New America Foundation

TO BRING EXCEPTIONALLY PROMISING NEW VOICES & IDEAS TO THE FORE OF OUR NATION'S PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

DOMESTIC POLICY PROGRAMSEDUCATION POLICY PROGRAM: THE EDUCATION POLICY PROGRAM USES ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS TO HELP SOLVE THE NATION'S CRITICAL EDUCATION PROBLEMS, CRAFTING OBJECTIVE ANALYSES AND SUGGESTING NEW IDEAS FOR POLICYMAKERS, EDUCATORS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. NEW AMERICA COMBINES A STEADFAST CONCERN FOR HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS WITH A BELIEF THAT BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT EDUCATION CAN VASTLY IMPROVE BOTH THE POLICIES THAT GOVERN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE QUALITY OF LEARNING ITSELF. THE EDUCATION POLICY PROGRAM CONTAINS SEVERAL SUB-PROGRAMS: THE EARLY & ELEMENTARY EDUCATION POLICY TEAM WORKS TO HELP ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO A SYSTEM OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FROM BIRTH THROUGH THIRD GRADE THAT PREPARE THEM TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.THE PREK-12 INITIATIVE WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO AND RECEIVE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON IMPROVING EQUITY AND OUTCOMES FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. IT ALSO CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING SUB-INITIATIVES:(1) THE ENGLISH LEARNERS INITIATIVE PROVIDES A POLICY-DRIVEN FOCUS ON LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD YEARS THROUGH THE PREK-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM. THE INITIATIVE CONDUCT RESEARCH, DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DISSEMINATE NEW IDEAS TO POLICYMAKERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND THE PUBLIC TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS.(2) THE EDUCATION FUNDING EQUITY INITIATIVE CONDUCTS QUANTITATIVE, QUALITATIVE, AND GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OF CURRENT SCHOOL FUNDING POLICIES AND POINT THE WAY TOWARD MORE EQUITABLE APPROACHES. THE HIGHER EDUCATION INITIATIVE WORKS TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE, INNOVATIVE, STUDENT-CENTERED, OUTCOMES-FOCUSED, AND EQUITABLE.THE TEACHING, LEARNING, AND TECH PROJECT FOCUSES ON HOW EDUCATORS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS CAN USE NEW MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGIES TO PROMOTE MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEMS OF LEARNING, FROM PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE AND INTO THE POST-SECONDARY YEARS.CENTER ON EDUCATION AND LABOR: THE CENTER ON EDUCATION AND LABOR IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING THE LINK BETWEEN EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY. THE CENTER'S WORK SPANS THE POLICY DOMAINS OF EDUCATION, LABOR, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GOAL IS TO FORGE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE CHALLENGES GENERATED FROM TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, AN APPROACH THAT RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO EQUIP WORKERS OF THE FUTURE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND POWER NECESSARY TO FULFILL THE TERMS OF OUR SOCIAL CONTRACT.FUTURE OF LAND AND HOUSING, FKA: THE FUTURE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS: THE FUTURE OF LAND AND HOUSING PROGRAM AT NEW AMERICA AIMS TO HELP SOLVE TODAY'S PROPERTY RIGHTS CHALLENGES BY SHRINKING THE GULF BETWEEN TECHNOLOGISTS AND POLICY MAKERS. THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, WRITING, AND CONVENING, WE STRIVE TO BRING THESE TWO CONSTITUENTS INTO THE SAME ROOM. OUR GOAL IS TO ACT AS A BRIDGE, AS A TRANSLATOR BETWEEN THE WORLD OF DRONES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND SELF-SOVEREIGN IDENTITY, AND THE WORLD OF POLITICS, LAWS, AND INSTITUTIONS.POLITICAL REFORM PROGRAM: THE POLITICAL REFORM PROGRAM SEEKS TO DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES AND INNOVATIONS TO REPAIR THE DYSFUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT, RESTORE TRUST, AND REBUILD THE PROMISE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY BY WORKING TOWARDS AN OPEN, FAIR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, WITH EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL PARTICIPATION, IN ORDER TO RESTORE DYNAMISM AND GROWTH TO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND SOCIETY. THE PROGRAM CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:(1) THE NEW MODELS OF POLICY CHANGE INITIATIVE WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS TO IDENTIFY OUTDATED POLICY PARADIGMS AND PROMOTE CREATIVE THINKING ABOUT HOW POLICY CHANGE HAPPENS, WHO MAKES POLICY, AND WHAT U.S. INTERNATIONAL POLICY CAN OR SHOULD BE.(2) CONGRESSIONAL CAPACITY PROJECT: WORKING WITH THE R STREET INSTITUTE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CAPACITY WORKING GROUP, DIRECTED BY LEE DRUTMAN AND KEVIN KOSAR. THIS PROJECT CREATES AN ENDURING, BIPARTISAN SPACE TO ASSESS THE CAPACITY OF CONGRESS TO PERFORM ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES AND TO COLLABORATE ON IDEAS FOR IMPROVING THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH'S PERFORMANCE IN OUR SEPARATION OF POWERS SYSTEM. (3) THE CO-GOVERNANCE PROJECT AT NEW AMERICA IS KEEPING TRACK OF THESE EFFORTS AND IDENTIFYING THE BEST INNOVATIONS IN DEMOCRATIC REVITALIZATION BY ENGAGING ACTIVISTS, CITY OFFICIALS, RESIDENTS, PHILANTHROPISTS, NONPROFITS, AND BUSINESSES TO SEE WHAT KINDS OF INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLICIES PROMOTE THE GENUINE EMPOWERMENT OF COMMUNITIES.BETTER LIFE LAB: THE BETTER LIFE LAB IS LEADING THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF GENDER ROLES AND NORMS, FAMILY POLICY, AND HOW WE WORK AND LIVE. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO CREATE A PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT THAT'S HOSPITABLE TO CHANGE, THROUGH POWERFUL WRITING AND INFORMED DEBATE ABOUT CAREERS AND FAMILIES, THEIR STRENGTHS AND THEIR NEEDS. NEW AMERICA CALIFORNIA: NEW AMERICA CA IS FOCUSED ON ISSUES OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY. WE UTILIZE HUMAN-CENTERED RESEARCH, STORYTELLING, AND CONVENINGS TO ELEVATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS' VOICES, NEEDS, AND EXPERTISE. CENTERING THE PEOPLE MOST PROXIMATE TO THE ISSUES, WE ACCELERATE ACTION ON EQUITY INNOVATIONS, HELPING SHIFT SYSTEMS SO THAT ALL CALIFORNIANS PARTICULARLY THOSE MOST MARGINALIZED CAN THRIVE.NEW AMERICA CHICAGO: WE CONVENE COMMUNITY LEADERS, THOUGHT LEADERS, AND POLICYMAKERS COMMITTED TO FINDING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATED TO WORK, INCOME, AND INEQUITY. BASED AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST, OUR TEAM CONNECTS PEOPLE IN UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES TO POLICYMAKERS AND THOSE IN POWER TO INFORM POLICY. WE WORK TO MAKE SURE TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE WORK IN THE INTEREST OF ALL CHICAGOANS.NEW PRACTICE LAB: THE NEW PRACTICE LAB PERFORMS A NEW FORM OF PUBLIC PROBLEM-SOLVING, WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF IDEAS AND ON-THE-GROUND EXPERIMENTATION TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN AND DELIVERY OF POLICIES FOCUSED ON FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY AND WELL-BEING. THE NEW PRACTICE LAB FOCUSES ON POLICYMAKING THAT IS PEOPLE-CENTERED, EXPERIMENTAL, DATA-ENABLED, AND DESIGNED TO SCALE.US@250: THE US@250 INITIATIVE (INITIALLY BUILT IN 2022 FOR PUBLIC LAUNCH IN 2023) PROVIDES A UNIFYING FRAMEWORK FOR THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL, HOSTS AN ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP, AND ORGANIZES A NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS, PROGRAMS, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO EXEMPLIFY AND CHAMPION THE SPIRIT OF INITIATIVE. THE US@250 FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES FUNDING, RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITY FOR AMERICANS WHO PUT THE US@250 VISION INTO PRACTICE: COMMUNITY LEADERS, CREATIVE ARTISTS, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS, AND CULTURAL EDUCATORS WHO ASPIRE TO TELL A FULLER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE AMERICAN STORY.

TECHNOLOGY POLICY PROGRAMSOPEN TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE: THE OPEN TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES THROUGH GROUNDED RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, AND POLICY REFORM. NEW AMERICA CREATES REFORM TO SUPPORT OPEN SOURCE INNOVATIONS AND FOSTER OPEN TECHNOLOGIES AND COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS. PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES, RESEARCHERS, INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS, NEW AMERICA PROMOTES AFFORDABLE, UNIVERSAL, AND UBIQUITOUS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS. IN 2023 THE PROGRAM CONTAINED TWO INITIATIVES:(1) THE WIRELESS FUTURE PROJECT DEVELOPS AND ADVOCATES POLICY PROPOSALS TO PROMOTE UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE, AND UBIQUITOUS BROADBAND AND IMPROVE THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS TO CRITICAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES.(2) THE RANKING DIGITAL RIGHTS PROJECT EVALUATES AND RANKS THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNET, MOBILE, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES' COMMITMENTS, POLICIES AND PRACTICES AFFECTING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY. THIS PROJECT CONCLUDED OPERATIONS AT NEW AMERICA AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2023.PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM: THE PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM CONNECTS TECHNOLOGISTS TO PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE SERVICES TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHEN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THEM. IN 2023 THE PROGRAM FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ONE INITIATIVE:PIT UNIVERSITY'S MISSION IS TO HELP ADVANCE THE FIELD OF PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY TO BRING POSITIVE IMPACT TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE. WE FOCUS ON THE UNIVERSITY ECOSYSTEM SINCE THIS IS WHERE TALENT, SKILLS, AND IDEAS ARE BORN. THROUGH OUR NETWORK, CHALLENGE, AND CONTENT, WE EMPOWER PIT STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND PRACTITIONERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.FUTURE TENSE: FUTURE TENSE IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NEW AMERICA, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND SLATE MAGAZINE TO EXPLORE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECTS ON SOCIETY AND PUBLIC POLICY. CENTRAL TO THE PARTNERSHIP IS A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT TAKE IN-DEPTH, PROVOCATIVE LOOKS AT ISSUES THAT, WHILE LITTLE UNDERSTOOD TODAY, WILL DRAMATICALLY RESHAPE THE POLICY DEBATES OF THE COMING DECADE. DIGITAL IMPACT AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE: THE DIGITAL IMPACT AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE (DIGI) DEVELOPS TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS THAT TRANSFORM THE WAY INSTITUTIONS DELIVER VALUE FOR CITIZENS. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CREATE MODULAR, INTEROPERABLE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS BUILT ON OPEN SOURCE CODE THAT ADDRESS KEY CHALLENGES FACING THE PUBLIC SECTOR. THESE PLATFORMS PROVIDE "80 PERCENT"SOLUTIONS, WITH GOVERNMENTS ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE THE LAST 20 PERCENT OF EACH PLATFORM TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE PROGRAM HOPES TO SCALE THE USE OF OPEN SOURCE PLATFORMS TO JURISDICTIONS WITH AT LEAST 100 MILLION PEOPLE.#SHARETHEMICINCYBER: THE #SHARETHEMICINCYBER FELLOWSHIP, HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN #SHARETHEMICINCYBER AND NEW AMERICA, IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR UNDER-REPRESENTED MID-CAREER CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS OR THOSE TRANSITIONING INTO THE CYBER FIELD, AND PRESENTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS IN THE FIELD.

INTERNATIONAL POLICY PROGRAMSFUTURE SECURITY: FUTURE SECURITY IS A COLLABORATIVE HUB THAT RECONCEPTUALIZES U.S. SECURITY POLICY TOWARDS A HOLISTIC ENGAGEMENT WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES INCLUDING DOMESTIC TERRORISM, ARMED DRONES, CLIMATE CHANGE, PANDEMICS, RISING AUTHORITARIANISM, AND NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. PARTNERING WITH ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY'S FUTURE SECURITY INITIATIVE, WE SEEK TO GENERATE TRANSFORMATIVE IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS GROUNDED IN CONCRETE, TRANSDISCIPLINARY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HUMAN FLOURISHING AND WELL-BEING.THE DIGICHINA PROJECT, PRIMARILY THROUGH TRANSLATING AND ANALYZING CHINESE-LANGUAGE SOURCES, WORKS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE CHINESE STATE AND SOCIETY DEPLOY AND USE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES POLICY DEVELOPMENTS. FUTURE FRONTLINES: FUTURE FRONTLINES USE OPEN SOURCE INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS, DATA MINING TECHNIQUES, AND JOURNALISTIC METHODS TO EXPLOREHOW THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION IS RESHAPING GLOBAL CONFLICT, COMPETITION AND INFLUENCE. FROM SATELLITE IMAGERY TO FLIGHT AND SHIPPING DATA TO SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, THE PROGRAM CONNECTS THE DOTS TO FERRET OUT FACTS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE HIDDEN OR EVEN PURPOSELY OBSCURED FOR STRATEGIC REASONS. USING DATA THAT IS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, THEPROGRAM'S AIM IS TO DISCERN CONNECTIONS, PATTERNS AND TRENDS THAT EXPLAIN HOW COMPETITION FOR ATTENTION AND INFLUENCE IN CYBERSPACE PLAYS OUT ONLINE AND IN THE REAL WORLD.PLANETARY POLITICS: THE PLANETARY POLITICS INITIATIVE IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR REIMAGINING A MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL ORDER. IT PRODUCES RESEARCH, JOURNALISM, AND POLICY BRIEFS.