Elevate the Debate

Preface

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research institution located in Washington, DC. It was founded in 1968 to study the nation's urban problems and evaluate the Great Society initiatives of the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. Today, Urban comprises more than 500 social scientists, economists, mathematicians, demographers, data scientists, policy experts, and communicators. At our core, we believe good decisions are shaped by facts, rather than ideology, have the power to improve public policy and practice, strengthen communities, redirect the way businesses think and operate, and transform people's lives for the better. Our research is not done for the sake of research or for a handful of other scholars; it is conducted to serve as a catalyst for change in perception, thought, and action.

Urban's Communication Department began to grow rapidly in 2013, evolving to better help Urban connect with other researchers, policymakers, practitioners, the public, and the press. With a refreshed brand identity and transformed digital presence, Urban began pioneering new ways to bring research to life. Today, a modernized approach and institute serves as a model for other nonprofits and organizations.

As Urban's communication efforts began to bear fruit, the team began to host trainings—internally and externally—on a range of topics including media relations, blogging, social media, data visualization, presentation skills, and translating research for policymakers. At the request ...