Current Research and Policy Activities
Social Policy
There often is not a neat line between economic advancement, political participation and social policy. Most social policy has an impact on economic advancement and political participation. Thus, while the Joint Center has focused largely on economic advancement and political participation, it has engaged in analyses of a number of social policies that impact upon economic advancement and political participation. These include work on arts engagement, juvenile justice, youth development, black families, Young Black Males in the District of Columbia, and community-based racial reconciliation activities through its NABRE program. We also have conducted general demographic studies and population trend analysis.
With the national focus over the past decade on welfare reform and devolution, the Joint Center has completed research on the attitudes of welfare recipients and other low-income populations toward work and welfare and the role of faith-based institutions in welfare reform. In addition, we have implemented a project entitled "Devolution on the Ground," which provided timely, accessible information to community organizations and policymakers responding to devolution.
More recently, the Joint Center completed a landmark study on the role of black churches in the Bush Administration's Faith-Based Initiative. The findings were announced at a September 19, 2006 forum moderated by E. J. Dionne.
In response to the disaster that befell New Orleans residents, disproportionately African American, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Joint Center held a "Never Again" forum on April 11, 2006 and is planning additional work on ways to promote inclusive disaster planning to ensure that such disasters never again occur.
Joint Center Experts
Additional Resources