Bridging the Gap between Knowledge and Practice
In 2023, I launched the Community to Community Impact Accelerator, a new $4.8M investment by Northeastern University to support community engaged research at each of its global campus locations with the goal of finding equitable solutions to local policy problems. Our mission is to understand and address social disparities by fostering trusting relationships between academic researchers and community or government partners. Centering the wisdom of community voices, we co-create research evidence that advances equitable practices and policies in the places our university calls home.
C2C bridges the gap between knowledge and practice through its unique Engage-Think-Do model by partnering with state agencies, city departments, and community organizations to design, implement, and evaluate data-driven public policies. Guided by these principles, C2C fosters partnerships, co-creating policies with external stakeholders to develop equitable societal solutions.
- ENGAGE: Fosters long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with external stakeholders.
- THINK: Promotes the co-creation of data-driven policy analysis to maximize societal impact.
- DO: Works with state agencies, city departments, and community-based organizations to co-design and implement solutions that lead to equitable programs and practices.
Testimonials
“C2C has brought in faculty from across the university system, generated over $2.3 million in external funding, and led to real policy impacts in Boston and beyond. Especially given the current climate towards higher education at the federal level, it seems wise for university leaders to fully fund the infrastructure necessary to support faculty and staff in building close, trusting, mutually beneficial relationships with state and local governments.” – Adam Gamoran, President, William T. Grant Foundation [Read More]
“Alicia Modestino’s leadership has been instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. Her ability to bridge academic research with practical application has greatly enhanced the impact of our joint initiatives. Under her guidance, C2C has become a pivotal hub for training the next generation of researchers and practitioners dedicated to evidence-based policy.” - Kimberly Dadisman, Associate Director of Policy, J-PAL North America [Read More]
“Our partnership with C2C has had profound and lasting real-world impacts. Over the past 2 years we have deepened our already strong partnership with the faculty and staff of C2C, particularly in the areas of youth employment and college access and completion. Some of our biggest accomplishments as an agency – implementation of Mayor Wu’s Summer Jobs Guarantee and the expansion of free community college statewide - would not have been possible without C2C’s partnership.” - Trinh Nguyen, Chief, Worker Empowerment Cabinet, City of Boston [Read More]
“C2C’s summer youth employment program (SYEP) has provided an invaluable pathway for East Bay students to access higher education and launch meaningful careers in the Bay Area and beyond. The program exemplifies a holistic approach to workforce development, empowering students with the skills and experiences they need to thrive academically and professionally. The collaboration between C2C, Northeastern University, and local stakeholders demonstrates the potential for innovative educational models to transform outcomes for our community.” - Sofia Navarro, Executive Director, Oakland Workforce Development Board [Read More]
“Over the past two years, the Community-to-Community (C2C) Impact Accelerator has made significant contributions to our university community. On a personal level, C2C has been instrumental in supporting my work. The team’s assistance with workforce analysis for the BioConnects initiative has propelled our life sciences agenda forward. Furthermore, their collaboration with city partners on grant proposals, such as the NOAA initiative, underscores their ability to connect university resources with pressing societal needs.” - Jared Auclair, Dean, College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University [Read More]
“As a faculty member, C2C researcher, and community leader with deep roots in Oakland, I have witnessed the critical need for programs that foster equitable policy development and empower historically underserved communities. C2C exemplifies these goals as it prioritizes bridging the gap between academic research, policy, and transformative community action. Programs like C2C are vital to ensuring that all communities, particularly those often overlooked in traditional policymaking, have the tools and opportunities to influence decisions that affect their lives.” - Dr. NNeka Allen-Harrison, Assistant Adjunct Professor, Mills College, Oakland Campus at Northeastern University [Read More]
”I can say confidently that my career has benefitted extensively from my engagement with Community to Community. Within the past year and a half of my postdoctoral fellowship, I have had the privilege of working with a team of caring and talented individuals across multiple campuses. Oftentimes, the best measure of impact for scholarship is in its “ripple effect” into further research and funding opportunities. In this regard, C2C stands above many other institutions. Even just a cursory look at the impact C2C has had thus far indicates an especially high level of output: A year-to-year increase in grant funding from notable institutions, which has been leveraged to fund 65 PhD students, postdocs, and faculty who will go on to continue developing community-engaged research.” - Josh Lown, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, C2C at Northeastern University [Read More]
