The challenges people and communities across the US are facing seem, at times, insurmountable. They can be complex. And because of that complexity, even the best-intentioned policies and programs can fall short.
That’s why changemakers seeking to expand opportunity for people and strengthen communities are increasingly demanding solutions built on evidence. It’s why now, more than ever, governments, philanthropies, service providers, activists, and businesses seek out the Urban Institute to provide and translate evidence into actions that fuel meaningful change.
We answered their call in 2023.
Through the various roles Urban embodies—as a trusted source, convener, advisor, and innovator—we produced and shared research in 2023 that took hold in multiple spaces among diverse change agents. As it did, our work inspired new approaches for alleviating the challenges faced by people and communities, creating more prosperous pathways ahead.
- Now, many families in Michigan won’t be forced to choose between paying their rent and feeding their kids.
- More parents, young people, and elders in Kansas City will be able to access the internet and the world of opportunity it can offer.
- And thousands of children born to parents struggling to make ends meet in Washington, DC, will have a kick-start on financial security once they reach adulthood.
Urban’s research helped shape these new realities, rich with promise.
While the evidence-based solutions and strategies we offer can take years to make the kind of difference people experience in their daily lives and the places they call home, Urban’s work lays an essential foundation for consequential and lasting change.
Learn how you can support Urban’s efforts to improve people’s well-being and build a more just, equitable society.
2023 by the numbers
Urban employs a range of strategies to translate and distribute the research insights and data we produce. Here's a snapshot of our work, how we shared it, and where it landed in 2023.
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