Yesterday, the people of Massachusetts elected Attorney General Maura Healey to be the next governor of Massachusetts. Governor-elect Healey was a guest on this podcast last year, where she talked about her views on health care, racial justice, education, food access, and other key issues. It was an engaging conversation that sheds a lot of light on how she'll approach the job of governor, and so today, direct from the vault, enjoy the re-release of this episode of “Catalysts for Change” featuri...
Nov 09, 2022•42 min
On September 28, for the first time in 50 years, the White House held a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. This year’s conference comes as millions of families across the country struggle to access high-quality calories. In 2021 alone, 13.5 million households were food insecure, and in June of 2022, more than 24 million Americans reported they sometimes or often did not have enough to eat during the week. Why do so many families struggle with food insecurity? And, why, in the past 50 y...
Oct 18, 2022•38 min
In this episode of “Catalysts for Change,” Jill is joined by Rahn Dorsey, Chief Impact Officer at the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation and former Chief of Education for the City of Boston under Mayor Marty Walsh. Jill speaks with Rahn about how public and private partners can effectively work together to spark innovation in education and improve student outcomes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 04, 2022•43 min
In this episode, Jill speaks with Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder and Chairman of Moderna, about the development and growth of novel mRNA technology, the growing role of biotechnology in our lives, and the behind-the-scenes decision-making that made Moderna a household name in the fight against COVID-19. To learn more about Noubar’s work and about Moderna, check out the resources below: Noubar Afeyan’s Biography Moderna Website Noubar Afeyan’s Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
Sep 12, 2022•45 min
Boston is an incredible place to live and work – full of innovative leaders, brilliant researchers, institutions at the cutting edge of their fields, and wonderful and effective public and private partners. In many ways, the work that happens here in Boston serves as a model for the rest of the country. This summer, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building...
Jul 26, 2022•47 min
Boston is an incredible place to live and work – full of innovative leaders, brilliant researchers, institutions at the cutting edge of their fields, and wonderful and effective public and private partners. In many ways, the work that happens here in Boston serves as a model for the rest of the country. This summer, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building...
Jul 12, 2022•48 min
Boston is an incredible place to live and work – full of innovative leaders, brilliant researchers, institutions at the cutting edge of their fields, and wonderful and effective public and private partners. In many ways, the work that happens here in Boston serves as a model for the rest of the country. Over the next few weeks, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment...
Jun 28, 2022•43 min
As we get into the full swing of summer in Boston, we're excited to share a special series of "Catalysts for Change" that we're calling "In and Around Boston." Over the next few weeks, we’re speaking with innovative local leaders about what they’re doing to make Boston a stronger, healthier, and more livable city. In the first episode of this limited series, Jill speaks with Justin Pasquariello, Executive Director of the East Boston Social Centers, about growing up in Boston, the critical ways i...
Jun 14, 2022•38 min
In this episode, Jill is joined by Todd Rose, co-founder of the think-tank Populace and author of the new national bestseller, Collective Illusions. Jill speaks with Todd about how to understand what is happening in our country culturally, politically, and civically; how Populace’s method of private opinion polling allows for a better understanding of people’s true beliefs; how Americans are often closer aligned than it may appear; and how to confront these “collective illusions” in our day-to-d...
May 31, 2022•55 min
Introducing a special episode from the Shah Family Foundation's other podcast, Last Night at School Committee: The City of Boston has a new mayor, and Mayor Wu and her appointed school committee have begun a search for a new Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Boston has had 6 superintendents in 16 years - three of whom served Interim roles - and all who worked tirelessly on behalf of students, families and staff to improve aspects of BPS. What type of leader does BPS need now? What are the...
May 17, 2022•33 min
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss, to a complete rewiring of how we think. And during that time, we’ve seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience? We’re diving into these questions with a special four-part series called “Catalysts for C...
May 10, 2022•39 min
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss in schools, to a complete rewiring of how we think about our interactions with others. And during that time, we have seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience? We’re diving into these questions with a ...
Apr 26, 2022•23 min
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss in schools, to a complete rewiring of how we think about our interactions with others. And during that time, we have seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving ...
Apr 05, 2022•34 min
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, we are still working to fully understand its impacts – from lost lives and livelihoods, to years of learning loss in schools, to a complete rewiring of how we think about our interactions with others. And during that time, we have seen the emergence of a new crisis in mental health, with record rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. How will we recover from all of this? How will we build back resilience? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving ...
Mar 22, 2022•35 min
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves through the American labor market. Millions of Americans lost or left their jobs, and employers are having a harder time than ever recruiting workers. From government officials, to academics, to business leaders and employees, everyone is asking the same questions: Where is our workforce, how has the pandemic impacted the way we work, and what does it mean for the future of work? Over the past few weeks, we’ve done a deep-dive into thes...
Mar 01, 2022•26 min
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves through the American labor market. Millions of Americans lost or left their jobs, and employers are having a harder time than ever recruiting workers. From government officials, to academics, to business leaders and employees, everyone is asking the same questions: Where is our workforce, how has the pandemic impacted the way we work, and what does it mean for the future of work? Over the next few weeks, we’re diving into these question...
Feb 15, 2022•33 min
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves through the American labor market. Millions of Americans lost or left their jobs, and employers are having a harder time than ever recruiting workers. From government officials, to academics, to business leaders and employees, everyone is asking the same questions: Where is our workforce, how has the pandemic impacted the way we work, and what does it mean for the future of work? Over the next few weeks, we’re diving into these question...
Feb 01, 2022•22 min
In this episode, Jill talks with Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO reporter and author of the Massachusetts Playbook, about the state of politics in Boston, the historic nature of Boston’s recent mayoral election, key issues facing Mayor Michelle Wu, and the implications of Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement that he will not be seeking reelection. Prior to working at POLITICO, Lisa covered politics, state government and the 2020 presidential election for the Boston Herald. She is also an alum of The E...
Dec 07, 2021•27 min
In this episode, Jill talks with David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former advisor to President Obama, about his upbringing in an immigrant family, his experience working in the White House, what he learned from traveling the country and speaking with Americans in every community, and how the Obama Foundation empowers local leaders from around the globe. A native of Taunton, Massachusetts, David spent his entire career in public service, getting his start as the Bristol County Register...
Nov 23, 2021•32 min
In this episode, Jill speaks with Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education and current Managing Partner of Chicago CRED, about how to build more robust school systems, the impacts of gun violence and mental health on America’s youth, and more. Arne served as President Obama’s first U.S. Secretary of Education from 2009 to 2016, where his initiatives included increases in Pell Grants and reform efforts such as Race to the Top. Before joining the Obama administration, Arne was the CEO of Ch...
Nov 09, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 58
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with Rick Weissbourd, Faculty Director of Human Development and Psychology at Harvard Graduate School of Education. The director of the Making Caring Common Project, Rick’s work focuses on children's moral development, on vulnerability and resilience in childhood, and on how to encourage and prioritize caring, compassion, and companionship among children in and out of school. Making Caring Common is a national effort to make moral and social ...
Sep 28, 2021•42 min
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with Francis Goulliart and Lorena Lorenzet, two local food entrepreneurs who helped create Local Lunchbox, an innovative new program borne out of the pandemic that provides free, fresh, locally-prepared food for families. Francis is the CEO of Stock Pot Malden, and Lorena is a celebrated local chef and owner of the Farm Girl Food Truck. Local Lunchbox was created in June 2020 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to help address the overwhelming food insec...
Sep 16, 2021•29 min
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with Aaron Feuer, Co-Founder and CEO of Panorama Education. A fast-growing, ed-tech company based out of Boston, Aaron works with school districts across the country to help make education better for kids, and to include students in the process of assessing and improving the way schools work. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Aaron’s work with Panorama was born out of his experiences as a student advocate while attending public schools in Souther...
Aug 10, 2021•42 min
In our fifth installment of our special series, “Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston”, Jill talks with John Barros. The Chief of Economic Development for former Mayor Marty Walsh, Barros previously ran for Mayor of Boston in 2013. John Barros joined Mayor Walsh’s administration in 2014 to establish the new Economic Development cabinet and lead the department for seven years. Before working for the Walsh administration, he served as Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initi...
Jun 15, 2021•39 min
In the fourth episode of our special series, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston, Jill talks with Dr. Jon Santiago, State Representative for the 9th District of Suffolk County. An attending physician in the Boston Medical Center’s emergency room, he has served as a State Representative since being elected in 2018. Raised in Boston after his family immigrated from Puerto Rico, Rep. Santiago went on to volunteer for the Peace Corps, serve as a Fullbright Scholar in Paris, and attend Yale Med...
Jun 08, 2021•29 min
In our third episode of our special series, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston, Jill talks with Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell. A lifelong resident of Boston who represents District 4, Andrea has served on the council since being elected in 2015. Raised in Roxbury and the South End, Councilor Campbell graduated from Boston Public Schools and Boston Latin School, going on to attend Princeton University and UCLA Law School. Following law school, Councilor Campbell worked as a lawyer,...
Jun 01, 2021•43 min
We are excited to release our special podcast series on the Boston mayoral election, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston. 2021 is an important year for Bostonians -- we will recover from Covid-19, and we will elect a new mayor. This is a historic election. For the first time in history, Boston will have a mayor who is a person of color. With six candidates and an open seat following Mayor Walsh’s departure to Washington D.C., there’s a lot to cover, and we’ll be diving in over the next six...
May 24, 2021•31 min
We are excited to release our special podcast series on the Boston mayoral election, Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston. 2021 is an important year for Bostonians -- we will recover from Covid-19, and we will elect a new mayor. This is a historic election. For the first time in history, Boston will have a mayor who is a person of color. With six candidates and an open seat following Mayor Walsh’s departure to Washington D.C., there’s a lot to cover, and we’ll be diving in over the next six...
May 18, 2021•45 min
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks with District Attorney Rachael Rollins of Suffolk County. Since 2019, DA Rollins has been the chief law enforcement officer for Boston, Winthrop, Chelsea, and Revere. She is the first woman ever elected as District Attorney in Suffolk County and the first woman of color ever elected District Attorney in Massachusetts. A lifelong resident of Boston and Cambridge, DA Rollins previously served on the Judicial Nominating Commission and as general c...
May 04, 2021•55 min
In today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Lee Pelton, current President of Emerson College, who will soon become the CEO of The Boston Foundation. Starting officially at The Boston Foundation on June 1st, Dr. Pelton has an extensive background in higher education and a deep passion for service. Throughout his career, Dr. Pelton has worked to address social justice issues. A common theme in his lectures, speeches and writing has been to ask us “to share our talents and resources w...
Apr 13, 2021•38 min
