Upcoming Travel Seminar Opportunities

Suffolk is pleased to offer the PAD 840 Comparative Public Policy trip to Ireland taking place from August 17-23, 2008. Students study a variety of different subjects such as fishery management, environmental policies, and health systems all in the context of Ireland’s continually growing economy. Professor Brendan Burke is excited to take on the responsibility for this trip in 2008.

Email Brendan Burke at bburke@suffolk.edu for questions and information updates.

Summer Jobs Program

In partnership with the Department of Social Services Boston Regional Office and Communities for People, the Center concluded its fifth annual Summer Jobs program in August of 2007. Over the summer, 47 youth aged 16-18 were paired up with 21 nonprofit agencies in the Boston area to learn valuable job skills and gain confidence as employees. Of the 47 youth, 38 completed and graduated from the 8 week program. Some youth stayed on in their placements to work during the school year. The Center is pleased to announce that preparations are complete for Summer Jobs 2008.

Lowell/Springfield Police Departments

The Center, with Professor Brenda Bond, is excited to begin working on two grants through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety in conjunction with the Lowell and Springfield police departments to look at strategies concerning gang violence, including analyzing and assessing crime trends, helping to define and measure retaliatory violence among each city’s gangs, working with partners to refine program goals and objectives, and identifying indicators of success.      

Department of Social Services (DSS) Family Stabilization Services Evaluation

The Center, working with local area DSS offices, has recently begun a multi-faceted evaluation of family stabilization service effectiveness through interviews and data collected from area families, DSS social workers, service providers, and lead agencies.