Thursday, December 22, 2011

Call for Papers: Interest Groups and Advocacy Journal

From APSA:

"Interest Groups and Advocacy

We are delighted to announce a new journal from 2012 from Palgrave Macmillan. Interest Groups & Advocacy will engage broadly with the politics of interests. It will record and analyze how advocacy by groups, movements and lobbying professionals shapes policy, and it will address important debates about how such interests are mobilized and maintained.

The Editors and the editorial board welcome contributions in this broad area and intend to respond promptly to authors, with a goal of communicating decisions in no more than six weeks. Although these matters have long received scholarly attention, they have never commanded the attention of a single journal and specialist reviewing. We look forward to establishing Interest Groups & Advocacy as this focal point.

All manuscripts for review must be submitted as an attachment to an email sent to the editors at the following email address:

For authors in North America: bloomis@ku.edu For authors in UK and ROW: g.jordan@abdn.ac.uk

Full instructions for authors are available at: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/iga/author_instructions.html"

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Study Abroad in Bhutan's Himalayas, Summer 2012

From The School for Field Studies
"Students may apply now for our six-week (June 2 - July 13, 2011, exact dates TBD) Bhutan program "Himalayan Forests, Watersheds, and Rural Livelihoods."

The Kingdom of Bhutan is nestled in the remote and rugged Eastern Himalayan mountains, an area characterized by beautiful and rich valleys, rushing rivers, high biodiversity, and social innovation.

Located in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and known for its commitment to Gross National Happiness, Bhutan offers a diversity of landscapes and human communities that are unlike any other.

Traveling across Bhutan, students in this summer’s field study program will examine how natural resource management, watershed systems and livelihood interact, where conservation and development meet in the rural landscape.

Read more about SFS Bhutan"

Graduate Fellowship Opportunity in Marine Policy

2013 Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
DEADLINE: February 17, 2012.

The fellowship provides a unique educational experience in the policies and processes of the federal government to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting these resources. Fellows are placed in various executive and legislative branch offices throughout Washington, D.C. The fellowship period is one year beginning February 1, 2013. Any student, regardless of citizenship, who, on February 17, 2012, is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate or professional program in a marine or aquatic-related field at a Virginia institution is eligible to apply through Virginia Sea Grant. For more information, and to learn more about Virginia Knauss fellows, please visit http://vaseagrant.vims.edu/category/knauss-fellowship/

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Intrapreneurship: Managing Ideas within Your Organization – New Book by Kevin Desouza

Just published by the University of Toronto Press, available on Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com

Bridging academia and the corporate world, Metropolitan Institute Director Kevin Desouza has produced a book looking at the critical role of ideas in the success of any new venture. Intrapreneurship provides an engaging guide for both managers and employees, academic and staffers, on how to direct the flow of ideas and foster a culture of entrepreneurship within their existing structure.

Based on Kevin C. Desouza’s research and experience consulting with thirty global organizations, Intrapreneurship outlines ways to mobilize all types of ideas - from radical thinking to incremental innovations. With practical frameworks and real life examples, Intrapreneurship helps identify the value in ideas and how to leverage them to ultimately benefit your organization.

Read more at this link

Monday, December 19, 2011

Job Oppty: Assistant/Associate Professor – Rural Economic Development

The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University in Athens, OH seeks a tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor in Rural Economic Development. Candidates must have a Ph.D. or equivalent, relevant postdoctoral training, and evidence of scholarly research.

We are particularly interested in candidates with interest or expertise in entrepreneurship, social enterprise, network analysis, or collaborative studies. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the School’s extensive applied work portfolio, develop an interdisciplinary research program, mentor MPA & MSES students, and participate in undergraduate and graduate teaching at the School. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the School’s extensive applied work portfolio.

Faculty appointments are year-round (rather than for the 9-month academic year).

The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs (www.ohio.edu/voinovichschool) at Ohio University is an innovative, transformative program of job creation and real-world education of Ohio’s next generation of entrepreneurs. The School develops solutions for energy and environmental issues, trains state government and nonprofit agency leaders in strategic value creation and performance measurement, and provides expert analysis of the state’s K-12 system. The School, along with the University, has become a leader in public/private partnerships, and is poised to help Ohio become a business-friendly state.

Ohio University, a public university, is classified as a Doctoral/High Research Activity institution, enrolling 21,000 students (www.ohio.edu). Ohio University is located in Athens, Ohio, which is an historic college town with a modest cost of living in southeastern Ohio in the foothills of the Appalachian mountain range.

Pay Rate -- Commensurate with qualifications

Submit on-line applications at http://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/postings/1537. Applicants must attach a letter of application and curriculum vitae. Position will remain open until filled; for full consideration, please apply by 01/16/2012. This position is contingent on final budgetary approval at the University level.

Ohio University is committed to creating a respectful and inclusive educational and workplace environment. Ohio University is an equal access/equal opportunity and affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. Women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Student Paper and Essay Competition at 20th National Conference for Rural and Intercity Bus

Greetings!

We need your help! We want to spread the word to transportation students about the student competitions that are part of the 20th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation. Please help us get the word out by forwarding information to students and colleagues.

The 20th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation is scheduled to take place in October 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah. To encourage student participation in the conference, undergraduate students are offered the opportunity to participate in an essay competition and graduate students have the opportunity to take part in a research paper competition.

Two essay winners will receive cash prizes as well as travel funds to attend the conference.

Essay Winners: 1st place $500 and 2nd place is $250

Two winning student research papers will be awarded and the authors will receive cash prizes and travel funds to attend the conference.

Research Paper Winners: 1st place $1,000 and 2nd place is $500

Thank you for encouraging students to participate! You can use the "Send to a Colleague" to pass along information about this exciting opportunity to colleagues and students. More information on the conference and competitions can be found on the conference website (www.ribtc.org) using the sidebar to navigate to the student competition page.

Thanks for your help,

Jill Hough, Small Urban & Rural Transit Center North Dakota State University

and Pat Weaver, Kansas University Transportation Center
Competition Co-Chairs

Essay Competition Rules:

  1. Undergraduate students must attend a community college, four-year college, or university.
  2. Students must be able to provide proof of their college or university registration.
  3. Participation to the competition is voluntary.
  4. Essays or papers must be the work of only one student.
  5. A student may only submit one entry.
  6. Students may come from any discipline: engineering, economics, business, literature, sociology, medicine, science, art, etc.
  7. The essay must indicate:

- Student's name, email address

- School name

- Level of student (freshman, sophomore, etc.)

- Student's main course of study or major

8. Essays must be at least two and no more than three pages long, single spaced using 12-point Times New Roman font. They can be factual or imaginative. They must be submitted in Microsoft WORD format.

9. The word document files must be saved using the following title format: 2012 RIBC Essay Competition - Student name - School name.

10. The entry must be sent to either Jill Hough (jill.hough@ndsu.edu) or Pat Weaver (weaver@ku.edu).

11. The deadline is final. Any file sent after 5 p.m. CT, March 5, 2012 will not be considered.

12. Students will be notified by March 30, 2012 regarding participating in the conference.

13. Students participating in this competition authorize the conference to use all or part of their work during the Conference in the form of quotes or displays. However, the work will be cited to the author and the college/university they attend.

14. Objections will not be accepted in relation to the grading of the entries or selection. Grading will only be communicated to the top two entries.

15. Winners of the competition agree to attend the conference and to possibly participate in sessions by presenting their work.

Setting the stage:

Approximately 20 percent of the US population lives in rural areas where a shrinking population base and shifting demographics have resulted in a need to travel farther to reach destinations and services such as shopping, healthcare, etc. Individuals living in these rural areas rely on technology and public transportation to maintain connections to regional centers and the global economy. At the same time, an increasing number of seniors choosing to "age in place" in rural areas. Given the emergence of new technology, shifts in population, economic, and environmental trends, what can public transportation do to better connect communities? What do you think public transportation and intercity bus service will look like in 2050?

Judging Criteria:

All essays will be judged on originality, innovation, practicality, timeliness, and readability.

Research Paper Competition Rules:

  1. Graduate students must attend an accredited college or university.
  2. Students participating must be able to provide proof of their college or university registration.
  3. Participation in the competition is voluntary.
  4. Research papers submitted must be the work of only one student.
  5. A student may only submit one entry.
  6. Students may come from any disciple: engineering, economics, business, literature, sociology, medicine, science, art, etc.
  7. The research paper entry must indicate:

- Students name, email address

- School name

- Level of student (Masters, Ph.D.)

- Student's main course of study or major

- Student's academic advisor

8.Research papers must be double-spaced with one-inch margins using 12-point Times New Roman font. They are not to exceed 2,000 words. They must be submitted in Microsoft WORD format and must include correct citations.

9.The word document files must be saved using the following title format: 2012 RIBC Research Paper Competition - Student name - School name.

10. The entry must be sent electronically to either Jill Hough (jill.hough@ndsu.edu) or Pat Weaver (weaver@ku.edu).

11. The deadline is final. Any file sent after 5 p.m. CT, March 5, 2012 will not be considered.

12. Students will be notified by March 30, 2012, regarding participation in the conference.

13. Students participating in this competition authorize the conference to use all or part of their work during the Conference in the form of quotes or displays. However, the work will be cited to the author and the college/university they attend.

14. Objections will not be accepted in relation to the grading of the entries or selection. Grading will only be communicated to the top two entries.

15. Winners of the competition agree to attend the conference and to participate in sessions by presenting their work.

Students are encouraged to address topics relating to the conference theme: "Connecting ommunities through public transportation." Preference will be given to papers addressing topics related to planning, policy, operations, special topics areas, and technology.

Judging Criteria:

All essays will be judged on originality, innovation, practicality, timeliness, and readability.

White House Internship Program Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2012

OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS

www.oup.org

December 5, 2011

Greetings,

The White House internship program is now accepting applications for summer 2012 positions!

This program provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. Although unpaid, this hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today's young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office, and prepare them for future public service opportunities.

The application period for the summer 2012 White House internship program is now open until January 22, 2012.

All White House interns are expected to intern full-time for the entire term of the program.

To learn more about the White House internship program, please visit us online at www.oup.org/news/whatsnew.asp?id=784.

www.twitter.com/HUDOUP

University Partnerships Clearinghouse // 1-800-245-2691 // oup@oup.org

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Jan 15 Due Date: Lead Virginia Accepting Applications for Class of 2012

LEAD VIRGINIA, a statewide leadership forum which celebrated its five-year anniversary in 2010 is accepting applications for its upcoming 2012 class.  LEAD VIRGINIA is a non-partisan, nonprofit educational forum which has been widely recognized for connecting Virginia’s proven leaders across the Commonwealth. 

Each year LEAD VIRGINIA selects a group of 45 senior executives representing business, government, nonprofit and education sectors from throughout the Commonwealth. The annual program consists of seven informative visits to different regions of the Commonwealth to explore curriculum themes of the economy, education and healthcare. 

Participants gain a 360-degree perspective of the Commonwealth, its issues and challenges, and learn through a study of trends and analysis how Virginia can best position itself for future economic vitality and educational and workforce performance at regional and statewide levels. 

Class members are exposed to challenges facing seven diverse regions and gain an understanding of the resources, assets and mutual interdependence of the regions. The class program includes a monthly visit to a different region beginning in April and concluding in November.

For an application, 2012 class schedule or more information about LEAD VIRGINIA, please visit www.leadvirginia.org or e-mail Susan Horne, President & CEO at shorne@leadva.org. The deadline for class of 2012 applications is Jan. 15, 2012.  

Jan 5 Conservation Easement Workshop For Working Lands

From the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

"Are you a farm or forest land owner interested in land conservation options?

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd P. Haymore and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Commissioner Matthew J. Lohr invite you to attend an important land conservation workshop specifically designed for working farm and forest landowners. Join other producers for a day-long session to learn more about conservation easements, and how this tool may help you meet the long-term goals that you have for your farming operation, and your family. Sessions will include an overview of conservation easement mechanics, the tax implications of donating or selling an easement, and how to find good partners to start the process. The workshop also will include a landowner panel that will share their experiences with conservation easements. Additional time will be given for you to provide your input to Secretary Haymore and Commissioner Lohr as to ways to increase the amount of working land protected as part of Governor McDonnell’s 400,000 acre goal during his term in office."

Learn more at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/workshop.shtml

Job Oppty: Energy Efficiency Analytics

Senior Level Leader, Energy Efficiency Analytics in Fairfax, VA

ICF is one of the nation's premier organizations in the development and implementation of innovative demand management strategies-including energy efficiency, demand response, smart grid, and peak load management-for energy companies, governments, and commercial clients. Our experts provide outstanding depth and breadth of experience and have completed hundreds of successful assignments associated with some of the most complex, far-reaching, and high-visibility market transformation programs in the country. For more than 20 years, ICF has provided cutting-edge marketing, technical, and project management services to promote energy efficiency, both domestically and internationally. We work with dozens of utilities on such programs and extend a full scope of services to the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR® programs.

We are seeking a senior level leader to work in our Energy Efficiency Analytics team to lead policy, analysis and software solutions related to energy efficiency in buildings and technologies. In this role, you will manage a team and provide day-to-day direction and technical leadership for comprehensive and innovative solutions to our Federal and commercial clients. You will build and strengthen senior client relationships and pursue business development opportunities that capitalize on the team’s rapid growth.

Key Responsibilities:

- Managing a team and several projects concurrently while building and growing work

- Providing mentoring and professional development to staff

- Preparing and presenting persuasive presentations, reports, and utility filings

- Leading internal and external business development activities

- Using and guiding staff on a variety of energy modeling tools for the residential and commercial building sectors

Basic Qualifications:

- Bachelors Degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Architectural), Building Science or related subject

- 12+ years of professional experience in energy efficiency analytic and policy work with specific expertise in residential and/or commercial building energy issues

- 5-7 years of experience managing teams or sub-contractors with designing and analyzing successful energy efficiency and demand side management solutions and strategies

- Strong experience managing projects that produce high quality results on time and within budget

- Experience developing business with new and existing clients in a consulting environment

- Solid engineering skills with experience applying engineering principles to policy development

- Experience in one or more building energy modeling tools, e.g., DOE-2, EnergyPlus, etc.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

- Master’s Degree

- Demonstrated experience building and growing teams successfully across multiple locations

- Experience using Excel for developing tools and expanded data analysis with macros, array equations, etc.

Professional Skills:

- Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills

- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision making capabilities

- Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment

- Sound business ethics, including the protection of proprietary and confidential information

- Superior interpersonal skills including courtesy, professionalism, and a cooperative attitude

- Excellent MS Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel) skills

Contact Denyse Irwin directly at dirwin@icfi.com

Friday, December 9, 2011

Brookings Metro Internship Announcement

Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program Spring 2012 Internship

General Information

The Metropolitan Policy Program offers spring semester internships for qualified candidates. Interns will work closely with staff providing research and administrative support for Metro’s current projects and day to day office functioning. Semester interns typically devote at least 20 hours per week to the Metro Program, but alternative schedules will also be considered.

Undergraduate students (especially upperclassmen), graduate students, and recent college graduates majoring in public policy, urban policy, statistics, economics, other liberal arts, or related fields are encouraged to apply for our research internships.

Our most successful applicants balance high level quantitative research proficiency with strong writing skills, demonstrated through previous research experience. Experience with Excel, ArcGIS, SAS, STATA and/or Access is strongly recommended, but not required.

Metro also offers a communications internship for an individual interested in communications, public relations, or journalism and how these fields relate to Metro’s operations. Duties include: pitching stories about Metro Program reports to regional and national media; assisting in coordinating and staffing outreach events such as press conferences, forums, and policy roundtables; updating press lists; compiling clip reports; and other miscellaneous office duties.

Please note that all positions are unpaid. Spring semester internships generally run from January or February through early May, however, some flexibility exists.

How to Apply

Send the following materials to “Intern Coordinator” at: cpitman@brookings.edu

1. Cover letter, indicating your availability (approximate number of hours per week, and approximate start/end dates). Discuss specifically why you are interested in interning with the Metropolitan Policy Program and highlight quantitative skills mentioned above.

2. Resume

3. Writing sample, brief, no more than 3 pages

City of Phoenix Management Intern Program

The City of Phoenix Management Intern Program is a nationally-recognized program that has been training future municipal leaders since 1950. More than 171 former participants have achieved success in all levels of government as well as in the private sector. If you are interested in a rewarding and challenging public service career, this is an excellent opportunity to work in an award-winning, world-renowned municipal corporation in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Our full-time program is designed to attract, develop, and retain talented individuals with an interest in a local government management career. This program gives selected participants the opportunity to observe firsthand the efforts of a large city government working to resolve some of its most pressing issues. Our program is unparalleled in terms of the opportunities participants will have to meet and network with executives and managers. Successful participants are highly recruited by departments to fill available City jobs, and many of our top-level executives, including our current City Manager, began their career with the City in this program.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit http://phoenix.gov/interns for more information.

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes January 31, 2012. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

This program starts on Monday July 2, 2012. Individuals holding a master’s degree or those who will have satisfactorily completed all coursework for a master’s degree by this date are eligible to apply. City employees are encouraged to apply.

Application packets will be evaluated based on all completed materials submitted. This will include successful presentation of requested information and job-related factors such as writing skills and commitment to public service or local government.

HOW TO APPLY

Only online applications are accepted for this position. The results of the initial screening process will be sent to your primary email address. We anticipate narrowing the pool of candidates and inviting finalists to interview in March 2012. Selections are expected to be made in April 2012.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Job Announcement

Description:

COG is seeking a highly motivated Environmental Planner to join the Department of Environmental Programs Environmental Resources team. The ideal individual desires to excel in a team environment and would provide professional level climate change, energy and sustainability planning support in the areas of community energy planning, electric vehicle infrastructure, regulatory, legislative and policy analysis, to assist COG’s Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee and subcommittees with advancing its programs and the region’s climate and energy goals. Tasks include research and analysis to develop technical and policy recommendations, management of an energy database, and assistance with a regional outreach effort to support COG’s energy and sustainability goals.

Please pass on if you know someone who might be interested in this job.

Please share job link if you know of anyone out there seeking employment with interest in energy and sustainability.

http://www.mwcog.org/resources/opportunities/detail.asp?JOB_ID=300

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Job Oppty: ULI Manager, Awards and Publications

Faculty Fellow Showcase: Margaret Cowell

Professor Margaret Cowell, assistant professor in the Urban Affairs and Planning program in the School of Public and International Affairs and Faculty Fellow to the Metropolitan Institute, shared some of her background and research highlights recently.  Read the story at the Metropolitan Institute website.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Dec 15 Lunchtime Workshop Seeks Feedback on Alexandria's Draft Indicators

Alexandria Quality of Life Initiative 
Lunchtime Workshop Series
Cosponsored by
ACT for Alexandria ■ City of Alexandria ■ Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria
■ Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy


The Alexandria Quality of Life (AQOL) Lunchtime Workshop Series bring people together around the key questions and challenges involved in further enhancing our great community.  How do we measure Alexandria’s Quality of Life?  How can agencies, nonprofits, businesses and community groups use this data to make our community an even better place to live, work and play?

In a conversational setting, we’ll discuss best practices and key insights about using community indicators to make meaningful community change, including ‘lessons learned’ from colleagues and peers.   

Join us for a stimulating discussion!  The workshops are free and open to the public; FREE LUNCH* is provided for the December program courtesy of Virginia Tech.  For more information, contact Beth Offenbacker, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy at boffen@vt.edu or 703 623 4811.
*Funding provided by Virginia Tech’s Institute for Society, Culture and Environment (ISCE)

Your Feedback Sought on Alexandria’s Draft Indicators
Thursday, December 15th
Noon -1pm

At our Thursday, December 15th Lunchtime Forum, we are asking for your feedback on the most recent set of Alexandria Quality of Life Community Indicators (AQOLI).  This list has already been through intensive vetting, but before it is finalized we are asking participants at our December 15th program to provide us with feedback on any ‘fatal flaws’ among the indicators (e.g., something extremely important missing or needing clarification) and to identify any issues, concerns or advice about specific indicators. The draft report of headline indicators and associated data will be released in January 2012.

We will discuss the indicators list, and a draft set of supplemental indicators are also included in the document (see page 5) in order for you to better see the full scope of the indicators.  Join us for a workshop-style conversation on the 15th about the draft indicators.  The indicators have been collaboratively developed over the last year by the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Community Trust, Virginia Tech, and the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria and they reflect extensive community input from subject matter experts, commissions, partnerships, and City staff.  The indicators listed are intended to describe our community's condition and provide us a means to measure progress towards our community's goals.

December 15th Lunchtime Workshop Agenda
1. Introductions
2. Status of the AQOL Community Indicators Project
3. Feedback on the AQOL Community Indicators
·    Are there any fatal flaws among the headline indicators (e.g., something extremely important missing or needing clarification)?
·    Are there any issues, concerns or advice about specific headline indicators?
4. Data Issues
·    Are there any concerns, thoughts or advice about the data for the headline indicators?
5. Other Issues to be Discussed?

If you cannot attend on Dec. 15th, please feel free to provide any feedback in writing to Dr. Matt Dull, mdull@vt.edu and Allen Lomax, aclomax@aol.com, by Friday, Dec. 16th.

LOCATION: To be announced.  No charge to attend.  Seating is limited; please RSVP by Wednesday, Dec. 14th at http://tinyurl.com/43o282r

Monday, December 5, 2011

Examining Public Participation in ACTion Alexandria

The Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech has entered into an agreement to partner with ACT for Alexandria to advance the design of citizen engagement platforms. Kevin Desouza, Director of the Metropolitan Institute, will lead a team of researchers who will work in collaboration with ACT for Alexandria personnel to examine public participation on the ACTion Alexandria platform. The team will look at how user interactions on the community platform can guide design choices that promote more robust forms of citizen engagement.

ACT for Alexandria is a community foundation founded in the the fall of 2004 by a small group of citizens who came together to decide how best to stimulate philanthropic giving to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in their community. The ACTion Alexandria project is a new citizen engagement platform which provides interactive tools that make it easier for residents to take a more active role in addressing community problems. ACTion Alexandria connects individuals to nonprofit organizations they want to support, but with a strictly local focus. Individuals have the opportunity to take action on behalf of nonprofits working to improve the community.

“ACT for Alexandria is excited about partnering with the Metropolitan Institute to further refine and grow the ACTion Alexandria platform as a model for others nationally,” said John Porter, Executive Director of ACT. Tracy Viselli, the Project Manager for ACTion Alexandria, added “the possibilities for this platform working with the institute are endless.”

According to Desouza, “ACT for Alexandria is a prominent player in the non-profit space. We are excited to partner with them to study the dynamics of public participation in action. The ACTion platform gives us access to real world scenarios of how citizens use technology to engage each other.”

This initiative will advance the work being done in Policy Informatics at the Metropolitan Institute. “Designing better collaborative and participatory platforms remains a critical challenge in the public arena. We are not only interested in this project from a research point of view but also from a design and policy point of view,” says Desouza. The Metropolitan Institute will be analyzing information on user behavior on the platform, designing experiments to test various strategies for increasing engagement on the platform, and contributing to the design of the overall platform.

Desouza explains, “Collaborating on this effort allows us the opportunity to make a difference in our community. The MI is based in Alexandria and we want to be part of the community. ACT for Alexandria provides an amazing array of services, from scholarships to leadership training. ACTion Alexandria is where the idea of community engagement meets the newest technological innovations.”

HUD Selects German Marshall Fund, Cleveland State and Metropolitan Institute for Strong Cities, Strong Communities Program

Alexandria, Va., December 2, 2011 – Today, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its selection of the German Marshall Fund (GMF) partnership as the recipient of the $2.5 million award to manage the Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) fellowship program for HUD. The partnership is comprised of the German Marshall Fund, Cleveland State University, and the Metropolitan Institute (MI) at Virginia Tech. Associate Director Joseph Schilling will serve as Virginia Tech’s principle investigator on this three-year project.

The fellowship program is the capacity building element of the White House-led SC2 initiative. SC2 is a pilot program focused on retooling and rebuilding the capacity of cities facing long-term economic challenges often known as cities in transition or legacy cities. Up to 30 fellows will be assigned to the six SC2 cities (Chester, PA; Detroit, MI; New Orleans, LA; Fresno, CA; Memphis, TN; and Cleveland, OH.)

To fund the fellowship program, the Rockefeller Foundation donated $2.5 million to HUD to manage and implement the fellowship program. The GMF partnership was the winning proposal and will be responsible for implementing and administering the fellowship program.

“The Strong Cities Strong Communities Initiative represents a new and innovative way for the federal government to work with local governments, the private sector, and institutions of higher learning to support local economic growth and encourage community development,” said Melody Barnes, White House Domestic Policy Council Director. 

"The Rockefeller Foundation is thrilled to support the Strong Cities Strong Communities Initiative, as part of our commitment to help vulnerable populations build resilience," said Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin. “The selected fellows will bring new innovation to cities like New Orleans and Detroit in these rapidly changing times, and lend increased energy to communities that are already working to find ways to be resilient during a difficult economic period."

"At the Metropolitan Institute we strive to build collaborative research alliances,” said Director Kevin Desouza. “This grant gives us the opportunity to leverage the work we have done on cities in transition, vacant properties, and our emerging work in resiliency with global partners. We will continue to build international research partnerships that advance the goals of our partner institutions and Virginia Tech."

The fellowship program will be a competitive program that provides funding for early to mid-career professionals to work for 24 months in the six pilot cities to supplement existing local capacity. Virginia Tech’s Metropolitan Institute and CSU’s Center for Community Planning and Development will take the lead on mentoring the fellows on an ongoing basis and evaluating the impacts from the fellows. MI’s Associate Director, Joseph Schilling, and CPD’s Director Kathryn Hexter will serve as the Fellowship’s “Mentor Team” by coaching the teams of fellows and coordinating fellowship activities with sponsor organizations.


In addition to building the capacity of local governments, SC2 aims to encourage partnerships among local community organizations, anchor institutions, businesses, foundations and government agencies, to help leverage federal investments.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Research In Progress Lunch - Rescheduled for 1/25

“Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head: Factors Shaping The Use of Climate Science to Prepare for Floods in Rural Communities”

Kris Wernstedt (UAP) and Patrick Roberts (CPAP)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
12:00-1:00pm
3rd Floor Library
1021 Prince Street

Metropolitan Institute Receives IBM Grant for Citizen Mobile Apps Project

Alexandria, Va., November 23, 2011 – The Metropolitan Institute is pleased to announce a new grant from the IBM Center for the Business of Government for our research project, Citizen Apps as a Democratizing Technology: Challenges and Opportunities for Federal Agencies. This project will be conducted as part of the institute's policy informatics portfolio with Kevin Desouza, Director of the Metropolitan Institute, serving as the Principle Investigator.

Most US federal agencies have embraced President Obama's vision for 1) greater transparency, 2) increased citizen participation, and 3) greater collaboration. A critical outcome of these initiatives is the willingness of federal agencies to engage with citizens around open-data initiatives and the creation of technology for solving public policy problems - 'citizen apps.' We are witnessing an increasing proliferation of 'citizen apps,' i.e. applications designed by citizens and developers to solve public policy challenges. Federal agencies are not only opening up data reservoirs, but are also incentivizing the development of citizen apps through competitions. In this research project, we propose to study citizen apps and the federal programs that fostered their creation.

Our research project will thoroughly inventory and study the range of citizen apps to understand the typology of the apps, the data they use, the problems they address, the motivation of the designers, the usage by citizens, and the impact on government and governance. We propose to discover and define the inter-relations between the government agencies, the app developers, and the citizens. While our focus will be on studying citizen apps generated out of programs commissioned by the federal government, we will also look at programs started by progressive states (e.g. New York, California, etc).

The results of the final report will benefit public sector government executives, public managers, and the public-at-large in several ways: 1) it will enable government executives to avoid common pitfalls when incentivizing citizen app programs (for e.g. placing emphasis on the frontend, i.e. the creation of apps, and ignoring the more challenging aspect of ensuring that the apps are diffused into the agency's work practices or to citizens); 2) it will enable public managers to understand the landscape of citizen apps, the motivations of citizens who create them, and the factors that drive their usage; and 3) it will enable federal agencies to better engage citizens into the policy setting process through supporting technology development thereby increasing the chances of more effective solution generation for policy problems.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Sign Up for AARP Solutions Forum

Please find the below link to information about the December 8th AARP Soutions Forum Practical Solutions for Aging in Place: State Policies and Practices That Work that will take place in DC. You can sign up to attend in person or listen in on the webcast. Space is limited so sign up soon if you are interested.

http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/livable-communities/info-11-2011/solutions-forum-aging-in-place.html.

Published: A Guidebook for Sustainability Performance Measurement for Transportation Agencies

I am pleased to inform you that “A Guidebook for Sustainability Performance Measurement for Transportation Agencies” was published this week by the Transportation Research Board (TRB). UAP’s own Ralph Hall, Ph.D. was part of the research team. This guidebook was prepared for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP Report 708) and is available at the TRB Website: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166313.aspx. This research project was led by the Texas Transportation Institute and draws on the expertise of a diverse team of researchers and academics – Cambridge Systematics, CH2MHill, High Street Consulting, Dr. Henrik Gudmundsson, Dr. Greg Marsden, Dr. Ralph Hall and Dr. Steven Muench.

The Guidebook provides a practical approach to understanding sustainability, and identifying and applying sustainability-related performance measures. The Guidebook also discusses linkages to an agency’s mission and strategic plan, and the integration of these sustainability measures into other programs and agency business practices. The Guidebook provides a generally-applicable framework that transportation agencies can adapt and use, either in their existing performance measurement programs or as a part of a new sustainability initiative. The guidebook also contains a compendium of sustainability performance measures, with a menu of goals, objectives and performance measures that agencies can use as the basis for their performance measurement applications.

Call2Recycle EPR and Recycling Webinar - Don't Mess With Texas!




Don't Mess with Texas: Achieving City of Austin's Zero Waste Goal through EPR and Recycling

Join us Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 11am CT (Noon ET) for a complimentary webinar!

Call2Recycle®, the only free rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program in North America, is hosting a webinar focused on extended producer responsibility (EPR) and hazardous waste recycling efforts in Austin, TX. The City of Austin's mission is to achieve Zero Waste by providing excellent customer services that promote waste reduction, increase resource recovery, and support the City of Austin's long-term sustainability efforts.

Austin Resource Recovery provides comprehensive services that encourage recycling and keep as much waste as possible out of local landfills, including batteries. The City of Austin's Zero Waste Goal is to reduce the amount of waste Austinites send to the landfill by 90% by the year 2040.

In this webinar, you will learn:

  • How Austin Resource Recovery provides services to its customers and empowers the community to work toward Zero Waste
  • More about citywide programs and outreach services that are making recycling "user-friendly" in Austin
  • How partnering with Call2Recycle offers benefits for municipalities

Join Call2Recycle for this webinar, Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 11am CT (Noon ET).

Register today.

Applications Due March 15 for Global Social Change LeadershipInstitute, July 8-20 in NYC

The Research Center for Leadership in Action (RCLA) at New York
University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service is calling
for
applications for the Global Social Change Leadership Institute being held
July
8-20, 2012, in New York City.

The Global Social Change Leadership Institute offers an opportunity for
university and graduate students and recent college graduates to strengthen
their leadership ability and skills, learn about cutting-edge research on
leadership and social change, and see firsthand what makes organizations at
the forefront of advancing social justice successful.

The curriculum draws on more than seven years of rigorous research RCLA has
conducted with award-winning social change organizations about the
essential role these nonprofits play in an informed and engaged civil
society. Program participants learn from experts at the forefront of
policy reform and advocacy, coalition building and direct service.
Interactive workshops are paired with site visits throughout New York
City offering participants a robust understanding of both the theory and
practice of leadership and social change. Participants emerge with an
understanding of social change leadership, a plan for taking action in
their school or community, and a network of other advocates committed to
social justice.

Details at http://bit.ly/sGaFkv

The deadline to be considered for Early Admission is Friday, February
24, 2012. The deadline to apply for Regular Admission is Thursday,
March 15, 2012.

A flyer with program details is available at http://bit.ly/tv9VPe

Questions? Email: leadership.institute@nyu.edu

Communications Boot Camp




Keep your message jargon-free


Delivering a clear and succinct message is always important, and as planners face more demanding audiences and forceful critics, avoiding jargon and technical language when talking about planning and its benefits is essential.

Learn what words to use and which to avoid in "Glossary for the Public," the second free how-to guide in APA's Communications Boot Camp, now available on our website.

Registration is still open for the next Communications Boot Camp webinar on December 2, "Mastering the Pivot: Message Discipline and Effective Media Response." Find the link to registration, plus previously recorded webinars and the first how-to guide on the Communications Boot Camp website.

Register for the December 2 webinar

Communications Boot Camp is a 12-week series of free webinars and how-to guides designed to help APA members transform themselves and their allies into effective messengers and advocates for planning.

arrow Communications Boot Camp webpage

Job Announcement

Job Opptys: 12 Tenure-Track Faculty Positions at VCU

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs TWELVE TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITIONS

After last year's successful recruitment, the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is continuing its growth with up to twelve anticipated tenure-track positions in the coming two years. As part of this announcement we are inviting applications and letters of interest for the following positions to begin in Fall semester 2012, contingent upon funding.

Applicants must indicate to which position(s) they are applying. All applications should be submitted via email and should include a cover-letter and a detailed CV including names of three references, one sample of scholarship, and evidence of teaching effectiveness to Ms. Tina Braden at tbraden@vcu.edu.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled. For full consideration for this year's recruitment we encourage applications by December 1, 2011. References will not be contacted without checking with the candidates. For information about the Wilder School please visit our website at www.pubapps.vcu.edu/gov/. For specific information on these positions please contact the respective faculty member listed below.

(1) Criminal Justice (multiple positions) Desired specializations include crime theory, corrections, criminal law and procedure, policing, crime prevention, or comparative issues. Teaching core requirements in the graduate and undergraduate programs is expected. Contact: Jay Albanese (jsalbane@vcu.edu)

(2) Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (multiple positions) A background in psychology of terrorism, asymmetric threats, emergency management, disaster preparedness and mitigation, response coordination, security technology, and terrorism prevention is preferred. Contact: Will Pelfrey (wvpelfrey@vcu.edu)

(3) Political Science
Research and teaching in one of three areas: (a) American political institutions with a research focus on state, local, urban, city politics, and/or intergovernmental relations is desired as is an interest in African-American or Latino politics, (b) American political parties/elections and/or political behavior, (c) International development, particularly with a research focus on African politics. Contact: Judy Twigg (jtwigg@vcu.edu)

(4) Public Administration
Research and teaching interests desired in one or more core areas, such as public finance and budgeting, organizational theory, or public policy analysis. Specialization in non-profit management, social equity, state and local government, or privatization and the new governance is preferred. Contact: Susan Gooden (stgooden@vcu.edu)

(5) Public Policy (multiple positions)
Social policy, health policy, and urban policy are particular areas of interest. Teaching in the PhD program and in one other program in the Wilder School is required. We particularly welcome colleagues whose work shows promise for externally funded research and who enjoy mentoring and supporting PhD students. Contact: John Accordino (jaccordi@vcu.edu)

(6) Sociology
Current faculty expertise is in the sociology of gender, health, demography, organization, methodology and population studies. Policy areas of particular interest include: family, immigration, poverty, economy, and health care. Teaching interest in the undergraduate and master's programs in sociology and in the PhD in public policy is desired. Contact: Sarah Jane Brubaker (sbrubaker@vcu.edu)

For all positions a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in the respective or related field is required by the time of hiring as is the potential for high quality scholarship and teaching. While most of the positions will likely be filled at the Assistant Professor level we will also consider senior scholars with a distinguished record of research, teaching, and service. Applicants with documented ability to secure external research funding will be preferred. Junior faculty must have the potential for external funding and a strong research agenda. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU, is required.

Faculty research interests in the Wilder School include sustainable urban development, geospatial planning and technological applications, state and local government, social equity, gender, health policy, policing, corrections, crime prevention, comparative international development, political institutions, security studies, and the study of disasters and genocide. We are currently part of the College of Humanities and Sciences, the largest College at VCU. Planning is underway to give the Wilder School free-standing status as one of the Colleges and Schools at VCU under our Provost. For Criminal Justice, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Public Policy we are keen to increase our programmatic research strength and welcome interest from research groups who might want to explore the possibility of joining us. Under VCU's new President and under new leadership in the Wilder School we are committed to providing a research rich environment for our new colleagues. Senior scholars are invited to contact Dr. John Accordino (jaccordi@vcu.edu), Chair of the Search Committee or Dr. Niraj Verma, Director of the Wilder School (nverma2@vcu.edu).

Altogether the Wilder School has 2500 students and an alumni base of over 11,000 making it the largest group within the College of Humanities and Sciences. Our research and consulting units include the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Performance Management Group, Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory, Transportation Safety and Training Center, and the Urban Development Center. Together, the School's research and contract volume exceeds $8 million annually.

Named after the Honorable L. Douglas Wilder, former Governor of Virginia and the first elected African-American Governor in the United States and now a Distinguished Professor in the School, the Wilder School is and wants to be a School where competing perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society knits these perspectives together. Richmond, the capital of Virginia, provides extraordinary opportunities for those interested in governance in all its meanings, including the study of government at local and state levels. Washington, D.C., which is a two hour drive away, provides additional national and international opportunities for our students and faculty.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.