Our Work

CREATES NEW MEASURES AND EVIDENCE OF ASSET WELL-BEING.

IASP informs asset policy development by creating and drawing attention to new evidence-based research and indicators. In, By A Thread: The New Experience of America's Middle Class, the creation of indicators of middle class security and vulnerability help identify ways the combination of factors and thresholds needed for people to move into and remain securely in the middle class.

GENERATES ANALYSIS OF ASSET FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES.

IASP identifies opportunities and barriers created through public policy to generate new policy solutions for asset formation. The reach of social investment actions, by both intent and omission, has not sufficiently extended to low- and moderate-income families, and only barely to minority populations. The analysis about access to opportunity, and policy implications, is central to the research of IASP and its Director, Tom Shapiro, in his work on The Hidden Cost of Being African American and his co-authored work with Melvin Oliver, Black Wealth/White Wealth.

EVALUATES AND IMPROVES THE SCOPE AND DELIVERY OF ASSET BUILDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

Through evaluation, applied research, and technical assistance IASP supports the expansion of the institutional capacities, resources, and leadership of organizations that directly provide asset formation services. This work increases community, regional, and state capacities to integrate asset building into community revitalization efforts. Working with the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, IASP evaluates new asset formation initiatives and programs, such as linking EITC filing with financial literacy education, and their implications for broader program development through community based organizations.

FORMS PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH POLICY MAKERS, CONSTITUENCY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES.

The Institute works to develop an environment of understanding, commitment, and support for asset policy change by engaging with not-for-profit community-based organizations, policymakers, constituency organizations, communities, and individuals affected by asset poverty. Together we work to promote policies, develop programs and services, conduct research, and convene learning forums. Working with the War On Poverty Florida and its local boards, IASP partnered to develop community asset analyses and recommendations for development of asset gateways, engaging city, private and not-for-profit actors to build leadership and collaborative asset formation initiatives.

DISSEMINATES THE RESOURCES, TOOLS AND PRODUCTS WE CREATE TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICE AND ACTION.

We draw on our research and insights to testify at public hearings, speak at national conferences, participate in state-appointed commissions, and publish reports, tools, and other products that others can draw upon to advance this work. Documents such as the State and City Asset Building Initiatives outline the formation activities and strategic steps that organizations have adopted to create an asset policy agenda in their cities or states. The Northwest Jacksonville Community Asset Analysis, a comprehensive assessment of qualitative and quantitative data and utilization of GIS mapping software, serves as a research-based catalyst for the War on Poverty's vision of progress for minority communities.

TRAINS FUTURE LEADERS THROUGH A DOCTORAL GRADUATE PROGRAM OF STUDY.

The Institute builds future leaders in policy and research through its affiliation with the Ph.D. concentration in Assets and Inequalities at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, training experienced individuals to understand and create new data, insights and models to address issues of inequality, security and financial well-being