Common Ground of Justice, Health and Democracy: Our Thought, Our Resolution
Justice, health and democracy—these three words are the foundation of any civilized and developed society. But often their use is limited to political slogans or policy documents. JHD Impact Initiative believes that unless these words are translated into ground reality, change will remain only a fantasy.
This is our objective—to connect policy with ethics, to combine research with ground experiences, and to make democracy full of people’s participation, not just a process of elections. We believe that any society can be healthy and just only when its policies incorporate the voice of all citizens, especially those who are often left out of the decision-making process.
The real purpose of JHD Impact is to understand and include expansion of health services, transparency of the justice system and democratic participation not only in institutional language, but in the language of the common people. This is why we have developed this initiative as a “think-and-do” tank — meaning we don’t just think, we also do deep thinking, find solutions, and implement them on the ground.
From Idea to Action: A Participatory, Ethical, and Scientific Process
Our process is based on four simple but profound stages: Idea, Inquiry, Action, and Change. This model makes us not just a policy analyst, but a participant in policymaking. First, we interact with community leaders, researchers, and policy experts to understand social challenges and develop a “Strategic Impact Idea.” Next, we research that idea deeply — not just based on data or reports, but by understanding the lives of real people involved in the problem.
In the third stage, based on that research, we develop a pilot solution that we implement directly on the ground — whether it’s a city’s healthcare system, a district’s judicial system, or community engagement. Finally, when the results are out, we evaluate them and spread the solution to other states or institutions. In this entire process, we consider policy not as a directive from an external institution, but as a joint creation made with the public.
Our Uniqueness: Connecting Policy to Humanity
The biggest strength of the JHD Impact Initiative is that it does not confine policy making to an intellectual laboratory, but connects it to humanity, ethics and social responsibility. Today, when democracy is being questioned across the world, health care has become a means of profit and justice is limited to only a select few – at such a time our work proves that policy making, if in the right hands, can bring revolutionary change.
For example, in the US, we tried to look at public health policy, vaccination strategy, and crisis management from a new perspective during the COVID-19 crisis. Similarly, in serious issues like the opioid crisis, we added not only medical solutions but also judicial and social perspectives. We have shown that if policy is made with ethical thinking, scientific approach and people’s participation, it affects lives, not just on paper.
Scope of collaboration: From universities to community
We are associated with prestigious institutions of the country and the world – like Harvard University’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, Brown University School of Public Health and New America. Together with these institutions, we partner with local communities, governments, city mayors, health departments and non-governmental organizations.
Our team includes policy analysts, researchers, doctors, jurists, social workers and technology experts – who together give new shape to policies. But most importantly, we give equal importance to the voice of the common people, not just experts. Whether it is the opinion of a local leader, the experience of a firefighter or the concern of a mother – we believe that every person can be a participant in policy making. This is our democracy, and this is our ethos.
Future Policy: Reinventing Democracy
At a time when technology, politics and money are controlling policies together, JHD Impact promotes a vision that involves the participation of every citizen. We believe that democracy is not just about voting, but about people’s participation in every decision, every day. That is why we promote policies that are based on “co-governance” – where the government and the public make decisions together, and every problem is solved not just top-down, but also bottom-up. We see policy as a process that involves dialogue, debate, consensus and compassion. Whether it is health policy, legislation on technological surveillance, or a plan for racial justice – we apply this principle everywhere.
You are invited to join us
If you are a researcher who wants to make a difference in society, a government official who wants to connect policy to ground reality, or a young student who wants to work for democracy and justice – the JHD Impact Initiative invites you. Our doors are open not just to educated experts, but to anyone who believes that policy is not just a process but the first step towards change.
Let us together build a society where policy is not just the voice of the rich and powerful, but a reflection of the expectations of every citizen. We want future generations to live in a society where justice, health and democracy are not just words in books but a part of every person’s life.
Our Methodology
- We consider policy making to be an integrated and participatory process. Our focus is:
- Designing policy in collaboration with the community
- Adapting policy to local needs
- Scaling up to state and national levels
- Revisiting and improving based on grassroots experiences
Our process consists of the following phases:
- Phase 1: Ideas Collection (Open Call & Network Suggestions)
- Inputs from the Mayors Network of Cities
- Inputs from Funding Agencies, Governments and Organizations
- Phase 2: Design Phase (3–12 months)
- Budgeting, Staffing, Resource Mapping
- Creating Community Practice Groups
Phase 3: Execution Phase 1 (1–2 years)
- Collaboration with stakeholders
- Co-design of policies
- Data collection and sharing
Phase 4: Execution Phase 2 and beyond (up to additional 2 years)
- Documentation of results
- Dissemination of learnings and wider impact
🏛 Partner Institutions
- The JHD Impact Initiative is a unique partnership that brings together the following institutions: Combines:
- Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University
- New America, a public policy think tank
- Brown University School of Public Health
- The initiative began with the idea that policy should be made not just by experts, but in collaboration with public representatives and communities.
📚 Our Scope
- The issues we work on include:
- Justice Reform
- Health Equity
- Democracy Renovation
- Economic Dignity and Opportunity
- Crisis Policy Response
Our recent topics include:
- The Opioid Crisis
- COVID-19 Policy Review
- Racial Justice and the Use of Race in Biomedicine
- Reimagining Local Emergency Services
- Responsible Tech Policy
What Our Experts Say
- “JHD is a blueprint for turning policymaking into ethical action.”
- — Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO, New America
- “Securing the social contract for all is the key to a happier and safer society.”
- — Danielle Allen, Director, JHD and Professor, Harvard
- “JHD ensures that new ideas are not just discussed, but implemented.”
- — Tony Guidotti, Fellow, JHD
Latest News & Events
- Eric Beerbohm appointed Director of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center.
- Covid Crisis Group publishes Lessons from the Covid Wars report.
- New white papers on tech governance from the GETTING-Plurality network.
- New series on democracy in the Washington Post — “Renovating Democracy”
- Rethinking the Constitution article series in the Harvard Gazette
- City of Madison releases CARES Program report
- Consultation program for National Plan on Responsible Business Practices
Our Core Principles
We believe that justice, health, and democracy are interconnected values — essential to the full humanity and “human flourishing” of a society.
Problems will never be fully solved if policymaking is viewed in silos or “silos.” Our model brings these together to create comprehensive societal solutions.
Examples:
The opioid crisis: law and order, health care, and democratic accountability — a balance of all three is needed.
Economic prosperity: Not just jobs, but social capital and opportunities for participation are also needed.
An invitation to partner
If you are a policymaker, researcher, community leader, or citizen who wants to make a difference, join us.
The JHD Impact Initiative invites you to partner in policymaking through your city, organization, or ideas.
Contact
124 Mount Auburn Street, 520N, Cambridge, MA 02138
📧 Email: info@jhdimpact.org
📞 Phone: (617) 496-2492
🔗 Twitter: @jhdimpact