Harvard’s Rappaport Institute launches $2M initiative to address Boston’s public policy challenges

Harvard University’s Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston has launched a $2 million initiative, funded by the Rappaport Foundation, to tackle pressing education, healthcare, and infrastructure across the Boston region. Foregoing traditional proposals, the Institute is convening academics, policymakers, and local leaders to set research priorities collaboratively. Multiyear, faculty-led projects of up to $500,000 each will aim for real-world impact, from addressing K-12 learning gaps to expanding affordable housing and improving transportation. The initiative, part of Harvard Kennedy School’s push to apply social science to local community challenges, emphasizes engagement, local collaboration, and tangible solutions over academic inquiry.