Public Interested Conference

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024

Time: 11:00am – 4:30pm ET

Location: In-person at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics (please enter from the Wexner Courtyard entrance at 19 Eliot St.)

Public Interested is a campus-wide conference organized by the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship and collaboratively planned by the Harvard Alumni Association, Advanced Leadership Initiative, FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard Global Health Institute, Harvard Innovation Labs, Institute of Politics, Office of Career Services, Office for the Arts, Office for Sustainability, Phillips Brooks House Association, Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, and the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School. This conference offers several outstanding ways for students and alums to explore public interest careers, make connections, and discuss social issues. The 2024 Public Interested Conference will take place on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at the Institute of Politics (please enter from the Wexner Courtyard entrance at 19 Eliot St.)

Breakout networking discussions include: advising on public interest careers, education, environmental justice, immigration reform, political engagement and advocacy, public and global health, public interest law and criminal justice reform, and safety nets: housing access and food security.

Featured speakers include:

• Avik Chatterjee AB ‘02 MPH ’15
  • A professor, epidemiologist, primary care doctor, and expert on addiction-related illnesses; Medical Director, Southampton Street Shelter Clinic, Boston Health Care for the Homeless
• Tina Fernandez AB ’94, ALI ’23
  • A social entrepreneur and expert on the impacts of trauma on leadership development; past Executive Director of Achieve Atlanta, an organization whose mission is to dramatically increase the number of Atlanta Public Schools students who complete post-secondary education
• Sabrina Peck AB ’84
  • A creative arts leader and community-builder working at the intersection of arts and society; Founder of CityStep, a youth arts program run by college students that transforms lives through creativity and connection
• Thea Sebastian AB ’08, JD ’16
  • A poverty abolitionist and activist for youth opportunity and economic mobility; Executive Director of the Futures Institute, an organization developing and advancing policies with a bold vision for our future, focused on safety and equal opportunity
• Sanjay Seth MPA ’19, MUP ’19
  • A climate change and sustainability expert; co-founder of Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment; Chief of Staff, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1

Schedule for the Conference:

11:00 a.m. – Updates on Campus Social Impact Work

12:00 p.m. – Networking Lunch with Students

1:00 p.m. – Featured Conversation: Pathways to Public Service Careers

2:00 p.m. – Big Public Service Ideas

3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Networking Reception