
Since
its founding in 1988, the Howard Samuels State Management and Policy
Center has become an important source for comparative state and city
research and political analysis.
In
the past two decades, the roles of state and local governments have
increased greatly as federalist policies are pursued and power is
devolved away from the federal government to more local structures. As
a result, the need for applied research on state and city level policy
and politics has never been greater. The Samuels Center works to
fulfill that need by publishing reports on politics and policy on the
state and city level.
Our
mission is to advance and promote democracy by focusing on those areas
of research and public policy that increase access and participation to
the political process, and foster equity and quality of services for
marginalized groups. Center research emphasizes education, welfare
policy, community development, empowerment zones, and youth organizing.
The role of community based organizations is central to the policy
research in each area. The Center also takes an active role in
expanding democratic discourse by convening conferences and seminars on
these topics then publishing and disseminating their results.
In
addition, the Samuels Center places a high priority on training
researchers and scholars, and in an effort to promote diversity in the
social sciences, the Samuels Center has made a point of seeking out
talented women and minority scholars interested in urban policy. The
Center has provided dozens of graduate students the opportunity to get
hands-on experience doing original research in the field as well as
writing and publishing reports and journal articles while supporting
their attainment of a post graduate degree.
The
Howard Samuels Center, by employing graduate students on its research
projects, helps students finance their education while providing them
with invaluable practical experience in urban research. This experience
furthers the students' careers while ensuring that there will be a
diverse work force devoted to urban issues that relate to
democracy.

Howard
Samuels, described by New York Governor Mario Cuomo as "a compassionate
man who possessed a unique sense of humanity and an intelligent,
practical view of business and government," moved from a successful
business career to one in government. He served as Under
Secretary of Commerce and Director of the Small Business Administration
during the Johnson and Carter Administrations, and was the first
President and Chairman of the Board of NYOTB. In all his
government positions, Samuels made it his priority to employ people
marginalized by race, gender, and disability. Samuels was
dedicated to fundamental reform, the advancement of the rights of the
marginalized, and to combating racism, to these ends serving on
numerous commissions, boards and committees. "Howard cared about
causes and people," says New York City Mayor David Dinkins, "all
people, but particularly those less fortunate." The HowardSamuels Center was named after him, and continues his lifelong commitment to justice for all.
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