Veronica Njodinizeh (2016-17) is founder of VNIZEH Consulting, a purpose-driven firm focused on creating equity and opportunity for young people. As a FUSE executive fellow, Veronica worked with Long Beach, California, to implement a comprehensive violence prevention plan that included elements of My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) — an initiative launched by President Barack Obama to … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Next City. The odds of being pulled back into the criminal justice system once you’ve been in it are high — nearly 70 percent go back within three years. Washington D.C. is taking a new approach to breaking that cycle: helping justice-involved individuals beat those odds by changing … Continued
We’re proud to welcome the FUSE Spring 2020 cohort, armed with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Read about what compelled them to join FUSE for a year of public service and social impact. Norvell Thomas Norvell is working with the L.A. County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services to streamline its operations so … Continued
“[FUSE] illustrates the creativity and energy with which much of civic-level America in responding to a medical and economic emergency unprecedented in our lifetimes.” – James Fallows, The Atlantic “…Right at this moment, most of what’s positive in the country is happening at the local, statewide, and regional level—rather than that of national guidance or … Continued
A version of this FUSE-produced story was originally published on Cities Today. The numbers are staggering. More than 26 million people have filed for unemployment during a five-week period since the U.S. started responding in earnest to the COVID-19 crisis. Small businesses exhausted the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program in just 14 days, and as … Continued
As FUSE fellows are working within their agencies to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, these are some of the resources they’re surfacing and deploying. Here, we provide a curated list of examples to inspire replication: CHILDREN & YOUTH DIGITAL DIVIDE DISASTER RESPONSE EDUCATION ELDERLY ASSISTANCE EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOOD SECURITY HOMELESSNESS SAFETY GEAR SMALL BUSINESSES & … Continued
It’s never been more critical for local governments to be in constant communication with their constituents, responding to challenges that arise from the fast-changing COVID-19 crisis, while helping people prepare for the abrupt and longer term disruptions playing out across the country. How can government agency staff share information and collect critical data during social … Continued
Transportation is in a constant state of change: ride sharing, autonomous vehicles, electric bicycles, scooters, transportation apps, streets closed to traffic, limited on-street parking, tolls for city streets. It’s all happening. Amidst this tsunami of change — and the added pressure on government budgets due to the COVID-19 pandemic — cities must keep up or … Continued
Across the country, as the COVID-19 crisis continues to take its toll on communities, FUSE fellows are providing critical support to government agencies in whatever capacity is needed. Many of our fellows and alumni have been mobilized to help with both the public health crisis and its economic fallout. Here are just a few of … Continued