Who Will Be the Next Moynihan Prize Recipient?
Various prizes, honors, and distinctions are awarded every day to people trying to make a difference in the world, but we believe the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize is especially worth highlighting for Spotlight readers. The American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS),which is currently accepting nominations for the award, created the Moynihan Prize in 2007 to recognize the social scientist, public official or other civic leader who has done the most to champion “the use of informed judgment to advance the public good.” This includes encouraging the use of social science research in the policy-making process, promoting a civil public discourse and reaching across the aisle to craft bi-partisan solutions to society۪s most pressing problems.
At Out of the Spotlight we wholeheartedly support these goals at a time when policy decisions are too often made without careful consideration of the evidence.
Past winners of the award have made substantial contributions to social policy efforts embraced by the late New York senator, including eradicating poverty, bolstering public health and enhancing race relations. The 2013 recipient is William Julius Wilson, the director of the Joblessness and Urban Poverty Research Program at Harvard University. Wilson created the program in 1996 “to ensure that scholarly research plays a critical role in the creation and implementation of national public policy concerning the poor.”
Other past winners include Alice M. Rivlin, founding director of the Congressional Budget Office and former director of the White House Office of Management and Budget; David Ellwood, dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; Robert Greenstein, founder and executive director of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities; Diane Ravitch, research professor of Education at New York University and former Assistant Secretary of Education; and Paul Volker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve.
We encourage OOTS readers to send their nominations for this important award. Nominations must be submitted by September 27, 2013. Send letters of nomination and supporting materials (e.g. nominee’s CV, bio, op-eds, etc.) to AAPSS Executive Director Tom Kecskemethy at thomask@asc.upenn.edu.
Posted by Victoria
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Here at Out of the Spotlight,we offer a behind-the-scenes look at the latest news and information essentialto anyone working to fight poverty. From key political appointees to clashesover policy, we cover the news that doesn’t always make the evening news. Checkout Out of the Spotlight for our take on the twists and turnsof the latest political developments and their impact on poverty reduction.Topics and ideas are welcome! Just contact mlaracy@aecf.org or watersboots@hotmail.com.