September 2008
IASP Director Thomas M. Shapiro publishes article in The American Prospect
IASP Director and Heller School's Professor of Law and Social Policy along with Melvin L. Oliver wrote "Sub-Prime as a Black Catastrophe" published in The American Prospects's October special report on narrowing racial divides. Despite legal gains in civil rights, asset inequality in America has been growing rapidly over the last twenty years. As minorities received a disproportionate share of sub-prime mortgages, they are suffering a disproportionate share of the burden and losses as well. Read the full article
July 23, 2008
IASP Receives Rockefeller Foundation Innovation Award to Strengthen Social Security for Vulnerable Groups
A proposal submitted by IASP's Tatjana Meschede, Laura Sullivan, and Thomas Shapiro is among twelve policy projects selected by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) to compose policy papers identifying specific ways to improve Social Security for a range of vulnerable groups. Specifically, the IASP team will study and recommend innovative policies to strengthen Social Security for low-wage workers. Final papers of all selected policy scholars will be synthesized and made available to policy makers, congressional staff, executive branch transition teams, and other stakeholder communities. Read the full announcement of the award
June 10-11, 2008
Strategy Meeting for Asset-Building Coalitions in States
Over 60 individuals representing 28 different state coalitions, national intermediary organizations and several foundations gathered in St. Louis to share coalition achievements and challenges, learn about successful tactics and available resources and technical assistance, and begin to develop strategies to sustain and advance the work. Under the sponsorship of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, IASP teamed up with the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University and CFED to plan and facilitate the first-ever strategy meeting for emerging and developed statewide asset building coalitions. Read the full story
May 21, 2008
FDIC Alliance for Economic Inclusion Forum at Brandeis
IASP Director Tom Shapiro joined Timothy Delessio, FDIC Community Affairs Officer, in welcoming participants at the joint Boston and Worcester Alliances for Economic Inclusion General Forum on Innovation in Saving and Wealth-Building. Lisa Lynch, incoming Dean of the Heller School, presented opening remarks on "The Importance of Savings and Financial Security." Peter Tufano, Professor of Financial Management and Senior Associate Dean, Harvard Business School, addressed "Financial Innovations to Support Savings: From Coercion to Excitement." The morning's agenda also included the presentation "Wealth Inequity, Debt, and Savings: Implications for Policy and Financial Services," by Sandra Venner, IASP Program Director. Read the full story
March, 2008
Massachusetts Asset Development Commission
The first meeting of the Massachusetts Asset Development Commission was held on March 13th. IASP Director Thomas Shapiro was invited to make the introductory presentation to his fellow commissioners. Undersecretary Tina Brooks and Rep. James Eldridge were selected as co-chairs by the Commissioners who had been appointed by the Massachusetts legislature and the Governor. The Commission will conduct research, engage constituencies, and make policy recommendations to ensure low and moderate income Massachusetts residents have opportunities to develop assets throughout life for sustainable economic security and improved quality of life. IASP will assist the Commission in achieving its mission through supporting research and community engagement. The network of organizations involved in IASP's Massachusetts Asset Policy Initiative will work with state and national officials to see through implementation of the recommendations of the Commission. Visit the Asset Development Commission's web site
February 21, 2008
"Economic (In)Security: The Experience of the African-American and Latino Middle Classes"
IASP and Dēmos released a second report in the "By A Thread" report series on the state of the African-American and Latino middle class and its ability to achieve the American Dream. This landmark study is based on the new "Middle Class Security Index." Major findings demonstrate that three out of four African-American and four out of five Latino middle class families are either borderline or at high risk of falling out of the middle class altogether. Download the document
The Boston Globe cited IASP and the "By a Thread" report in this article about middle-class families on Boston's North Shore.
December 3, 2007
IASP partners with the Massachusetts Community & Banking Council and others to sponsor Working Together to Build Wealth in Lower-Income Communities
Nearly 75 representatives from financial institutions, public officials, community organization directors, and academic researchers gathered to gain a better understanding of the financial difficulties encountered by lower income families and the services and policies that can make a difference. New approaches to program delivery and collaborative program models were presented.
Thomas Shapiro, Director of the Institute, delivered the luncheon keynote address, "Are Financial Assets All You Need?" Professor Shapiro stated that to the extent that there is a policy agenda for upward mobility into American's middle class today, it is happening in the asset arena. Read the full story
November 28, 2007
By A Thread: The New Experience of America's Middle Class
When we think of the middle class, we think of having financial security, raising a family with a reasonable standard of living, building a solid future for the next generation, receiving quality healthcare, and retiring in comfort. This type of security does not just happen. Rather, it is supported by a range of factors.
By a Thread recommends policies to help open access to, and strengthen, America's middle class. Legislative proposals in this report cover a range of important issues, including asset building and debt reduction, making higher education more accessible and affordable, and addressing the healthcare crisis. Download the document
November 14, 2007
Thomas Shapiro discusses economic mobility and race on NPR's Talk of the Nation
IASP Director Shapiro and colleagues discuss a new study showing that the income gap between black and white families widened in the last 3 decades.
Listen to the discussion on the NPR webpage
August, 2007
Dr. Tatjana Meschede joins IASP staff
We are pleased to announce that Tatjana Meschede, Ph.D., has joined the Institute on Assets and Social Policy as a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager for the MacArthur Funded project, "Family Financial Well-Being in the 21st Century: Strategic Positioning of Data Tools for Policy Impact."
Previously with the UMass Boston Center for Social Policy (CSP), Dr. Meschede has extensive experience in research on homelessness collaborating with Massachusetts' state departments (DTA, DPH, DHCD) and local communities. As the statistical expert for CSP, she was also responsible for quantitative analyses on CSP's projects on food and nutrition, the technology divide, and access to the labor market for persons with barriers. She will continue to serve on the faculty of the Masters in Public Affairs Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston where she teaches research methods and statistics.
June, 2007
IASP and War on Poverty Florida, Inc. release Northwest Jacksonville Community Asset Analysis
IASP embarked on a partnership in 2006 with the War on Poverty Florida Inc. (WPI) to apply the asset development model in ten Florida minority communities. A comprehensive assessment of qualitative and quantitative data and utilization of GIS mapping software has culminated in the recently released Northwest Jacksonville Community Asset Analysis. This analysis serves as a research-based catalyst within the War on Poverty's vision of progress for minority communities.
Download the document
More about War on Poverty Florida
May, 2007
Three-year McArthur Foundation Grant Awarded to IASP
In April 2007, IASP was awarded a three-year grant from the MacArthur Foundation for the project, "Family Financial Well-Being in the 21st Century: Strategic Positioning of Data Tools for Policy Impact." In partnerships with the organizations Demos and CFED, the IASP will collaborate to create and analyze data on family well-being and the role of the social contract in creating opportunities for economic security and stability in this nation. More
March 16, 2007
In the Media: Thomas Shapiro and the sub-prime "smoking gun"
Dr. Thomas Shapiro, IASP Director and Heller professor, talks to the Boston Globe about subprime mortgage loans to blacks and Latinos. Boston Globe article
January 22, 2007
In the Media: Help in Achieving Economic Security
IASP Program Director Sandra Venner and co-author, Joseph Diamond, Executive Director of Massachusetts Association for Community Action, urge Governor Patrick to adopt programs that help vulnerable people build assets and create economic security.
Boston Globe article
© 2008, Institute on Assets and Social Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. All rights are reserved.
