gures prominently in the authors’ thinking and analysis. national debates around electoral reform. In doing so, he debunks IN THIS BOOK, Kathryn Sikkink explores the ways in which a Making Revolution: The Early Years of the “Trade justice is about precluding various types of exploitation … to myths about whom the Electoral College has historically benefi ted, framework of responsibilities should accompany human rights. Chinese Communist Party, Saich details the extent they happen as part of the basic framework of rules for the highlights the roles of slavery and white supremacy in blocking reform Sikkink is an expert in international norms and institutions, how Sneevliet, a Comintern functionary trade regime,” the authors write. “States exploit bargaining power in efforts, and emphasizes just how close we’ve come on multiple transnational advocacy networks, the impact of human rights law who went by the pseudonym Maring, negotiations, bilaterally, or within the WTO. Unfair advantage-taking occasions to substantially altering the U.S. election process. and policies, and transitional justice. was chosen by Lenin to transform a occurs between individuals, for instance, when in employment markets Keyssar’s astute and accessible treatise ultimately considers both “The discourse of human rights often small and loosely organized group of one party benefi ts inappropriately from another’s weakness. It occurs the United States’ electoral legacy and the possibilities for a more omits the language of political and activists and intellectuals into a viable between fi rms and individuals if fi rms disregard safety standards and democratic future. ethical responsibilities, and that absence communist party capable of mounting a use bargaining power to shortchange workers on wages.” — constrains the effectiveness of rights credible political and military challenge The book also delves deeply into the moral and ethical movements,” she argues. “We who for control of China. Piecing together obligations of business, acknowledging the primacy of modern The Condemnation of Blackness believe in human rights need to begin Sneevliet’s diary, reports, and letters, Saich recounts the earliest days of corporations as drivers of international trade norms. Issues talking and thinking explicitly about the the CCP, which is approaching its 100th anniversary next year. explored include wage injustice, collusion with authoritarian Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America politics and ethics of responsibility.” Many of the primary source materials that Saich uncovered regimes, relocation decisions, and obligations arising from Khalil Gibran Muhammad, professor of history, race, and public In this concise yet wide-ranging during his archival research in the Netherlands shed new light interaction with suppliers and subcontractors. policy at Harvard Kennedy School; Suzanne Young Murray book—which includes many examples on the degree to which the Soviets were involved in establishing Among other remedies, the authors make a case for the Professor at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study from her work and experiences at the party and guiding its earliest policies. Sneevliet and Lenin, World Trade Organization to redefi ne itself as an agent of justice, Harvard Kennedy School—Sikkink considers areas of responsibility recognizing the communists’ organizational and numerical inferiority, embracing a leadership role and promoting a human rights and that include climate change, digital privacy and misinformation, pushed the party to cooperate with the nationalist Guomindang. development-oriented mandate. HISTORIAN KHALIL GIBRAN MUHAMMAD’S seminal work on race in the voting, freedom of speech, and sexual assault. She notes that one Saich gives readers a nuanced picture of the complex relations — United States—The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the barrier to taking action for positive change is the free-rider problem. among Chinese communists, the Soviet leadership, and party Making of Modern Urban America (2010)—was republished in 2019. In a When public goods or services are shared, people sometimes functionaries deployed by Moscow to shape nascent revolutionary new preface, Muhammad connects the history to stop-and-frisk policing assume that others are taking responsibility, so they don’t have to, movements around the world. Puncturing the myth that the CCP today and notes, “The history in the following pages is as relevant now even though they benefi t from the results. “One barrier to getting was an exclusively Chinese outgrowth of the country’s domestic as ever and makes clear that racial crime statistics did not have to lead to people to assume responsibilities for issues like a clean environment development, Saich argues that “no account of the origins of the racialized policing or lay the foundation for mass incarceration.” is the classic problem of collective action and large numbers,” CCP can ignore this reality and the role the Soviets played in the foundational years of the CCP.” — 42 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 43

4w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_cwiai2l.0in_d4d0 - 4434_-4R51_7.30.20.indd 42 8/6/20 2:21 PM 4_HKSmag_wi20_40-43_R1_7.30.20.indd 43 88/2/60//20 21::251 PM 1974 1983 1985 CLASSNOTES Sandford Borins MPP reports that Kristin Faust MCRP writes, “In Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty MC/MPA has his article “Innovation Under Populism” November of 2019 I was named been contributing to the sectors of has been published on ESADE Business executive director of the Illinois Housing developmental administration, School’s eBulletin at esadepublic. Development Authority (IHDA) by education, culture, forestry, tourism, esade.edu/posts/post/innovation- Governor J.B. Pritzker and the IHDA science, technology, museums, under-populism. board. As the state’s housing finance archaeology, and the arts. “I.A.S. agency, IHDA is the leading voice for the professor, CUTM, Bhubaneshwar, Listen to the creation and preservation of affordable member, Governing Board, BRLF, Delhi, podcast where 1980 housing in Illinois. We finance both home advisor, KCC, Kolkata, state, national leaders in public Alexandra Schweitzer MPP writes, “I’m ownership and quality affordable rental governments. Policy field research on policy, media, wearing three hats these days. I’m housing. It’s housing policy and housing indigenous heritage as part of and international thrilled to be back at HKS as a senior finance all day long, and I couldn’t be sustainable livelihood resource affairs confront fellow in the Mossavar-Rahmani Center happier. There is so much to do to provide management, biocultural diversity the world’s for Business and Government. I’m everyone the opportunity for a decent, linkages. Published on culture arts most pressing studying and writing about programs to affordable place to call home!” development nexus, art history. Writing problems. address social determinants of health, on Historiography of Indian art, Vision F. Donal O’Brien MC/MPA writes, “I such as poor nutrition, unstable 2020: Perspective for Sustainable ken.sc/policycast received the Father Edward F. Boyle S.J. housing, and social isolation. This Development. At Kolkata with wife Award from the Labor Guild of the project dovetails with my ongoing Minati and daughter Sayantani. PhD Archdiocese of Boston at the 53rd consulting work helping health care program at ESADE.” Annual Cushing-Gavin Awards dinner, organizations build integrated programs held on Dec. 6, 2019. The chaplain of Barbara Lamont MC/MPA writes, “I run to address the needs of complex the Labor Guild is Father J. Bryan Hehir, a critical health care call center for patients. Finally, I chair the board of Harvard Kennedy School Parker Gilbert health departments and hospitals in Goddard House, a nonprofit senior living Montgomery Professor of the Practice of more than 30 states. We provide nurse organization, which is developing Religion and Public Life. The award triage, Tier One health service reps, etc. innovative programs to bring the power of recognizes my arbitration and mediation You can imagine we are stretched thin the arts to underserved older adults in practice for ‘Excellence in Labor- during this pandemic, as many health Greater Boston.” Management Relations Exemplifying departments and other agencies have Steve Steckler MCRP recently retired as Moral Integrity, Professional turned all their calls over to us. We are chairman of Infrastructure Management Competence, and Community Concern.’” hanging in there, doubling our staff and Group (IMG), the company he founded in making sure all callers stay well!” 1994. IMG grew to become one of the Karen Walz MCRP writes, “My most successful U.S. firms in the 1984 consulting practice, Strategic privatization of public assets and Judith Bunnell MPP reports that more Community Solutions LLC, continues to services, as well as the financing and than 35 members of the MPP/MPA Class keep me engaged in exciting projects management of airports, railways, of 1984 participated in a “Virtual that help communities become more highways, and public utilities. Before Cocktail Party (pants optional)” to successful and sustainable. Building IMG, Steve served as a policy advisor at check in and see how everyone is doing public involvement and consensus is the Environmental Protection Agency with the COVID-19 situation and in their ever-changing but very gratifying. I was and the Department of Transportation personal and professional lives. recognized as a Texas Planning Legend during the Reagan administration, Attendees included people from coast in 2017—the first baby boomer to followed by several years at Price to coast, Canada, and Mexico, and they receive this award. My husband and I Waterhouse. He now shares his time received a special message from love traveling and made it to Antarctica, among Washington, D.C., the classmate Matt Tueller MPP, U.S. our last continent, in 2019!” Chesapeake Bay, and Naples, Florida, ambassador in Kabul. “We plan to keep while writing, sailing, advising former these going on a semi-regular basis!” clients, and enjoying the inspiring 1987 Dana Rowan MPP, after recently serving company of his four grown children. as chair of the Trustees of Boston Nadine Hack MC/MPA, CEO of beCause Architectural College (BAC), is now Global Consulting (because.net), 1981 40th Reunion teaching a graduate-level real estate recently spoke at several conferences, course in “leadership and including “Role & Responsibility of Dick Sheffield MC/MPA writes, “I have entrepreneurism” in the newly Media in Deeply Divided Societies”; been re-based to Texas by ABC News established master’s of real estate “Future of Planet: Inspiring What Could after a few months in New York covering development program at the BAC. This Be”; and “How Do We Measure Impact the 2020 primary elections. Now year the BAC is celebrating its 130th by Movements.” She co-facilitated for the working remotely, like so many others. anniversary in architectural education. In fifth time the FIFA/UEFA Women Football Other than being part of our election addition, Dana has also become a Leadership Program. She was one of 40 coverage, I am revising and rewriting my member of the Harvard Alumni Real participants at the RFK Human Rights second novel, Cables from a Restless Estate Board, which was one of the last global conference “Business & Human — Heart. You can read the synopsis and a Harvard alumni organizations to convene Rights” with Nobel Peace Laureate Zanny Minton Beddoes mpa 1992, editor in chief of brief excerpt and take a look at my first a meeting on the Cambridge campus, Kailash Satyarthi, whom she featured in novel, Lasso the Moon, at dicksheffield. The Economist (right), shares a moment with Dean before COVID-19 meeting restrictions “Speak Truth to Power” (2000). com/cables-from-a-restless-heart.” Doug Elmendorf at the meeting of the Dean’s Council were imposed on all campus activities. in March at the Tate Modern in London. PAUL CLARKE

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1989 ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS for those qualifying, while mitigating Let me say that it has been a leadership James Brett MC/MPA was named vice Use the Alumni and containing the pandemic to the challenge that has called to mind many chairman of the National Council on Directory to contact largest extent possible. Planning an lessons from Heifetz’s famous and Emerging Disability (NCD). NCD is an independent your classmates. economic recovery is the next required irritating course on leadership. I also federal agency that advises the Global Leader step...Stay safe and stay healthy!” make periodic visits to the nation’s hks.harvard.edu/ president, Congress, and other federal capital to lead tours and lecture for the alumnidirectory agencies on policies, programs, and Award University of Notre Dame Washington procedures that affect people with 1991 30th Reunion Program. Latest lecture: ‘God, Country, disabilities. Its members are appointed Jim Cashel MPP spent the 2018–2019 Notre Dame: Puritans, Catholics, and by the president or a member of academic year as a visiting fellow at the Harvard–Notre Dame “Washington Congress. James, who is the president the Shorenstein Center researching Connection.”’” and CEO of The New England Council, broadband expansion in developing has dedicated much of his work as a Ashok Parameswaran MPP is founder countries. He wrote The Great policymaker and his community and and president of the Emerging Markets Connecting: The Emergence of Global civic life to improving the quality of life Investors Alliance, a New York City– Broadband, and How That Changes for people with intellectual and physical based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Everything. He lives in Sonoma, disabilities. that engages institutional investors in California, with his wife, Anne Ching public markets to promote good Aaron Harber MC/MPA is promoting public MPP 1992. governance and sustainable — education about science by featuring a development in the governments and Jim Cashel number of interviews he has done, mpp 1991 companies in which they invest. In so including ones with National Institute of 1992 doing, the alliance amplifies the voice Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director David Greig MC/MPA writes, “I was Dr. Anthony Fauci, on his nonpartisan lucky to visit friends in Malaysia, public affairs program, “The Aaron Harber Thailand, the countryside in central Show.” For those interested in learning Vietnam (highlight: Hoi An), and a more about Dr. Fauci’s background, visit delightful small ski village in Japan WIENER HarberTV.com/Fauci. (Nowawa Onsen) before COVID-19 hit CONFERENCE us. Now I’m in lockdown, still working Natalie Jaresko MPP writes, “On CALLS Lebanon, that brought together blind and sighted children. “The part time (on strategy for the New lockdown beginning week five of what is purpose wasn’t for sighted kids to pity the blind kids, but to see how Zealand Ministry of Transport) but from Shifting the currently projected to be eight weeks in home in Wellington. Fortunately we’re they could come together to learn that everyone has something to Puerto Rico. As executive director of the allowed out for local walks, provided we Oversight Board, have done all possible contribute,” Minkara says. The camp was a powerful experience—but maintain over two meters distance from Disability Narrative to ensure front-line workers, hospitals, she thought it was a one-time thing. “I went back to Wellesley and other people. New Zealand’s response, the self-employed, small businesses, mpp tough and early, seems to have been Sara Minkara 2014 continued my math studies,” she says. It was her thesis advisor who and others most affected by the successful but it’s too soon to be sure. noted, “Why are you applying to PhD programs? Your eyes light up emergency measures get financial Like everyone else I look forward to support on a timely basis. Fiscal when you talk about the camp.” So she switched gears and applied some relaxation of it!” management of previous years made it “I NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS that I would start an to Harvard Kennedy School to get the skills to start the organization possible for the government of Puerto Richard Hyde MC/MPA writes, “For organization,” says Sara Minkara MPP 2014. “I was planning that became Empowerment Through Integration. Rico to act before federal. Now we look the past four years I have been the on doing a PhD in economic development.” Her vision for ETI evolved during her time at the Kennedy School. to access the federal support package pastor of a church near Portland, Maine. Today, she leads Empowerment Through Integration (ETI), an “Originally, I was looking at the inclusion mission in a very surface- The COVID-19 Crisis and organization with a lofty goal: to achieve an inclusive society by level way—that we’re going to teach kids in summer camps,” she

Its Implications for recognizing and eliminating the stigma around disability. says. “My time at HKS made me realize that the issues of disability

Global Stability Minkara, who is blind, experienced the difference between an and inclusion are deeper. Because systemic ableism is embedded inclusive society and one where pity was the dominant narrative. across society, you can’t just empower youth with disabilities— WIENER “ We’re going to have to Minkara was raised in the seaside town of Hingham, they’re out in a non-inclusive world, one that doesn’t value them. We CONFERENCE begin to learn the lessons CALLS Massachusetts. “I went to public want society to include people with of what has gone wrong schools, and had very supportive — disabilities because if you don’t, you lose Wiener Conference Calls feature Harvard Kennedy and what has gone right... teachers and a very supportive “ We want society to include people out on their value.” community,” she says. “There were Minkara seeks to instill the perspective that School faculty members who share their expertise and not just in the United with disabilities because if you respond to callers’ questions. This year, we added a States, [but] all around of course obstacles to inclusion— inclusion leads to value for all people. Through special COVID-19 series. Visit the online archive at the world. We know that there is no perfect place—but at don’t, you lose out on their value.” customizable content and activities, ETI helps least the United States had laws and clients achieve diversity and inclusion goals. In hks.harvard.edu/wiener-conference-calls. we need to build up the infrastructure in place to allow me to addition, ETI advances a value- and inclusion- ability of government at Read excerpts from the discussions. get what I needed.” based narrative to help children with visual impairments gain the skills all levels to serve people This was not what she observed during her annual summer trips to and confi dence to thrive, while helping their peers and caregivers better capably and effectively her parents’ homeland of Lebanon. “I was exposed to a very different understand and value youth with disabilities. and honestly.” narrative of how disability was seen,” she says. “It is a common “To lead, you have to be able to inspire and mobilize others to narrative of pity, charity, burden, ‘you’re different, you’re an add-on.’” be leaders in their own way,” says Minkara. For empowering more R. Nicholas Burns — While studying mathematics at Wellesley College, she and a than 5,500 people through her nonprofi t, Minkara is the recipient of

IMAGE COURTESY OF SARA MINKARA friend were awarded a grant to form a summer camp in Tripoli, the 2020 HKS Emerging Global Leader Award. 46 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 47

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of public policy experts on issues Meinolf Meyer MPA writes, “I am still 2001 20th Reunion including deforestation, transparency happy at Google in Hamburg, Germany. WIENER WIENER MPP Macroeconomic Effects and Policy Responses and anti-corruption, human rights, 2020 is the year of return to politics CONFERENCE Josiah Brown writes, “A year into CONFERENCE animal welfare, and circular economy. and public service, at least somewhat, CALLS starting up Court Appointed Special CALLS for the COVID-19 Crisis Ashok would love to connect with alumni i.e., part time. In Q1 2020 I have Advocates (CASA) of Southern and students who may wish to founded an NGO/charity, which is Connecticut, I write with examples of “I think it would be a big mistake if we were to contribute to the alliance as policy working towards better support and our progress. We received federal 501(c)(3) experts, volunteers, investors, or education for local politicians in my nonprofit status. We prepared our initial pivot very quickly, when we first saw signs of donors. country. They are under increasing cohorts of volunteer advocates. economic recovery, toward a fiscal contraction. threat from extreme-right and populist We launched our website Chris Riback MPP writes, “I had the We did that as a country in 2011 and ’12, and activists—murder threats and other (casasouthct.org)—with information opportunity to host classmate and New hate crimes are common now. about how to volunteer; the Advisory it was a terrible mistake that prolonged the Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson MPP on PolicyCast digs Currently building and scaling the new Council; ambassadors raising my “Chris Riback’s Conversations” suffering of that last downturn.” deep. Archon Fung organization, which is called ‘Starke awareness; and how to donate. Op-eds podcast. We discussed how one leads a explores the forces Demokratie e. V.’” appeared around Adoption Month and Doug Elmendorf city out of the coronavirus, and what it’s then Volunteer/Child Abuse Prevention behind distrust of elites and experts. like to see the place you love go through Month. I was interviewed via YouTube. — it. As always, Noam’s intelligence and 1998 I’m learning a lot, working with ken.sc/policycast warmth shined. More importantly, Noam Market Failures, Testing, Charles Hokanson MPP writes, committed volunteers and colleagues We should care about what’s going on around made clear ‘in words, tone & action’ Treatments, and Vaccines “ “I’m living and working in downtown to advance the CASA movement to help why, during this pandemic period, the world for humanitarian reasons, but even Tampa, deeply engaged with bridging all children find safe, permanent government’s role is becoming philanthropy, business, and education “It’s absolutely true that homes where they can thrive. My wife if we were only motivated out of our own self- understood and appreciated. Listen as senior vice president, Florida and I continue to enjoy living in New here: chrisriback.com/mayor-noam- if I test negative today, interest, we and other advanced economies community engagement, at Helios Haven with our children.” bramson-from-patient-zero-to-new-york- I could test positive need to be thinking about what’s going on in Education Foundation. My team works MC/MPA as-epicenter.” Angela Calman has joined on developing innovative grants and tomorrow, which doesn’t The Commons Project Foundation as other parts of the world and ... shoring up the MC/MPA Marti Trudeau completed a policy solutions aimed at reducing mean that today’s negative their senior vice president, international institutions, like the IMF, that can doctor of social work degree through achievement gaps and promoting communications and marketing. The provide support to these economies.” the University of Southern California post-secondary completion, especially test has no value. It has less Commons Project’s mission is to build Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social among low-income, underrepresented, value than some permanent digital platforms and services that put Karen Dynan Work. Through her doctoral work she and first-generation students. certification, which is why people’s interests first. Angela led developed a training program for the I also serve on on the boards of global comms for a number of — hybrid health-services position of direct Florida Education Foundation (chair), we’re going to have to organizations, including 23andMe, care community worker, which combines Florida College Access Network retest the virus-negative Intuitive Surgical, and IBM Watson the roles of direct care worker and Advisory Council (chair), Hostelling people repeatedly, which in Health. She was also chief community health worker in order to International USA (vice chair), Florida communications officer at The for me. When the war ended in my 2003 better address negative social Philanthropic Network, and Florida turn means we need more Cleveland Clinic. Angela is on the country, Kosovo, I promised to myself determinants of health in the home care Chamber Foundation. board of directors of I-ASC, an that one day I will help others to come Mina Bressler MPP writes, “Founded setting. She is living in Philadelphia. testing capacity than we by HKS MPP and MPA classmates from Jenny Wilson MC/MPA writes, “I am so international organization advancing to freedom as others helped us. The had been thinking.” 2003, The Future is Female grateful for the lessons learned from my communication access for non- same motivation that pushed me in (thefutureisfemale.club) aims to help year at HKS years ago. Last year I was speaking individuals. She lives in leading our struggle to accomplish our 1993 women flip four critical Senate seats in elected mayor of Salt Lake County, Utah, Amitabh Chandra Manhattan and Newport, Rhode Island. dream now pushes me to contribute to Beth Arman MPP writes, “I finished my the 2020 election through grassroots serving 1.2 million residents. Most — others’ dreams. I traveled in places or dissertation! I now have a PhD in public organizing, strategic contributions, importantly, I am now a member of participated in international policy from University of Maryland 2002 and volunteer opportunities. ‘Unified Command,’ addressing two conference including Myanmar, Baltimore County. I’ve moved back to the Organizers hope to recruit more HKS disasters simultaneously. The first, Earl Adams Jr. MPA was appointed in Philippines, Nepal, Syria, Yemen, West Coast. I live in Oakland, California, grads to the cause. If interested, COVID-19, and the second, recovering Jeff Katz MC/MPA consults for February to serve as office managing Libya, Iraq.” and work as a senior dean for Diablo partner of the Washington, D.C., office please email thefutureisfemaleclub@ from a 5.8 earthquake that hit our nonprofits, mostly as an interim Daniel Wagner MC/MPA works full time Valley College.” of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, a gmail.com.” county on March 18. I will never again executive director for agencies in as chief of staff for the National Nuclear national, full-service law firm. Earl is a face a professional challenge as transition. In the past few years Jeff has Security Administration’s Office of Michaeljulius Idani MPP received a litigation partner whose practice 1995 daunting as that faced on March 18. We led a homeless shelter, a community Defense Nuclear Security. He writes, fellowship to study at the Iowa Writers’ continue to recover from that, and along development corporation, and a focuses on advising clients on a range Workshop, where he will pursue an Michael Daniel MPP writes, “I left the “The United States is in the midst of a with the world, we continue to address Vietnamese community center. He is of regulatory matters. Also, Earl was MFA in fiction. He has received federal government in 2017 after 21.5 major investment in our eight national COVID-19. HKS provided me with skills, currently serving as interim executive elected in January as chairman of the fellowships and support from the years and I now run a cybersecurity labs to ensure our infrastructure and knowledge, lifelong friendships, and the director of Prison Book Program, which board of directors for the Metropolitan Association of Writers and Writing nonprofit called the Cyber Threat modernization programs assure the confidence necessary to keep going.” sends books to people incarcerated in Washington Airports Authority Programs, the Hurston/Wright Alliance, based in Arlington, Virginia. security of the nation. Additional work 44 states. He was on the Reunion (MWAA), which manages both Reagan Foundation, Lighthouse Writers We enable cybersecurity providers to includes involvement with Community planning committee and is obviously National and Dulles International Workshop, Voices of Our Nation Arts share threat intelligence with each Renewal International, investing in Use the Alumni 2000 disappointed that the Reunion will be Airports. Earl is serving in his second Foundation, Banff Centre for Arts and other and thereby make the entire rebuilding our cities. Seeking those Directory to contact Chris Granda MPP joined the team at delayed. Jeff now lives in Cambridge, six-year term, having been appointed Creativity, the Martha’s Vineyard digital ecosystem safer. Although it interested in working in Baltimore. your classmates. Energy Solutions as a remote employee within walking distance of the and reappointed by two different Institute of Creative Writing, the seems like it should be easy, sharing is Finally, my nonprofit work involves at the beginning of March, just in time Kennedy School. “If you come to Maryland governors. Esalen Institute, A Cappella Books, hks.harvard.edu/ hard work, and we’re learning every day working with vulnerable persons in for the pandemic. “COVID-19 is changing the Boston area, let me know and MC/MPA and For Keeps Books. alumnidirectory how to make it work in a highly Edita Tahiri 2002 writes, Colombia and in Vietnam who are everything, but the battle against I will arrange a get-together with our competitive industry.” “Recently, I shared my experiences seeking greater empowerment through climate change continues and I feel local classmates.” worldwide with people who go through education and small business fortunate to be part of the fight.” war and peace in search for a better operations.” future. This is a ‘give and take’ mission MARTHA STEWART

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(NAEP). After two promotions, Michelle state government and it was exciting ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS WIENER now serves as the assistant director for to be part of that enormous CONFERENCE CALLS assessment development, spearheading organizational change.” HKS Fund projects to update the knowledge and Outstanding skills NAEP assesses and reports on for the nation, states, and several large 2006 15th Reunion Alumni School’s mission,” says Holmes. “I think it’s urban districts, with a primary focus on Angela Joo-Hyun Kang MC/MPA is important to create an environment that students in grades 4, 8, and 12. In 2019, founder and executive president of Award nurtures future leaders who will impact the Michelle earned a master’s in Global Competitiveness Empowerment mathematical statistics. Forum (GCEF), based in Seoul, Republic world.” For his consistent giving over 20 years, of Korea. Since January 2020, Angela has Stephen Frost MPP runs Frost Included, Holmes is this year’s recipient of the HKS Fund been participating in global policy a diversity and inclusion consultancy Outstanding Alumni Award. recommendation procedures as co-head helping a range of organizations around of the South Korean Delegation and the Holmes did not always want to be a lawyer (he the globe. With the current COVID-19 elected chair of the Digital Inclusion wasn’t even sure he wanted to practice law until emergency, he is leading the team and Working Group of Women 20 (W20), the helping clients virtually to embed after his fi rst year of law school at Georgetown gender equality policy engagement group inclusion in their decision making. For University), but he did always want to do something COVID-19 and the of the G20. She is also an Integrity & example, only when we consider Compliance Taskforce Group member of for the public good. As the son of public-sector Post-truth Era diversity in design thinking will we Business 20 (B20), the business policy PolicyCast takes employees, Holmes says, “I have been animated in produce equitable health outcomes, engagement group of the G20. on the vital issues. “ de-biased algorithms, and better terms of career choices most of my life by the desire I think the public, in Professors Erica customer service generally. He would be to be involved in public service.” He clerked for a these sorts of situations, Adeeb Mahmud MPP joined FSG right Chenoweth and delighted to hear from alumni, especially after graduating from the Kennedy Khalil Gibran federal trial judge in the Western District of absolutely needs the truth on how they are keeping inclusion on School. As a managing director, he leads Muhammad analyze Oklahoma, and then later clerked for a judge on the the agenda in their organizations at or else there’s just no the firm’s D.C. office, and advises whether a new mass this time. very appellate court he would join 15 years later. trust in the leadership. companies and foundations on creating movement can Moving between the private and public sectors But they can’t let that social change. Most recently, he has dismantle systemic is a hallmark of his career. Following his clerkships, 2005 been designing responses to COVID-19 racism. truth paralyze them and with pharmaceutical and other he joined a large Washington, D.C., law fi rm, then Sylvia Clute MPA is co-author of an ken.sc/policycast companies, as well as beginning to plan let them collapse into article in the current Richmond Public later relocated back to Oklahoma to serve as an for recovery approaches from the Interest Law Review. The article, “Unitive assistant U.S. attorney. “I had what would have despair. The art of going pandemic. He and his wife live in Justice and Re-Entry Culture Change,” pg. Rockville, Maryland, and he has recently been considered a ‘successful career’ as a federal back and forth with that 203, is co-authored by Paul Taylor and been in touch with Jacqui O’Neill MPP, prosecutor, but I knew there’d be another chapter is part of what I think Weldon Bunn, former inmates who Alex Dworkowitz MPP, Doug Aaron MPP, transformed their prison culture using of public service in my life—what I didn’t know makes for good adaptive and Shaun Gonzales MPP 2005. techniques that are similar to Clute’s was what that chapter would look like,” Holmes leadership, and adaptive Unitive Justice theory. The article is a Believing in the says. That’s when he decided to come to HKS. “I thought it would be leadership is the kind of comparison of their two approaches to 2008 good to expose myself to a lot of different ideas, to be in a milieu culture change. The issue also includes Jed Willard MC/MPA writes, “Harvard leadership that I find transcripts of panels Clute, Taylor, and that appreciated public service, and to be able to think ‘big picture’ College was abruptly emptied of Mission of Harvard most persuasive. Bunn participated in, on pgs. 93 and 113. about leadership and how one achieves public goals.” ” students around March 14. My “Symposium 2019: Restorative Justice” is organization here, the FDR Foundation, The Kennedy School did not disappoint him. “I wanted to stretch available at: scholarship.richmond.edu/ Kennedy School Chris Robichaud has been supporting low-income myself and to put myself in situations where I was not comfortable. pilr/vol23/iss2/2. — students with out-of-pocket expenses Jerome Holmes mc/mpa 2000 For me, coming to the Kennedy School satisfi ed my desire to Alice Farmer MPA writes, “I’m the University can’t cover: from continue to grow and continue to position myself to have an impact. sorry to miss everyone at Reunion transportation gaps to internet access, this year! I am a refugee lawyer with and now summer jobs for students And this is what I fi nd most gratifying about the job I have now—I Michelle Thornhill MC/MPA was UNHCR, currently living in D.C. who must support their families. EL LÍDER ANTE LA INNOVACIÓN THE JUDICIAL RULINGS in which U.S. Circuit Judge Jerome make decisions that I know matter.” recently named head of strategy and Hope all are well!” Simultaneously we’re working with transformation for the Wells Fargo Holmes MC/MPA 2000 participates establish the law not only for Of his generosity to the Kennedy School, he says, “I’ve given scholars and officials around the world to Foundation, one of the largest corporate Patrick McCormick MC/MPA writes, “In the litigants before the court but for future generations. Holmes regularly, but I haven’t given an incredible amount of money. Having combat COVID-19-related disinformation foundations in the United States. She April [I started] a new role as CIO for the campaigns. If these activities are of is one of just 12 full-time judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for pursued a career in government service, I have not been in a was also recognized by Ebony magazine City of Cambridge. City staff have been interest or overlap with your own, I would the 10th Circuit, which decides federal fi nancial position to do so. But the as a Power 100 honoree, as the working nonstop to address COVID-19 love to hear from you.” appeals coming from the six Western — Kennedy School’s mission is worth organization celebrates its 75th challenges, including promoting safety anniversary. measures, enabling a remote workforce, states of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, supporting, and I have been pleased to “I think it’s important to create an hosting public meetings online, and 2009 — New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. consistently give whatever I could afford aiding residents and small businesses. 2004 Thomas Eads MC/MPA is now science Antonio Núñez Nominated in 2006 by President George environment that nurtures future to the HKS Fund, which supports the I’m humbled to join such a dedicated team advisor to the director of regulatory Martin mc/mpa Michelle Blair MPA joined the National of public servants. The move follows W. Bush, Holmes is also the fi rst African leaders who will impact the world.” needs of current students. Even if you informatics at the U.S. Food and Drug 2009 Assessment Governing Board in 2007. nearly three years with the American to serve on the 10th Circuit. are a graduate of the Kennedy School Administration, Center for Tobacco As an independent bipartisan arm of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as IT Products (CTP). As a pioneer in regulatory This concern for future generations is who is pursuing a career path that isn’t a U.S. Department of Education, the capital program manager. The Executive informatics, Thomas is leading projects one of the reasons Holmes has given to the HKS Fund every year since fi nancially lucrative one, that doesn’t mean you cannot support the board oversees the “Nation’s Report Office of Tech Services and Security was

KRISTYN ULANDAY in advanced text analytics (concept Card,” also known as the National established in 2017 as a new secretariat graduating from Harvard Kennedy School. “I believe in the Kennedy Kennedy School’s mission. And that’s what I’ve tried to do.” discovery), machine learning-boosted Assessment of Educational Progress with a mandate to modernize IT across

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SUBJECT MARTHA STEWART document retrieval, and knowledge

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CLASSNOTES

representation (ontology). The work 2010 opportunity to work on recruiting over ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS strengthens CTP’s response to new 450 applicants for the Arabic online Ryan Androsoff MPP reports that tobacco products that put youth at risk of organizing course. Both those experiences 2019 was a busy year for him, having nicotine addiction and exposure to other have humbled and inspired me as I got a Julius E. Babbitt launched a new Digital Executive harmful and potentially harmful glimpse of the promise that region holds Leadership Program that he leads at the Memorial constituents. Meanwhile, time with despite its gargantuan challenges. Finally Ottawa-based Institute on Governance. family, HKS classmates, and hiking opened the Museum of the Palestinian The program is the first of its kind in Alumni buddies grows in proportion to the joy of People in Washington, D.C., in mid-June Canada to provide digital literacy and living in the Washington, D.C., area. with great success. Make sure to visit us Volunteer leadership training for public sector The network helps alumnae grow their — on 18th & T NW next time you’re in D.C.! Hassan Tetteh MC/MPA currently serves leaders. Last year he also completed a professional experience and skills so they Hassan Tetteh Visit mpp-dc.org. Oh, and we got to see Award as the health mission chief for Warfighter documentary film and museum mc/mpa 2009 Bocelli in concert for Christmas!” can have more impact in their fi elds.” Health at the Joint Artificial Intelligence installation project to explore the A resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Center (JAIC) in the Department of history and spiritual traditions of his Zak Gingo MC/MPA writes, “I am still Defense (DoD). Hassan also leads a ancestors, the Doukhobor community working at Harvard, now as the Skeadas also became involved with the HKS Specialized Thoracic Adapted Recovery who came to Canada 120 years ago as associate dean for physical resources New England Alumni Association through a (STAR) team in Washington, D.C. His religious refugees fleeing persecution and planning in the FAS. I have been connection she had with one of its board research in thoracic transplantation aims in tsarist Russia. More information spending a lot of time helping to plan members, Christina Marin MPP 2014. She to expand heart and lung recovery and about the project and the film are Harvard’s expansion into Allston, in save lives. He created The Art of Human available at: doukhoborlivingbook.ca. particular the School of Engineering and soon was the network’s treasurer and, in Care book series, and, in early 2020, was Applied Sciences’ new research building June 2019, was unanimously voted Nizar Farsakh MC/MPA writes, “Trained ranked on the Amazon bestseller lists that is about to complete construction. Iraqi activists in leadership and advocacy president. “It’s been a lot of fun,” she says. with the new book, Success Strategies, These days, my work revolves around for a third year now. I also got the “We organize a ton of events, including ones coauthored with Jack Canfield. Harvard’s response to COVID-19. Over the past 10 years I’ve had the pleasure that teach technical skills and ones for of watching my children grow into content knowledge.” confident young adults, and been able As co-chair of the HKS Women’s Network to visit some very interesting places, (HKSWN), another geographically both at home and abroad. I hope everyone is doing well!” dispersed network of which she became co-chair in 2019, she has built on her experience as a city ambassador to Casablanca, Morocco, for the Harvard WIENER The Network Effect Alumni Association (HAA)—she graduated CONFERENCE from the College in 2012. Skeadas has CALLS Theodora Skeadas mpp 2016 helped HKSWN build out its board and transform to a chapter model, as with the IT IS A GOOD THING Theodora Skeadas MPP 2016 is an organizer HAA. “We started with seven chapters. We now have 50 chapters at heart. From running political campaigns in Massachusetts to and 75 ambassadors organizing dozens of events globally.” working as a consultant for the U.S. government on cybersecurity Skeadas, who fi rst became interested in public policy when she and geopolitical issues, Skeadas has established herself as volunteered in middle school to build homes in Tijuana, Mexico, someone who gets things done. It is no surprise, then, that focused on international trade, fi nance, and econometrics at HKS. She Skeadas has signifi cantly advanced the work of not one, but three also participated in the Women and Public Policy Program’s From HKS alumni groups. For her extraordinary contributions to the HKS Harvard Square to the Oval Offi ce program. “This changed my community, she is the 2020 recipient of the Julius E. Babbitt relationship to the concept of running for offi ce,” she says. She fl irted Memorial Alumni Volunteer Award. with a run for Cambridge city councillor but decided to manage the Measuring the U.S. Her fi rst interaction with the HKS alumni network came before she campaign of political newcomer Sumbul Siddiqui, who then became Government’s Response had even graduated, while working on a human traffi cking detection the fi rst South Asian and fi rst Muslim to be elected to the council and to the COVID-19 Pandemic project during her summer internship. Through Courtney Walsh MPP is now the Cambridge mayor. Skeadas also served as operations 2013, who was working at an anti-human manager for the unsuccessful “ The failure of testing was traffi cking organization, she became involved — campaign of fellow HKS alumnus the original sin because with W3D, the Harvard Women in Defense, Jimmy Tingle MC/MPA 2010, who it gave us no time.... It Diplomacy, and Development Shared Interest “I feel very connected globally. If I go ran for lieutenant governor of is also our only salvation. Group, a network of HKS alumnae working to anywhere, I can reach out to alumni.” Massachusetts in 2018. It’s our only way to actually achieve sustainable peace. Skeadas became Skeadas, an avid traveler, is membership chair while still at HKS, started a a staunch advocate of the value be able to have a real Boston chapter after graduating, and eventually became president. of the HKS alumni network. “I feel very connected globally. If I go adaptation period.” She says that W3D helps alumnae learn from each other. “From anywhere, I can reach out to alumni,” she says. Thanks to her work Juliette Kayyem the alumna working at an NGO in Nairobi to one working at a with three HKS alumni networks, many graduates already feel NATALIE MONTANER NATALIE — MARTHA STEWART IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SUBJECT think tank in D.C.—we’re really tackling the same issues.... more connected with each other and with the School.

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ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS Alumni Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare). Because much of the ACA, At Treasury in 1998, Iwry formulated and directed a strategy to including its employer and individual mandates and associated taxes expand private-sector 401(k) participation by defining, approving, and Public and credits, resided in the tax code, it came within the purview of IRS promoting 401(k) “automatic enrollment.” As behavioral economists Service and the Treasury Department, where Iwry served as senior advisor to such as then-HKS Professor Brigitte Madrian later confirmed, the secretary. automatically enrolling employees in a savings plan unless they Award choose to opt out harnesses inertia to promote saving. Treasury and IRS rulings approved auto-enrollment with automatic (i.e., default) Finding Common Ground investment in a balanced fund of diversified stocks and bonds. Per Iwry’s recommendation, President Clinton highlighted the guidance in Much of the business community, including small businesses, retail a speech, and IRS, at Iwry’s request in 2004, confirmed that 401(k)s stores, and restaurants, opposed the ACA. Predictions were dire: This can automatically enroll employees at high and increasing effort to restructure one-sixth of the world’s largest economy— contribution levels. As auto-enrollment spread to about one-third of especially ACA’s employer mandate—would fail, precipitating major the larger 401(k)s, Iwry—then a co-founder of the Brookings job losses and reducing millions of employees from full-time to Institution’s Retirement Security Project—was instrumental in drafting part-time. Employers would drop health plans, shifting costs to and advocating the 2006 Pension Protection Act, which gave auto- taxpayers and leaving employees to seek coverage in the individual enrollment a further boost. market. And health reform would wreak havoc with the employer Now used in more than 70 percent of larger 401(k)s, auto- plans that successfully covered most Americans. enrollment has extended participation to millions of women, lower- Iwry took inspiration from Neustadt’s teachings that the effective income, African American, and Latinx workers. Auto-enrollment— exercise of executive power relies more on persuasion and including auto-contribution-increases and the resulting auto- negotiation than command and control. Departing from the standard investment in diversified funds—is widely considered the most two-step regulatory procedure—proposed rules followed by final transformative 401(k) reform of the last 40 years. rules—Iwry orchestrated an intensive stakeholder consultative Building on auto-enrollment’s success, Iwry reached out to a process to develop rules implementing ACA’s employer mandate and senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation to co-author a related provisions. “We reached out, listened, and seriously engaged sweeping solution to the greatest unfinished business of our private with stakeholders,” he says. pension system: covering the one-third of the Iwry took another of Neustadt’s — workforce lacking access to a workplace plan. teachings—“where you stand depends on Their 2006 “auto-IRA” proposal to automatically Innovating for Economic Security where you sit”—literally as well as figuratively. Iwry has always wanted enroll some 40 million uncovered workers in Iwry avoided the conventional seating to channel his idealism private-sector IRAs has been endorsed by experts, mpp/jd arrangements at government meetings with praised in the media, and introduced as J. Mark Iwry 1976 into achieving public good. outside organizations—instead of sitting bipartisan legislation in Congress, but has yet to together on one side of the table, Treasury be enacted. A UNIQUELY POWERFUL WASHINGTON WONK. A hero of our retirement rising stars in the faculty including Richard Neustadt (who would and IRS staff would spread out among However, the states are providing proof of system. A pension rock star. One of the world’s 30 top fi nancial become his mentor and friend), Thomas Schelling, Graham Allison, stakeholders to underscore that they were not on opposing teams. concept. Since 2002, Iwry has launched and developed a state-level players. A legend. An inspiration. Richard Zeckhauser, Francis Bator, Jonathan Moore, John Steinbruner, Before developing ACA rules, Iwry held numerous meetings and pilot of the nationwide auto-IRA initiative to expand private-sector Mark Iwry has received plaudits like these from a variety of David Wise, Will Fairley, and Mark Moore. briefings with employers, organized labor, insurers, and consumers, retirement coverage. Seven states thus far have adopted and are publications and people, along with awards for leadership and After graduating from HKS and Harvard Law School, Iwry, on including four rounds of exploratory draft guidance, each eliciting implementing his auto-IRA legislation, which California’s treasurer achievement from organizations that typically don’t agree on much: Neustadt’s advice, joined the Washington law fi rm Covington & extensive oral and written public comments. The result: the dire described as “the most significant expansion of retirement security workers’ rights groups, the payroll industry, the fi nancial services Burling to gain experience at the intersection of the private and public predictions did not materialize, former opponents praised the since . . . Social Security in 1935.” industry, the IRS, the small business community, investment sectors. After becoming a partner, he was invited by the Treasury Treasury’s and IRS’ regulatory process, and most made peace with Iwry has also authored many other initiatives and reforms: the advisors, pension professionals, and others. To his acclamations, Department during the Bush administration to play a lead role in the rules. saver’s tax credit (encouraging 401(k) and IRA saving by some 8 HKS is adding its Alumni Public Service Award for Iwry’s work to regulating the nation’s private pension and health care systems and million lower-income households annually); the SIMPLE-IRA plan strengthen the economic security of working families. formulating national retirement and health policy. (covering 3 million workers); a “start-up” tax credit for small Iwry (pronounced “Eevry”) has always wanted to channel his Soon after, Bill Clinton was elected president. “Clinton Toward Universal Saving businesses adopting retirement plans; the “myRA” (combining Roth idealism into achieving public good “in the tradition of my announced that his top three domestic priorities were health reform, IRAs and U.S. savings bonds), automatic rollovers, direct deposit forefathers, ‘tikkun olam’—repairing the world,” says Iwry, who is health reform, and health reform,” says Iwry, who then joined the Iwry has also had a profound influence on the way Americans save for saving of tax refunds in IRAs and savings bonds, and the “QLAC” descended from a legendary 18th-century rabbi and whose father was White House Task Force on Health Reform, which was expected to retirement. As 401(k) retirement saving plans have increasingly 401(k)/IRA longevity annuity providing lifelong retirement income. a Biblical archaeologist and scholar. design, in his words, “the most important policy reform of our displaced traditional defined benefit pensions, his vision has been to Since leaving government at the close of the Obama After studying history and literature at Harvard College, he entered generation.” “restore the pension to the private pension system” by seeking to administration, Iwry, currently a nonresident senior fellow at the the fi rst year of HKS’ Master in Public Policy program, which then “We worked our hearts out for two years, only to see it all go down transplant to the 401(k) the most valuable attributes of traditional Brookings Institution, continues to pursue these and other policy numbered 26 students. “We felt like the batboys for the 1927 world in fl ames,” says Iwry. Ultimately, in the Obama administration Iwry pensions: retirement security through employer funding, institutional, reforms and market innovations, confident that the best is yet RAYCHEL CASEY

champion New York Yankees,” he says, remembering established and played a key role in implementing health reform through the IMAGE COURTESY OF MARK IWRY professional investment, risk pooling, and lifetime income. to come.

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these free tools: bit.ly/ FreeVirtualResources. Be well and stay ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS safe, everyone!” Alumni 2012 Network Erica Harrison Arnold MPP, in the fall Engagement of 2019, was named the executive director of legal compliance for Henry Award County School District (Georgia), which serves approximately 43,000 students and 6,000 employees. She served in a prior role as director of performance analytics and research in the same school system through The Broad Connect. Center Residency program. Previously, Erica was an associate attorney at Alston & Bird LLP from 2012 to 2017.

Jay Bhatt MPA writes, “As a member of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Make your network matter. alumni, I was fortunate to be invited to participate in conversation with Update your profile to receive President Bush and President Clinton at the Presidential Leadership Program news and invitations to events. 2019 graduation, celebrating the fifth group of scholars working to make a difference.” Jennifer Hollett MC/MPA is the new hks.harvard.edu/alumnidirectory executive director of The Walrus in Toronto. The Walrus believes in the idea of a better Canada, and that a healthy society relies on informed citizens. As a registered charity, The Walrus (thewalrus.ca) publishes independent, fact-based journalism and produces ideas-focused events. Prior to this role, Jennifer was the head of news and government at Twitter Canada. You can find her on Twitter @jenniferhollett. Real Collaboration

Pietro Rabassi MPA writes, “Dear HKS Mallika Kaur MPP has a new book out public policy advocates. WRA is the mates, after having spent our holidays and Positive Change titled Faith, Gender, and Activism in conservation leader in the region to in my home region in northern Italy at the Punjab Conflict: The Wheat Fields transition the Mountain West in the the border with Austria and Slovenia, Women in Defense, Diplomacy, we came back to Berlin (Germany) at Still Whisper (Palgrave Macmillan, United States to a carbon-free and Development (W3D) 2020). In her law and policy work, economy and protect its iconic the end of Feb. 2020. I was suggested Mallika became increasingly wilderness, rivers, and lands, and to by my doctor to take a COVID-19 test Shared Interest Group fascinated by the layers of stories that advocate for healthy air and water because of some symptoms; it was begin where legal cases and human for its growing, vibrant, and diverse negative. At the same time, in another rights reports end. This creative communities. Greg is living in kindergarten group than our — nonfiction book explores and engages downtown Denver, and enjoying the daughter’s a teacher has been found Mallika Kaur with the everyday and unfinished recreation, reflection, and peace the COVID-19 positive. We were HARVARD WOMEN IN Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D) events, including sessions with the Offi ce of Admissions, plus mpp 2010 histories of the conflict in Indian beauty of the region provides. quarantined until March 23, and our is a University-wide network dedicated to connecting and cultivating gatherings that align with its mission of connecting women in Punjab through stories of human nanny too. It is a real challenge for me Allison Shapira MC/MPA writes, global leaders who work together toward sustainable peace. Over defense, diplomacy, and development. Founded in 2013 by three rights defenders who challenged the and my wife to work from home with “This spring at HKS, I had the the past year, W3D has 1) quadrupled membership to 2,000-plus Harvard Kennedy School alumnae, W3D builds trust and violence that paralyzed most others in two children under three at home with pleasure of teaching ‘The Arts of a position to intervene. no child care. Hopefully the situation members across 72 countries, 2) started a network-wide mentoring collaboration among the defense, diplomacy, and development Communication’ (DPI-802M) through will improve soon! I look forward to MC/MPA program, 3) helped launch an on-campus W3D for students, sectors to create holistic solutions. W3D is based on the knowledge Greg Macias moved last Zoom. My company, Global Public your stories!” November from New York City to Speaking, is now helping people 4) created a monthly newsletter, 5) transformed its organizational that trusted relationships and inclusive groups are the key to real Denver, Colorado, to take the position speak with impact, and guide their model into one with geographically dispersed chapters, 6) added a collaboration and positive change. As such, it taps the underutilized of vice president for programs and teams through uncertainty, in their diversity and inclusion chair, and 7) detailed more specifi cally power of women as infl uential global leaders for sustainable peace strategy for Western Resource virtual meetings, pitches, and

IMAGE COURTESY OF W3D outlined board roles and responsibilities. It holds many annual through gender equity. Advocates (WRA). At WRA, Greg presentations. I would love to be a oversees a seasoned group of legal resource to my classmates who experts, economists, engineers, and need help in this area, starting with

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Superheroes give wings to children’s clients include The Coastal government about the significant

ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS imaginations and the confidence to take Conservation League (South Carolina), environmental, economic, and cultural action. However, unlike other The Gates Foundation, and The Brigid benefits of a strong local economy, Digital superheroes who come and save the Alliance (NYC). When not quarantined, supporting small businesses, and day, Dabung Girl helps children find Caroline splits her time between advocating for policies. In recent weeks, Innovation solutions on their own. The target age New York City and Charleston, our efforts have intensified. We now group is 6–14 years. The first comic South Carolina. work tirelessly to provide businesses Award book is out with stories on gender and the resources, education, skills, and environment. Saurabh is now working partnerships they need to successfully Ruangguru connects 15 million K–12 on a child protection theme. 2016 5th Reunion maneuver in this pandemic.” (Read more on p.53) PolicyCast talks students with 300,000 teachers, allowing Frank Kuzminski MC/MPA is honored to Gareth Davies MC/MPA was elected as to the world. students to obtain high-quality tutoring on have been selected by the U.S. Army as a a member of Parliament in the United Growth Lab Goodpaster Scholar in the Advanced Kingdom in December 2019. 2017 web and mobile platforms that make it easy founder Professor Strategic Planning and Policy Program to interact with others. In addition, Theodora Skeadas MPP writes, “A Gal Lin MPP has been named one of Ricardo Hausmann (ASP3) to pursue doctoral studies. year ago, I joined Cambridge Local Israel’s 40 under 40 up-and-comers in breaks down the Ruangguru has expanded to provide Beginning this fall, Frank will be a PhD First, a nonprofit network of 400-plus the agriculture industry by Mashov pandemic’s impact professional courses and corporate student at the University of Washington, locally owned and independent Group, Israel’s prime publisher for the on developing where he will focus his research on space training to adults. businesses formed to build a strong agriculture sector, for his work at the nations around security policy and U.S. collective defense The affordable subscription cost dovetails local economy and a vibrant community, AgTech startup eggXYt. eggXYt is the globe. commitments in the space domain. as executive director. We support, pioneering the use of gene editing to with wider adoption of smartphones and ken.sc/policycast Ted Zagraniski MC/MPA, as a future promote, and celebrate a local economy make the livestock industry more internet connections to distribute high- plans officer since 2017, has traveled the community by educating the public and sustainable and address hunger in the quality education, especially in rural areas. United States, the Pacific, and Western Ruangguru, which has received several Europe, contributing to U.S. and rounds of venture funding, comprehensively multinational defense planning efforts. Innovation and Relevance A special highlight was welcoming his tracks the learning behaviors and quiz second child (a girl) into the world just a in a Digital World results of its students; it is leveraging this couple of months after contributing to data using artifi cial intelligence to the plan for a hospital ship humanitarian recommend the most optimal path to mission to South America. His favorite part of every mission is returning home complete mastery for every student, taking Adamas Belva Syah Devara mpa 2016 to Virginia and seeing his wife, son, into account population-level data and daughter, and Chihuahua again. probabilistic estimates of each student’s ADAMAS BELVA SYAH DEVARA MPA 2016 started Ruangguru.com mastery of every topic. 2015 during his time at Harvard Kennedy School. Since its founding, Devara, who has a social media presence with more than Chris Lumry MPP writes, “After running Ruangguru, which means “teacher’s room” in Indonesian, has 350,000 followers, was selected by the president of Indonesia a nonprofit for the past three years that grown to become the largest educational technology enterprise to serve as a special advisor. In this capacity, he helps captures film stories of hope to break in Southeast Asia, operating in Indonesia, Vietnam, and ministries become more innovative and relevant in today’s stigma around mental health, I launched OneStep Guides (onestepguides.com), a Volunteer. Thailand and employing 4,000 people across the region. digital world. new platform that connects people to supportive services online. Our guides provide recovery coaching and general mindsets coaching for anyone looking to grow and build a more thriving life. Make a difference in your HKS community. This new endeavor stems from a personal passion for mental, emotional, Join a regional network or shared interest and spiritual wellness. It’s an honor to we need to take on the role of helpers. If elected, these fi ve candidates will work in this space. We prioritize 2013 Stay safe and healthy. Stay humble advocate for bold, sensible leadership on support for affected families and offer group or become an alumni ambassador. Leila El-Khatib MC/MPA writes, “Since and grateful. Feel free to reach out!” climate. Learn more at harvardforward. services for people from all walks of graduating, I returned to Canada to work org and join the hundreds of alumni life, including professionals that need in the federal public service. I also Mike McMahon MPP writes, “In the already on board.” help where they are.” opened a consulting fi rm, 6 Degree 1980s, a group of Harvard alumni ran Seminars, which, among other things, candidates for the Harvard Board of Caroline Mauldin MPA, in October 2019, hks.harvard.edu/alumni/volunteer delivers cultural-competency training Overseers, the University’s highest 2014 launched a consulting company, specifi c to the Middle East and Islam. I democratically elected governing body, Saurabh Agarwal MPA has been Happy & Bennett (named for her — found myself missing the HKS magic to urge Harvard to divest from South working on launching a new girl grandmothers), dedicated to advancing Saurabh Agarwal and through your support became an African holding companies at the height superhero for children in India, Dabung progressive causes in conservative mpa 2014 HKS Alumni Board member. In 2020, I of apartheid. Today, I am part of a Girl (Fearless Girl). Dabung Girl inspires areas. Specializing in building bridges will be serving my last term and am similar movement focused on climate girls to fi nd the hero within and boys to via communications, strategy, and thankful for my time to serve alumni. change, known as Harvard Forward. perceive the superhero in girls around connection, her goal is to help elevate This year, as a global community, we are Together, we are asking alums to vote them. She is India’s “First Girl the work of social justice activists facing huge socioeconomic and political for the ‘Harvard Forward Five’ in the Superhero for Social Impact” and and organizations working in politically

challenges and so now more than ever 2020 Board of Overseers elections. focuses on breaking stereotypes. IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SUBJECT challenging environments. Current

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world. Using CRISPR technology, nonprofit organization that operates Safwan Amin MC/MPA practices law at an eggXYt is enabling the pre-incubation across 13 countries to transform international law firm where a substantial sex detection of chicken eggs, education-to-employment systems with amount of his work is focused on public preventing the culling of 8 billion male innovative training programs. policy and advising governments in the chicks, and saving the egg industry Generation has reached over 35,000 Middle East region. He also recently served billions of dollars. graduates in five years with 80% job as the chief of staff to the prime minister HKS ALUMNI BOARD DEAN’S COUNCIL placement rates. In my role, I work designate of Iraq. Safwan will be returning Yael Stern MPP has been selected for EXECUTIVE BOARD Laurence D. Belfer, Chair Margaret (Meg) Gifford mpa 1986 across our 13 countries to identify our to school later this year to pursue a the MassChallenge Israel 2020 mc/mpa Karen A. Frank, Vice Chair Daniel K. Goldberg operational challenges and design for graduate degree at Yale Law School. Deborah Bailey 2015, Chair accelerator program with her startup, Peter L. Malkin, Chair Emeritus Reinhard Gorenflos mpa 1989 improved quality and outcomes. If Luma Al Saleh mc/mpa 2017, Vice Chair PainPal. Through PainPal, Yael is Stephen Jones MC/MPA writes, “I joined a Charles H. Grice mpp 1985 you’re in or interested in the space, Jennifer Tutak mpa 2012, Secretary transforming the care of chronic pain group called the Global Special Operations MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE Fernando Gutierrez Eddy mc/mpa 2009 would love to connect!” Emilian Papadopoulos mpp 2008, patients with an innovative virtual Forces Foundation (GSF). As the only Member-at-Large Ewa Abraham Dionisio Gutiérrez Mayorga mc/mpa behavioral health platform based on professional association for the U.S. and Leila El-Khatib mc/mpa 2013, S. Daniel Abraham John R. Hargrove 2012 mpp mpa the most cutting-edge pain research. 2018 international special operations Member-at-Large Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine 1996 Nicolaus P. Henke 1990 PainPal has also been granted funding communities, we fill a critical gap in the Andrew T. Balls mpa 1998 Kenneth A. Hersh Asset Abdualiyev MC/MPA, in by the Israel Innovation Authority. national security discourse by leading MEMBERS Laurence D. Belfer Frank F. Islam September 2019, joined McKinsey like-minded public and private entities to mc/mpa Ceci Chan Malik Ahmad Jalal mpa/id 2011 Nadia Viswanath MPA writes, “I am & Company’s San Francisco office as Teresa Acuña 2017 increase understanding of the role that Edward D. Dong mc/mpa 2015 Tasso Jereissati based in San Francisco and enjoying a senior implementation consultant. Ramaswami (Balu) Balasubramaniam special operations can play in addressing mc/mpa Karen A. Frank Maha J. Kaddoura mc/mpa 2000 deepening my experience in urban labor In this role, Asset is working on 2010 global security. Our mission is twofold: mpp haa Ramin A. Isayev mc/mpa 2001 Kay Kapoor markets and workforce development in strategy development and Rudy Brioché 2000 Liaison 1) advocacy for adequate resourcing; and mpa Peter L. Malkin John F. Keane Sr. my role on the global team of implementation phases with clients Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook 2010 2) bringing the special operations Edson Kenji Kondo mpp 1990 Scott D. Malkin Latifa Kosta Generation. Generation is a global in various industries. mc/mpa community together. Our events focus on Tami Kesselman mpa 1995 Paul J. Much 2009 George Kounelakis mc/mpa mpp building the capacity and capability of our Carl Manlan mc/mpa 2012 Sean C. Rush 2007 Nicholas Kukrika 2007 U.S. and international partners. Learn Diego Osorio mc/mpa 2009 Vincent J. Ryan Edward M. Lamont Jr. more here: gsof.org.” Frank Pearl mc/mpa 2011 Mohammad Safadi Yanchun “Lily” Li mpp Gabriel B. Sunshine Brandt C. Louie Grey Lee MC/MPA continues to advance Steven Rahman 2000 mc/mpa haa Erica L. Wax mpp 1997 Andrónico Luksic sustainability in the built environment David Rosenberg 1986 Liaison mpa 9 Michael A. Zaoui Eugenio Madero through a small portfolio of projects: Corina Santangelo 19 9 mc/mpa Mohamed L. Mansour creating a nonprofit arm of the award- Meredith Segal 2017 mc/mpa MEMBERS OF THE DEAN’S COUNCIL Bashar Masri winning net-zero-energy housing developer Brooke Suter 2017 Mohammed B. Alardhi hksee 1992, Lorenzo Mendoza hksee 2010 Placetailor; providing process guidance at mc/mpa 2004 Rod Miller mpp 1990 the International Living Future Institute; This list is current as of June 1, 2020 Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki Eric M. Mindich and teaching the green building and urban Abayomi Awobokun Anthony P. Morris resilience course at Harvard Extension Ed Bachrach mc/mpa 2007 Roberto H. Murray Jr. School. He is also welcoming impact VISITING COMMITTEE Issa Baluch Christian Long Oberbeck investments into the social-benefit- Kenneth S. Apfel, Chair Thomas C. Barry Hilda M. Ochoa-Brillembourg mc/mpa 1972, provider co-housing enterprise Civekos, Harvey Beker hksee 2002 which he started while at the Kennedy MEMBERS Lisa M. Bellucci mc/mpa 1997 Marvin E. Odum School. He has enjoyed bumping into Lawrence D. Bobo Steven J. Berger Minnie R. Osmeña mc/mpa, hksee Give Back. cohort alumni in Cambridge and abroad. David Chiu mpp 1995, jd 1995 Scott M. Black Jerome L. Rappaport mpa 1963 Follow him @greylee. John H. Coatsworth Philip Hart Cullom (Overseer) Mary M. Boies Jang-Han Rhee MC/MPA mpp mpp Thomas Sellers writes, “In June Joshua Gotbaum mpp 1976, jd 1976 Octavio Camarena-Villaseñor 1994 Tom Rousakis 1997 mpp mpa 2019 I was elected to my town’s Budget Jane D. Hartley Joseph F. Campbell Jr. 1978 Carlos Salinas de Gortari 1973 mpp Review Committee in Ogunquit, Maine, Sally Jewell Richard E. Cavanagh Elliot J. Schrage 1986 Make your gift today. mpp mpp where Terry Ann Lunt MPA and I have been Brenda Jones mc/mpa 2018 Ann Chao 1992 Jane E. Silfen 2013 living since retiring four years ago. In Robert D. Reischauer Adrian C. Cheng Carl-Henric Svanberg mpp Invest in the future of HKS. addition, I continue serving as a trustee of Maria Torres-Springer mpp 2005 Anne Chiou 2005 Anthony Tamer mpa Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and as a Kent Walker (Overseer) Jamie A. Cooper 1994 Emil Tedeschi mpp member of the DFCI Quality Improvement/ Ngaire Woods Diego Cordoba Mallarino Meena Thever 2006 Risk Management Committee.” Howard E. Cox Jr. Lynn Thoman Robert L. Culver mpa 1978 Joseph B. Tompkins Jr. mpp 1975 hks.harvard.edu/donate Khadijah Tribble MC/MPA is now vice Bharat Desai Jesús Viejo Gonzalez mpp 1998 president, corporate social responsibility, Teresa H. Doggett mpa 1983 Enzo Viscusi of Curaleaf Holdings, Inc., a leading Ellen K. Dyvik mpa 1990 Brooke N. Wade vertically integrated cannabis operator in Ernesto F. Fernández-Holmann mpa 1966 Malcolm H. Wiener the United States. Khadijah will oversee Anne Finucane the company’s efforts to build an Claire L. Fitzalan Howard ecosystem of impact, policy, and business Ana Paula Gerard Rivero mc/mpa 1995 Memberships as of June 1, 2020 that aligns with the greater good of the cannabis industry and the communities in which Curaleaf operates and serves. She will also lead the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

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CLASS VIRTUAL HKS OF GRADUATION 20202020 CELEBRATION

ON MAY 28, 2020 THE HKS COMMUNITY gathered the COVID-19 response; and former fi nance virtually to celebrate the Harvard Kennedy minister of Nigeria delivered the graduation School’s Class of 2020, their signifi cant address via video, challenging members of the achievements, and their dedication to serve in Class of 2020 to “be bold, all corners of the globe. We honored this new be courageous, be selfl ess.” class of leaders and the many sacrifi ces they made this year to preserve the well-being of Graduates successfully established a our community. solid foundation at HKS and are now lifelong members of the community. We Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala delivered the 2020 HKS hope the experience at HKS is a source of graduation address. Okonjo-Iweala, chair pride and support for all our new alumni— of GAVI, the global vaccine alliance; special congratulations! advisor to the World Health Organization on

VIEW MORE ONLINE: www.hks.harvard.edu/honoring-class-2020

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other kinds of assistance, from meeting virtually with admitted students to hosting career chats to being partners for students working on their Policy Analysis Exercise and providing internships.

QIS THE SCHOOL RAISING FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR COVID-19-RELATED PURPOSES?

Yes, insomuch as we continue to fund innovative and relevant FUNDRAISING AT HKS programs to provide real-world learning opportunities to our students. For example, the faculty were quick to adapt their IN THE COVID-19 ERA teaching to include fi nding solutions to this ongoing crisis. We also pivoted our fi rst-year MPP students’ Spring Exercise this year to focus on the response to the pandemic. Students worked virtually A conversation with Christy Jackowitz, with each other to develop policy recommendations related to public senior associate dean for alumni relations schools being reopened, migrant and resource development workers in New Delhi, international travel, and the spread of the virus in developing countries. As we look to helping the world beyond our campus, the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, originally designed to provide an environment where mayors and city offi cials could learn to best address It has been MAKING SURE THE KENNEDY SCHOOL has the resources to help addition, there was a sharp drop in executive education enrollment, an common challenges, has become a ‘‘ QARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT THERE incredible to see our communities and train future public leaders remains a ongoing risk to degree program enrollment, and a reduction in gifts as real-time resource. Every week since IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL? so many alumni high priority during the COVID-19 crisis. We sat down with supporters focused on frontline responders. the beginning of the pandemic this and friends make group of hundreds of public leaders CHRISTY JACKOWITZ, senior associate dean for alumni relations It has been incredible to see so many alumni and friends make the the Kennedy and resource development, to discuss fundraising at the Kennedy School one of their philanthropic priorities during this time. from around the world has focused Kennedy School during this challenging time. QWERE YOU ABLE TO ACCESS ENDOWMENT This is a community effort. That’s why we also run smaller campaigns on crisis response—including lessons School one of FUNDING TO MAKE UP FOR THE REVENUE LOSS? where we ask alumni and friends to support the School with smaller from former U.S. Presidents Bill their philanthropic gifts. When we say that they add up, they really do. The accumulation Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack priorities during It is a common misconception that Harvard can directly access QHOW HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED of gifts under $10,000 last year alone equaled full fi nancial aid Obama, as well as Bill Gates and this time.” its endowment funds for an emergency. These funds are largely FUNDRAISING AT HKS? packages for 17 students this coming term. These are 17 students Nancy Pelosi. CHRISTY JACKOWITZ restricted to very specifi c uses and not accessible for addressing who will now be attending the Kennedy School because of people When COVID-19 emerged, raising funds presented new challenges. unexpected needs or new opportunities for growth. Last spring, we who know that their contribution is part of something bigger. During those initial weeks in the early spring, we made a conscious relied on fl exible funding when we had to pivot our activities online QIT SOUNDS LIKE THE SCHOOL’S FUNDRAISING decision to pause our general fundraising as our supporters were in an incredibly short time. HAS EVOLVED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. directing more funding to frontline services. Many of them did, and we Current and admitted students also feel the fi nancial impact of QWHERE CAN ALUMNI GIVE NOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE CHANGES? could not be prouder of their efforts to identify and support society’s COVID-19, and we worked hard to help them with fi nancial aid from TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT? greatest needs. However, we also saw the need for improved public unrestricted funding. We heard from students who could no longer We have many more immediate needs that have emerged over the policy and leadership during those early months, so we slowly began attend the Kennedy School because the external foundations, The HKS Fund is our go-to resource to address unpredicted last few months, so we have placed a greater emphasis on current- reaching out to our supporters towards the end of the spring semester. governments, or businesses who had offered them support had situations, and we are still in very unpredictable times. These use giving at this time. We are only able to do what we do because Year-in and year-out, Kennedy School alumni and friends provide to pull back those offers, and others whose fi nancial situations funds are designated for the dean’s highest priorities, including of the generous, unrestricted fi nancial support from our alumni crucial fi nancial support for our mission—last year, for example, have changed quite drastically due to lost income within their fi nancial aid. They offer fl exibility and are fully available to have an and friends. I am also deeply appreciative of all the other ways our gifts from alumni and friends composed 48 percent of the School’s family. We are committed to helping these students—and this is immediate impact. alumni have stepped up during this global crisis. I have always said operating revenue. The challenge was signifi cant, especially since this why unrestricted fl exible support is so important. It allows us to be Of course, we realize that not everyone is in a position to give— that our alumni are our greatest assets, and that is certainly proving pandemic had such a negative impact on personal fi nances globally. In to be true today. nimble in the face of these unexpected challenges. MONTANER NATALIE STEWART MARTHA BY PORTRAIT and we’ve been so impressed that some are stepping up to offer

64 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 65

6w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0n_d6d2 - 646_-6IB7C_webPDF.indd 64 8/19/20 3:02 PM 6_HKSmag_su20_62-64_IBC_webPDF.indd 65 8/1290/20 31:0521 PM EXIT POLL MEMBERS OF HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL’S CLASS OF 2020 celebrate and show school spirit while social distancing in the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. From left to right: Jaime Diaz mc/mpa 2020; Gerta Uruci-Limani mc/mpa 2020; Ana Esmeralda Martinez Saez mc/mpa 2020; Scott McCann mc/mpa 2020; Karim Sarhan mc/mpa 2020; Fernanda Pedreira mc/mpa 2020; Kudzai Makomva mc/mpa 2020; Serena Lese mc/mpa 2020 (seated); Hind Al-Hindawi mc/mpa 2020; Fernando Marquez mc/mpa 2020; Nada Siddiqui mc/mpa 2020; Will Green mc/mpa 2020; Sayef Tanzeem Qayyum mc/mpa 2020; Amy Yee mc/mpa 2020; Doris Gutierrez mc/mpa 2020; Sybil Hebb mc/mpa 2020. Ganesh Ramachandran mc/mpa 2020 helped organize. — PHOTO BY MARTHA STEWART

66 66 www.hks.harvard.edu summer 2020 | harvard kennedy school 67

6w_eHb KpSdmf sapge_csiaul2.i0n_d6d2 - 648_-6IB9C_webPDF.indd 66 8/19/20 3:02 PM 6_HKSmag_su20_62-64_IBC_webPDF.indd 67 8/1290/20 31:0521 PM NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID 79 John F. Kennedy Street BURLINGTON, VT Cambridge, MA 02138 USA PERMIT NO. 80 617-495-1100

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