Advocacy and Policy

Based in Nigeria, Dr. Christian Happi is a molecular biologist whose day job is combating infectious diseases. Alongside his life-saving scientific work, he’s on a mission to embolden young African…

The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) is working to provide small farmers in Iowa with affordable land that improves environmental resources and access to fresh produce. “Our food dollars travel…

The threat of flooding is increasing in every region of the United States as a warming atmosphere makes precipitation events more extreme and contributes to sea-level rise. Floods are the costliest natural disaster threat…

Small, place-based foundations are uniquely positioned to make change in the policy arena. In this three-part Podcast, Michael Weinberg chronicles the Thornburg Foundation’s move into advocacy, the first steps, the…

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a partisan divide has existed over the appropriate government response to the public health crisis. Democrats have been more likely to favor stricter policies such as…

So many people—from U.S. President Joe Biden to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to World Bank Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg—have been exhorting us to “Build Back Better” after the COVID-19 pandemic that it is…

Historically, attention to public health has waxed and waned as crises strike and then abate. The result has been a patchwork of inadequate public health infrastructure, the weaknesses of which…

For decades, tax incentives have been a major policy tool to spur economic development and attract and retain good jobs. In recent years, however, these incentives have come under heightened…

Part of the White House’s recently announced American Jobs Plan includes $18 billion to upgrade and modernize U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics. A 2015 analysis suggests…

For millions of children in child care, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) acts as a key nutritional support by reimbursing child care providers for the cost of snacks…

Congress approved $28.6 billion in grant money for independent restaurants. It falls short of what advocates say is needed, but they still see reason for optimism. Around 140,000 operators of…

More than a year into the coronavirus recession, unemployment in the United States remains high, and there are 8.4 million fewer jobs than prior to the pandemic. As the U.S. economy begins…