Vaccines work -- but they only work if people get them. How can communities make sure that as many of their residents get vaccinated as possible? Host Justin Milner talks with Urban Institute researcher Leandra Lacy; Luis Garcia, director of te

How Community Development Can Promote Equity

Jun 1st, 2022 26m 19s

Equitable community engagement and development can seed systems change that supports long-term health and well-being within communities. Host Justin Milner talks with Urban Institute researcher Laudy Aron; Maggie Super Church, vice president fo

How the Safety Net Can Better Serve Young People

Mar 8th, 2022 23m 26s

All young people need support and a runway to independence to develop into thriving adults. For those without this support, that’s where public safety net programs come in⁠—but the safety net has substantial gaps and barriers that make access c

Policy Lessons from Abroad to Inform Pandemic Recovery

Jan 26th, 2022 26m 45s

As the nation aims to recover from the pandemic, policymakers have the opportunity to implement policies that build toward a more inclusive, equitable society. Host Justin Milner talks with Urban Institute researcher Kimberly Burrowes; Jon Kher

How Apprenticeships Can Help Diversify the Tech Workforce?

Nov 18th, 2021 22m 58s

Registered tech apprenticeship programs create vital pathways for diverse candidates to enter the tech industry, supplying companies with needed talent while advancing the crucial industry goals to cultivate an inclusive tech workforce. Host Ju

The Books, Podcasts, and TV Shows That Are Getting Us through the Pandemic

Sep 1st, 2021 18m 14s

It’s been 17 months since the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed our lives. It has been difficult, but we have found some outlets helped us reflect on, and even escape, our current reality. On this episode with guest host Jacinth Jones, you

How Do Effective School Principals Drive Impact in Education?

Jul 14th, 2021 19m 52s

A lot of the conversation around improving education outcomes centers the effectiveness of teachers, but how important are principals in shaping students’ direction and success? Host Justin Milner talks with Constance Lindsay of the University

Lifting Millions of Kids Out of Poverty

May 6th, 2021 20m 26s

The recently passed American Rescue Plan Act could reduce poverty among families with children by half. How will this work, and why is it a big deal? Host Justin Milner talks with tax policy expert Elaine Maag and Gaynell Brady and M.A. Sheehan

Public Leadership in the Time of COVID

Mar 31st, 2021 23m 29s

The country has now spent a year dealing with the effects of COVID-19 and the pandemic has brought an array of unprecedented challenges for public leaders. Host Justin Milner speaks with Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks, King County, W

Teaching Kids How to Give

Feb 24th, 2021 21m 30s

Nearly a year into the pandemic, the definition of ‘giving’ has been expanding and the idea of philanthropy at multiple levels is more salient than ever. As we think about developing a culture of giving, it is important to start at the beginnin

How to Make Research More Inclusive

Feb 1st, 2021 19m 6s

Research organizations are increasingly thinking about how to make their research more inclusive. Community-based participatory research is an approach engages people who would normally be research subjects as full partners in a research projec

Native Communities and COVID-19

Dec 17th, 2020 22m 59s

How are American Indian tribes and Native communities faring during the COVID-19 pandemic? Host Justin Milner speaks with Lukaya Williams of the White Mountain Apache Housing Authority, Joe Cushman and Justine Capra of the Nisqually Indian Trib

How Technology Can Improve Government

Dec 3rd, 2020 21m 44s

Technological advancements continue to redefine how the world operates. How can government take advantage of technological innovations to improve their services and help American citizens? Host Justin Milner speaks with Amanda Renteria, CEO of

Why Representation Matters in Research

Nov 16th, 2020 19m 40s

What happens when researchers come from the communities they study? Host Justin Milner speaks with two Latina researchers at different points in their career—one at the pinnacle, and one who is just starting her journey. Both have similar upbri

How the Federal Government Can Support Opportunity For All

Oct 29th, 2020 26m 43s

What role can the federal government play to ensure that all families live in neighborhoods that support their well-being and their children’s ability to thrive? Host Justin Milner discusses ideas around zoning and the Housing Choice Voucher Pr

What Does COVID-19 Mean for the Future of Latino Entrepreneurship?

Oct 15th, 2020 22m 15s

Over the past decade, the number of Latino entrepreneurs increased 34 percent—compared with just 1 percent for all business owners in the US, but the pandemic may affect that growth. How might COVID-19 affect Latino entrepreneurship, and what c

Better Supporting Working Families with Kids in the Time of COVID

Oct 7th, 2020 21m 51s

The dramatic shift to online learning has many families struggling to balance work and virtual learning, especially parents who aren’t able to work from home. Host Justin Milner speaks with Urban Institute researchers, Megan Gallagher and Gina

Why Charitable Giving and Philanthropy Matters Today

Sep 14th, 2020 25m 5s

Charitable giving and philanthropy is as important today as ever. In the midst of an ongoing pandemic and in a moment of national reckoning with racial injustice, Americans from all backgrounds are giving in important and different w

Why Closing the Digital Divide Matters

Jul 9th, 2020 22m 52s

Technology has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, but technological innovations don’t always benefit everyone equally. And COVID-19 has revealed that this digital divide is even greater than we thought. Host Justin Milner speaks with

What We’re Reading (and Watching) to Help Reflect on Race, Power and Privilege

Jun 25th, 2020 23m 36s

This week’s New York Times list of best-selling books shows a country reading all about race and racism. On this episode, Urban offers its own reading (and watching) list. You'll hear from Urban staff about the books, movies and documentaries t

How Can We Alleviate Food Insecurity During the Pandemic?

May 22nd, 2020 22m 24s

The pictures speak to the growing challenge of food insecurity in America: miles-long lines of people in cars waiting to receive emergency rations of food supplies. In the latest in a series of episodes on the pandemic, host Justin Milner speak

How Can We Address Historic Unemployment Rates?

May 7th, 2020 24m 56s

Since March 21, more than 30 million people have sought unemployment benefits—nearly one of every five workers. And the April jobs report coming out tomorrow will likely tell an even more distressing story of how the response to the COVID-19 pa

Empowering the Next Generation through Higher Education

Apr 22nd, 2020 23m 4s

In the latest episode of Critical Value, Host Justin Milner speaks with former Urban Institute Board Member Freeman Hrabowski about how to make education more accessible, affordable, and effective for students of all backgrounds. Recognized by

How Can We Minimize Coronavirus Risks in Prisons and in Jails?

Apr 14th, 2020 22m 22s

Jails and prisons are ripe for rapid transmission of the coronavirus, putting residents, corrections staff, and the broader community at risk. In the latest in a series of podcast episodes on the pandemic, host Justin Milner talks to Brie Willi

How Will the Coronavirus Spending Bill Provide Support During the Pandemic?

Mar 31st, 2020 19m 15s

The $2 trillion economic relief package passed last week is larger than any other plan of its kind in modern history. Who does it help and how? In the latest in a series of podcasts on the pandemic, host Justin Milner talks to the Tax Policy Ce