#  Our Work 

 



####  A Living Curriculum 

Government can be improved - and it **must be** - by the energy, insight, and intelligence of **people who care. "** *Jerry Rappaport, MPA 1963*



 

 

 

       ![Students in the Field](/sites/g/files/omnuum12421/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-10/20190208_HKS_Shoot_0345.jpg?itok=L3BtUezI) 

 

 



 

 



### Program Overview 

 

Together, MLD-412 and DPI-325 courses form the Greater Boston Field Lab Program, a year-round learning ecosystem that unites fiscal analysis, political strategy, and civic innovation. Students from across Harvard’s schools, Kennedy, GSD, HBS, and others work directly with mayors, state officials, and federal partners, building skills in finance, management, and adaptive leadership while advancing tangible public-sector impact.



 



      ![Students in the Field](/sites/g/files/omnuum12421/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-10/Field_Lab_00082%20%281%29.jpg?itok=yDaMQYPc) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

 

 

 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

### **Course Offerings**

#### **MLD-412: Greater Boston Advanced Applied Field Lab**

*Spring Semester*

*Professors Linda Bilmes, Justin de Benedictis-Kessner & Brian Iammartino*

The *Greater Boston Applied Field Lab* (MLD-412) is Harvard Kennedy School’s flagship experiential learning course in public finance and operations management. For nearly two decades, the Field Lab has enabled students from across Harvard’s graduate schools to work directly with city and state leaders, applying rigorous financial and analytical skills to real-world challenges.

Each year, student teams partner with municipalities, state agencies, and regional organizations to design innovative fiscal strategies, operational improvements, and infrastructure plans. Recent projects have tackled urgent issues such as climate resilience, housing affordability, sustainable economic growth, and equitable access to public services—particularly in historically under-resourced communities.

Affiliated with the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, the Taubman Center for State and Local Government, and the Harvard-Bloomberg Cities Initiative, the course combines advanced technical instruction with hands-on policy implementation.

This flagship course provides intensive training in public finance and operations management while students work on real projects for local governments.

#### **Focus Areas**

- Municipal budgeting and capital planning
- Financial modeling and analysis
- Infrastructure financing
- Climate resilience funding
- Economic development strategies
- Operational efficiency improvements

#### **Skills Development**

- Advanced Excel and financial modeling
- GIS mapping and spatial analysis
- Data visualization
- Project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Policy memo writing

#### **Previous Projects**

- Designing a Massachusetts Infrastructure Bank
- Analyzing coastal flood resilience investments in Everett
- Evaluating affordable housing finance models in Newburyport
- Assessing the economic impact of the North-South Rail Link

**Prerequisites:** Basic data analytical skills and coursework in budgeting, finance, or economics. Application required.

### **DPI-325: Urban Politics Field Lab**

**Fall Semester | Professor Justin de Benedictis-Kessner**

The *Urban Politics Field Lab* (DPI-325) explores how political dynamics shape local governance, implementation, and citizen engagement. Students work in teams with partner cities and towns to address pressing urban policy challenges ranging from transportation and housing to climate adaptation and public health while navigating the complex politics of public opinion, institutional capacity, and stakeholder interests.

The course emphasizes political feasibility, communication strategy, and data-driven engagement. Students gain firsthand experience translating research and analysis into practical recommendations that city leaders can implement.

#### **Focus Areas**

- Public opinion and community engagement
- Political feasibility and implementation strategy
- Survey and focus-group design
- Equity assessment and stakeholder mapping
- Narrative framing and communications strategy

#### **Skills Development**

- Survey methodology and behavioral A/B testing
- Data analytics in R, Stata, or Python
- GIS mapping and spatial visualization
- Public engagement and facilitation techniques
- Political communication and storytelling

#### **Previous Projects**

- Developing transportation-demand-management communications for Everett
- Evaluating community engagement for housing policy in Newburyport
- Designing year-round housing incentives in Provincetown
- Assessing the impact of Boston’s Open Streets program on local businesses
- Improving recycling compliance and environmental behavior in Providence

**Prerequisites:**  
Basic data-analytical skills in Excel, R, Stata, or Python.

**Application Required:**  
 Submit a short statement of interest and resume/CV here.