Study Groups
The Growth Lab occassionally offers study groups to Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard students who are interested in exploring topics beyond their coursework while engaging with practitioners and researchers affiliated with the Lab.
Participating students are encouraged to share ideas, research and new approaches to the discussion topics.
Spring 2025
An Exploration of Rural American Economies
This study group will meet weekly over six weeks to introduce and discuss issues facing rural economies across the United States and relevant national, state, and local strategies. The study group will bring in learnings and guests from the Growth Lab’s multi-year research project in Wyoming and new research in New Mexico, as well as material from the Brookings Institution’s Reimagining Rural Policy program.
After several initial weeks of cases and discussion, the group will welcome several (virtual) guests to share their reflections on recent developments. This study group runs alongside an expanded focus on rural communities by our project on Wyoming and new research and support across New Mexico.
Students interested in participating must submit an application. The application deadline is Friday, March 14.
First-year students who complete this study group may have the opportunity to work directly with rural communities in these two states in the fall semester.
Info Session
Date: March 10, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: Wexner 434A
All students are welcome to join us for an informational lunch about the opportunity to participate in a 6-week study group on rural economies. The info session will include a 30-minute presentation by the Growth Lab and virtual participation by members of the Wyoming Business Council and/or New Mexico Economic Development Department.
Optional preparation for info session: “What everyone should know about rural America ahead of the 2024 election” and “Rural America’s economies are often left out by a design flaw in federal funding.”
Session 1
Date: March 24, 2025
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: 414B (Democracy Lab)
Topic: Reimagine Rural Case Studies. Discussion questions prepared by the Growth Lab based on two informative stories of rural communities from Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Preparation: Listen to Episodes 1 & Episode 6 of Season 1 of Reimagine Rural.
Session 2
Date: March 31, 2025
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: 414B (Democracy Lab)
Topic: Reimagine Rural Case Study & Summary. Discussion questions prepared by the Growth Lab based on two informative stories of rural communities from a Mississippi Delta community and a reservation community in South Dakota.
Preparation: Listen to Episodes 4 & Episode 7 of Season 1 of Reimagine Rural.
Session 3
Date: April 7, 2025
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: 414B (Democracy Lab)
Topic: A framing of the challenges in supporting rural communities with guest speakers from existing state and federal systems after 2+ years working with the Growth Lab. Introductory comments followed by Q&A / discussion.
Speakers
Heather Tupper
Regional Offices Director
Wyoming Business Council
Brandi Harlow
Northeast Regional Director
Wyoming Business Council
Vinicius Bueno
Economic Policy & Research Advisor, Wyoming Business Council
Connor Christensen
Economic Policy & Research Advisor, Wyoming Business Council
Preparation: Skim the statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) as well as an analysis of how communities can leverage federal grants.
Session 4
Date: April 14, 2025
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: 414B (Democracy Lab)
Topic: Identifying local opportunities in New Mexico. Presentation of work in progress analysis about how to identify opportunities in small counties and discussion about how local stakeholders can act upon the insights.
Optional preparation: Skim the latest state plan and read an article about it, and read a Dallas Fed article with an overview about NM.
Session 5
Date: April 21, 2025
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: 414B (Democracy Lab)
Topic: Hannah Conover, Executive Director of Grant Ready Kentucky, will join virtually to discuss rural economies in Kentucky, efforts and innovations in expanding local capability in the state and beyond, and working in the current moment of federal policy.
Preparation: Listen to Episode 9 of Season 2 of Reimagine Rural.
Session 6
Date: April 28, 2025
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: 414B (Democracy Lab)
Topic: An active discussion with guest speaker Tony Pippa from the Brookings Institution and host of Reimagine Rural. Questions from students that span topics of the previous five sessions to be sent to Tony in advance.
Preparation: Episode 8 of Season 1 of Reimagine Rural.