Key Takeaways
- The Marguerite Casey Foundation has awarded a grant to support the Smart Cities Research Lab at Trinity College, led by Davarian L. Baldwin.
- The lab focuses on creating equitable urban communities and advocates for increased financial contributions from nonprofit institutions to municipal budgets.
- Baldwin’s work promotes action-oriented research, engaging students and community members in efforts to address social justice issues.
Funding to Elevate Social Responsibility Efforts
A grant from the Marguerite Casey Foundation is set to bolster the economic and social responsibility initiatives of the Smart Cities Research Lab, established by Davarian L. Baldwin, a distinguished professor at Trinity College. Since its inception in 2021, the lab has evolved from pure research to active advocacy, especially following the social upheaval of 2020, which prompted local groups to encourage Baldwin to engage more directly in community issues.
Based at the Trinity Social Justice Institute (TSJI), the Smart Cities Research Lab aims to identify best practices for fostering equitable urban environments. A significant part of their focus is the financial implications of universities operating as tax-exempt nonprofits, which often negatively impact the budgets of surrounding communities by depriving them of essential property tax revenue. This revenue is crucial for funding public schools and infrastructure.
The lab is currently spearheading nationwide Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) campaigns that urge nonprofits, especially academic institutions and their medical affiliates, to contribute voluntarily to city budgets. Notably, their efforts in New Haven led to Yale University’s commitment to increase voluntary payments to the city by $52 million over six years. The lab is also collaborating with stakeholders across cities such as Baltimore, St. Louis, and even international locales like the Netherlands.
The Marguerite Casey Foundation grant will be distributed over three years to fund operational costs, student researchers, and to allow Baldwin to strengthen community engagement. Baldwin emphasizes that this support enables effective gatherings for diverse organizations and stakeholders to collaborate on equitable development initiatives.
Additionally, the Smart Cities Research Lab serves as a practical extension of Baldwin’s teachings at Trinity, providing students with opportunities for training and research experience. This work has already positioned former students in significant roles, including urban planning and education sectors.
Baldwin, recognized as a Freedom Scholar by the Marguerite Casey Foundation in 2022, highlights the dual nature of his role as both an academic and an advocate. He appreciates the foundation’s alignment with projects that straddle this boundary. He expresses gratitude for the support of Trinity College, noting its commitment to allowing scholars to pursue socially impactful research, even when it entails critical reflections on institutional practices.
The Marguerite Casey Foundation aims to create a society where governance prioritizes the needs of marginalized communities, emphasizing that its grant recipients are instrumental in unlocking vital federal resources to redefine public expenditure towards enhancing quality of life for all.
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