Center for Social Development

know that frontline staff possess valuable insights, but how can they tap into the wisdom of street-level ?

Join us June 22 to explore useful tools for discovering insights from staff at all levels.

"Welcome to the (Data) Party!"
🗓️ June 22
🕥 10:30-noon (central U.S.)
💻 Zoom
➡️ RSVP: https://csd.wustl.edu/data-party-62226/

SPEAKERS
🔹Allison K. Holmes, Researcher, Evaluator, and Co-Author of "Data Party: You Can Transform Your Nonprofit Organization With Data"
🔹Amber Lewis, Principal Evaluator, Kindling Insights
🔹Kameke Payne, Director of Operations, Urban Strategies, Inc.
🔹Karrie Simpson, Data Strategy Manager, Operation Food Search
🔹T’Pring R. Westbrook, Researcher, Evaluator, and Co-Author of "Data Party: You Can Transform Your Nonprofit Organization With Data"
🔹Sue Zerbe, Manager of Analysis and Impact, Home Works

This event is organized and hosted by Data for Social Impact, an initiative of the Center for Social Development. Data for Social Impact builds data capacity and collaboration among social sector organizations working to increase impact for and with the communities they serve. By being more strategic in how they engage with data, organizations have an opportunity to advance their missions, increase impact and promote equitable outcomes. The Center for Social Development offers free programming opportunities for social sector organizations seeking to build capacity in these areas in the St. Louis region and beyond. Data for Social Impact is supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and built in collaboration with an advisory committee, the Community Innovation and Action Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and data.org.

Come join the conversation!

Research and vision intersected this week at the release event for "Investire nel futuro," an innovative new book on how asset building can complement to overcome educational , empower young people, and build paths to opportunity.

The opening chapter by CSD founder and Co-Director Michael Sherraden, and the full book, are available from Egea for free download at Torrossa Store:

"Investire nel futuro: asset building e disuguaglianze educative: pratiche, evidenze e prospettive"
Edited by Franca Maino, Valentina Battiloro, William Revello, and Davide Azzolini
➡️ https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/6229499?digital=true

Fondazione Ufficio Pio Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo

How can tap into frontline staff's deep knowledge of the community they serve? Join us June 22 to learn about tools for capturing those insights.

"Welcome to the (Data) Party!"
🗓️June 22
🕥10:30-noon (central U.S.)
💻Zoom
➡️RSVP: https://csd.wustl.edu/data-party-62226/

SPEAKERS
🔹Allison K. Holmes, Researcher, Evaluator, and Co-Author of "Data Party: You Can Transform Your Nonprofit Organization With Data"
🔹Amber Lewis, Principal Evaluator, Kindling Insights
🔹Kameke Payne, Director of Operations, Urban Strategies, Inc.
🔹Karrie Simpson, Data Strategy Manager, Operation Food Search
🔹T’Pring R. Westbrook, Researcher, Evaluator, and Co-Author of "Data Party: You Can Transform Your Nonprofit Organization With Data"
🔹Sue Zerbe, Manager of Analysis and Impact, Home Works

This event is organized and hosted by Data for Social Impact, an initiative of the Center for Social Development. Data for Social Impact builds data capacity and collaboration among social sector organizations working to increase impact for and with the communities they serve. By being more strategic in how they engage with data, organizations have an opportunity to advance their missions, increase impact and promote equitable outcomes. The Center for Social Development offers free programming opportunities for social sector organizations seeking to build capacity in these areas in the St. Louis region and beyond. Data for Social Impact is supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and built in collaboration with an advisory committee, the Community Innovation and Action Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and data.org.

Come join the conversation!

CSD thanks Fondazione Ufficio Pio and Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo for hosting such an insightful event to mark the release of "Investire nel futuro : asset building e disuguaglianze educative : pratiche, evidenze e prospettive," edited by Franca Maino, Valentina Battiloro, William Revello, and Davide Azzolini.

The full book is available from Egea for free download at Torrossa Store: https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/6229499?digital=true

“Peer learning is one of the most valuable assets in civil society networks.”

CSD's Li Zou and Inclusivity Project's Dinesh Jonnakuty describe the Education Subcommittee they co-chair as a knowledge hub within the NGO Committee for Social Development (NGO CSocD), a space for spotlighting peer learning, policy, and outside voices.

Zou, the international director at the Center for Social Development, represents both CSD and the International Consortium for Social Development in her work with the NGO Committee for Social Development. Learn more about her recent work on the global stage: https://csd.wustl.edu/csocd64/

Percorsi di Secondo Welfare's Paolo Riva spoke with CSD founder and Co-Director Michael Sherraden. In the 35 years since Sherraden's "Assets and the Poor" introduced asset building, the concept has become an increasingly influential perspective for rethinking welfare. Read Riva's coverage!

What happens to the local when federal funding shrinks? On June 30, an expert panel will discuss what cuts to Medicaid and SNAP mean for and how to build effective supports for those in need.

"Federal Cuts, Local Consequences: How St. Louis Can Respond to an Unraveling Safety Net"
🗓️ June 30, 12–1:30 PM CT
💻 Hybrid (Brown Lounge at WashU Brown School and Zoom)
➡️ Learn more and register: https://clarkfoxpolicyinstitute.wustl.edu/federal-cuts-local-consequences-how-stlouis-can-respond/

SPEAKERS
🔹Adam Cisroe Pearson, OTD, OTRL, Director of the Department of Human Services, City of St. Louis
🔹Kristen Wild, President and CEO, Operation Food Search
🔹Marius K. Johnson-Malone, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Civic Insight
🔹Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri
🔹Stephen Roll, Assistant Professor, ; Senior Policy Fellow, Clark-Fox Policy Institute; and Research Director, Center for Social Development.
🔹Jason Jabbari (moderator), Assistant Professor, WashU Brown School; Inaugural Faculty Director, Clark-Fox Policy Institute; Director, Center for Education Research, Practice, and Policy Partnership; and Director of Community Engagement, Center for Social Development.

ABOUT THE EVENT
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 delivers one of the most sweeping cuts to the U.S. social safety net in years. In Missouri, an estimated 210,000 residents could lose Medicaid and 150,000 could lose SNAP, putting health and economic stability at risk across the region. This event will unpack what these changes mean for local families and communities. It will also consider how guaranteed income and other cash transfer programs can offer a stronger, more dignified path to support in an era of shrinking benefits and increasing red tape.

This event is co-sponsored by the Clark-Fox Policy Institute and Center for Social Development.

This Friday, our sister center, the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA), with FinMark Trust and the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, will host an event to launch a Joint Policy Brief Series on approaches to supporting youth toward sustainable livelihoods.

"Generating Better Livelihoods for Grant Recipients Project and the Basic Package of Support" | Launch of the Policy Brief Series
🗓️ Fri., Jun 12
🕙 10:00-13:00 (SAST, UTC+2)
➡️ Learn more & register: 38df43e9-8604-4903-b3cb-3efe17258613@fa785acd-36ef-41bc-8a94-89841327e045" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/38df43e9-8604-4903-b3cb-3efe17258613@fa785acd-36ef-41bc-8a94-89841327e045

University of Johannesburg University of Cape Town

Coming soon: Three-part Joint Policy Brief Series

The series explores how coaching, in-person support and integrated approaches can help young people move towards sustainable livelihoods.

Developed by FinMark Trust, the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Development in Africa and the University of Cape Town's Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, the series highlights why there is no single solution to unemployment – and why complementary approaches matter.

Interested in attending?
The launch of the Joint Policy Brief Series takes place on Friday, 12 June 2026, from 10h00-13h00.

Register here to receive the Microsoft Teams link: 38df43e9-8604-4903-b3cb-3efe17258613@fa785acd-36ef-41bc-8a94-89841327e045" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/38df43e9-8604-4903-b3cb-3efe17258613@fa785acd-36ef-41bc-8a94-89841327e045

CSD's Michael Sherraden, in Turin to keynote an event hosted by Fondazione Ufficio Pio and Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo (more about this in subsequent posts), spoke with Percorsi di Secondo Welfare's Paolo Riva about the 35-year legacy of asset building and the opportunities ahead.

Read the article: https://www.secondowelfare.it/terzo-settore/fondazioni/asset-building-michael-sherraden/

WashU Brown School

L’asset building, raccontato dal suo “inventore” Intervista con Michael Sherraden, accademico che ha lavorato per garantire il risparmio incentivato anche alle persone meno abbienti.

♦️1 week from today!
Interest in the June 16 event has been so strong that in-person registration is full and a Zoom option has been added. Register now to save your spot for a special conversation on the St. Louis FIM ecosystem, emerging innovations, opportunities for collaboration, and ways to broaden impact.

"Food is Medicine: Policy and Program Innovation in St. Louis"
🗓️ Tuesday, June 16
🕣 8:30–10:00 AM
🔗Zoom
➡️ Register: https://clarkfoxpolicyinstitute.wustl.edu/food-is-medicine-policy-and-program-innovation-in-st-louis/

SPEAKERS
🔹 Brittany Jones is the Director of Community Driven Innovation and Racial Equity Initiatives at the St. Louis Integrated Health Network.
🔹 Sydney Gosik, MPH, MSW is the Director of Programs at Food Outreach.
🔹 Natasha Woodard leads the Nourishing Healthy Starts program at Operation Food Search.
🔹 Amanda Berry is the Food Security Policy Manager at Empower Missouri.
🔹 Mark Huffman, MD, MPH, FAHA, FACC, is the William Bowen Professor of Medicine, Professor of Public Health, and Co-Director of the Global Health Center and Global Health Futures Research Network at WashU.
🔹 Dan Ferris is an Associate Professor of Practice at the WashU Brown School, Senior Policy Fellow at the Clark-Fox Policy Institute, and Co-Director of Policy Education and Practice at the Center for Social Development.

This event is co-sponsored by the Clark-Fox Policy Institute, Center for Social Development, Confluence Collaborative for Community Engagement, Public Exchange, Center for Diabetes Translation Research, Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, and the WashU Bursky School of Public Health’s Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM).

Food is Medicine: Policy and Program Innovation in St. Louis Join us for a Senior Policy Fellows convening of researchers, practitioners, advocates, and community leaders across the St. Louis Food is Medicine ecosystem to share what’s working, what& #82…