Amy Dain Research Associate

Amy Dain has spent eighteen years working on state and local policy issues in Massachusetts. At the Collins Center for Public Management, she organized StatNet, a network of city and town managers who meet to learn from each other about data-driven decision-making. At Pioneer Institute, she designed and managed a major study on land use regulation and housing in greater Boston, authored papers, and presented findings at events across the state. She earned her Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

ARTICLES By Amy Dain

Leading Together

Four Case Studies of Successful Gateway City Initiatives

Responding to the challenges brought about by industrial change requires strong leadership, but the changes themselves have eroded the leadership capacity of Gateway Cities. Corporate consolidation leaves fewer committed private sector leaders with a long-term vision at the civic table. The rapid pace of economic change creates more residential turnover. Declining household income means residents

Leading Together

Developing a Fresh Generation Of Civic Leaders in Worcester

Research suggests collaborative leadership is a key distinction between comeback cities and those still struggling to tran­sition to the new economy. This raises the fundamental question: how do cities prepare the next generation of civic leaders to work together effectively? Studies show collaborative leadership thrives in cities where citizens trust their government, are engaged in

Leading Together

The Holyoke Safe and Successful Youth Initiative Case Study

The Holyoke SSYI Program is a powerful example of how successful Gateway City initiatives fuse leaders and leadership styles together to overcome stubborn challenges. SSYI is a carefully coordinated effort to reach the community’s most difficult to reach young men—those who are “proven-risk” for violence. Making the most of a new state grant program, Holyoke

Riley’s turnaround effort bigger than schools

Lawrence groups and city in general pitch in to revamp education system

A FEW YEARS AGO, Lawrence’s schools were considered some of the worst in the state.  Only half of their students were finishing high school.  Test scores were abysmal.  Beyond the school walls, there was distress in the community: more than a quarter of the residents were living in poverty. The state appointed a receiver, Jeff

Leading Together

The Lawrence Community Partnerships Case Study

In 2012, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education moved to address the chronically low performance of the Lawrence Public Schools by placing the district in receivership. Jeff Riley, the leader appointed to transform the system, immediately set about extending the school day to offer students a wider array of learning opportunities. A central

Leading Together

The Five District Partnership Case Study

Leading Together: The Five District Partnership Case Study describes a collaborative venture developed by the Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere and Winthrop school districts in response to the challenge of student mobility. Every year, thousands of students move among the schools in these neighboring cities, creating major disruptions in learning, as documented by previous MassINC research.

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