Northeast

Leveraging Vacant Properties to Revitalize Neighborhoods
More than 40,000 lots and properties sit vacant in Philadelphia, impacting economic mobility, public safety, and quality of life for many residents, especially those in low-income neighborhoods. To address this problem, the Department of Planning and Development enlisted FUSE executive fellow Amanda Soskin to develop a strategy to manage, activate,... Read more
Working to Alleviate Poverty
One in four residents of Philadelphia lives below the poverty line, a condition that can adversely affect their health, education and employment prospects, physical safety, and more. Recognizing the urgency of this problem, the Mayor’s Office of Policy engaged FUSE Executive Fellow Natalie Barndt to lead a review of existing... Read more
Monetizing Public Real-Estate Assets
Washington DC has a real-estate portfolio worth more than $11 billion, making it the second largest real-estate owner in the district. The Department of General Services (DGS) oversees the district’s land assets and ensures that publicly owned properties are used for maximum community benefit. To work toward this mission, DGS... Read more
Driving Continuous Improvement of Public Education
Laurel worked in Office of Governor Jack Markell of Delaware, where she built the infrastructure to ensure that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education reached every student in the state. She worked on developing and implementing systems and routines to ensure successful completion of major STEM initiatives. She identified... Read more
Uniting Stakeholders to Build a Safe, Healthy, and Educational Life for D.C.’s Children
FUSE Executive Fellow Lisa Gans focused on changing the strategic approach of the Washington D.C. Promise Neighborhoods Initiative (DCPNI), a local coalition providing youth development support to ensure that children in the Parkside/Kenilworth neighborhood reach adulthood ready to participate in the economic and civic life of their community. During her... Read more
Building a National Network of Business and Education Coalitions to Improve the Lives of Local Youth
Paul worked with the senior leadership team at America's Promise Alliance to define, engage, and mobilize a national network of business and education leaders to improve all phases of children's lives from birth through high school. His research surfaced that more than 400 local and statewide organizations exist to link... Read more
Modernizing Customer Service Systems in our Nation’s Capital
Thousands of Washington D.C. residents come to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) for help with building permits, inspections, and business licenses. DCRA partnered with FUSE executive fellow Jon Quimby to improve the customer experience of residents. Jon focused on the housing inspection process, working with employees at... Read more
Helping Small Businesses Succeed Through Training and Funding
To help small business owners, especially those that are struggling, maintain, rebuild, or grow their businesses, the District of Columbia Business Capital Program (DC BizCap) was established by The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB). FUSE executive fellow Flavian Marwa worked with DISB to assess current programs, optimize the... Read more
Promoting Job Creation to Achieve Growth with Equity
Philadelphia’s economy has grown significantly in recent years, but the city remains one of the poorest in the nation. To help alleviate poverty, the city is taking aggressive steps to connect low- and moderate-income residents to sustainable careers. The city’s newly created Office of Workforce Development enlisted FUSE executive fellow... Read more
Transforming Public Housing to Provide Better Services for Residents
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is working to improve outcomes for residents in need of housing and social services. To support this effort, the agency recruited FUSE executive fellow Della Williams, who helped the city expand and improve wraparound support to Pittsburghers in need of housing.... Read more