A Conversation with NLC Menino Fellow, Elizabeth Clackson

Elizabeth Clackson (CAS’22) is the 2019-2020 National League of Cities (NLC) Menino Fellow. Through this Fellowship, Elizabeth spent the fall semester paired with a faculty member in an on-campus Directed Study program. She has spent the 2020 spring semester in Boston University’s Washington DC study abroad program, where she is taking classes and participating in a paid internship in the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families. Elizabeth is pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Urban Studies.

How did you get involved with the Initiative on Cities?

I originally heard about the Initiatives on Cities through an email from the Political Science Undergraduate advisor sent out with a list of internships accepting applications for the summer. I applied for the IOC Resilience and Racial Equity summer internship with the City of Boston but did not get accepted to the program. So, when the IOC invited me to apply for this fellowship, I was excited to do so and am grateful for receiving the opportunity.

What was the first half of your fellowship experience like? What sort of directed study/research were you conducting? 

I conducted a study on the Boston Centers for Youth and Families, community centers funded by the City of Boston. It was challenging due to the time constraints and the lack of communication with these centers. However, I was able to gain enough information to draw some conclusions about additional external funding to centers, and the responsiveness of centers corresponding with need in each community.

What research or project are you currently working on?

I am learning so much about the network of local elected officials that NLC has and the inner workings of the organization. My main project as of now is the 2019 Reengagement Census through the NLC Reengagement Network. This census is to track aspects such as persistence, demographics, and youth outcomes for reengagement centers/programs that are members of the network. I have recently sent out the census form to the centers/programs and am awaiting responses. By the end of my time here at NLC, I will write an executive summary with the data collected through the census for the network and NLC to share.

In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing cities and/or city-level programs that directly impact children, youth, and families?

Cities are being confronted with historic and growing inequities of race and socioeconomic status, particularly in the United States. Historically, systems of institutionalized racism have limited opportunities for people of color and those of other minority groups. Along the same lines, barriers have been put up against people who are poor, making socioeconomic mobility increasingly challenging. These issues affect children, youth and families because the components of education, after school programs, housing insecurity/homelessness, etc. must address the inequities in place to be effective for all city residents.

From an undergraduate’s perspective, what’s the best way for young, college students to engage with their city or engage with current activist movements that deal with these urban-related issues?

One way for college students to get involved is to vote. As simple as it sounds, every voice matters in municipal voting. Who is leading a city can determine the priorities and strategies cities will take in addressing issues. Also, students can contact their local elected officials to let them know of the urban-related issues that are most important to college students.

What is your favorite city, and why?

Cambridge, MA because it’s where I spent a lot of my time growing up. The food and culture in the city are amazing. The city government also has some great initiatives both in city programming and policy to address inequities in the city.

Anything else you would like to add?

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity given by the Initiative on Cities and the National League of Cities to learn more about cities and urban governance, and gain working experience in the field.