Mary Jo Bane is Thornton Bradshaw Professor of Public Policy and Management at Harvard University and co-coordinator of the Program on Religion and Public Life.  She is co-author of Lifting Up the Poor: A Dialogue on Religion, Poverty & Welfare Reform. A former assistant secretary for children and families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, her […]

Randy Albelda, professor of economics and senior research fellow at the University of Massachusetts’ Center for Social Policy, is an expert on poverty, particularly regarding families and women.

J. Lawrence Aber is professor of applied psychology and public policy at New York University in New York City. He is an expert on child development and social policy who researches the effect of poverty and violence on children. He is also former director of the National Center for Children in Poverty.

The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., does considerable research on poverty and welfare. Its staff includes nearly 20 experts on various aspects of these issues; see a list.

The Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan institute that promotes freedom and justice in a wide variety of issues. Daniella Gibbs Leger is the executive vice president of communications and strategy.

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity is a foundation-led, nonpartisan initiative in Washington, D.C., that works to implement public policies that will reduce poverty and increase opportunity in the U.S. Contact media contact Adam Bradley.

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, based in Chicago, works for economic justice for low-income people. Contact president John M. Bouma.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research is a public policy research organization whose focus includes poverty and welfare, democracy and society and education. For media inquiries, contact Jennifer Clark.

The Coalition on Human Needs in Washington, D.C., is an alliance of national organizations that advocate policies to help low-income people. Deborah Weinstein is executive director.