2026 Conference Proceedings
Now You Know: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Kitty Dukakis
Thursday May 14th
Cabral Center, John D. O’Bryant African American Institute
Sponsored by the Dukakis center of Urban and Regional Policy, this symposium will celebrate women’s leadership in public service as exemplified by the life and legacy of Kitty Dukakis. Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, community members and researchers, we will collectively explore how to make meaningful progress across four policy areas championed by the former Massachusetts First Lady: housing insecurity, mental health, environmental preservation, and support for the arts. The goal is to form new coalitions across the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors that will actively work together to move the needle in each area and fulfill the collective vision of Kitty and Michael Dukakis to build a thriving community that serves the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth.
Agenda & Panel Recordings
Opening Remarks featuring Governor Michael Dukakis – 12:20-12:50 PM
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1. Alicia Modestino · Director, Dukakis Center; Associate Professor, Northeastern University
2. Governor Michael Dukakis · Former Governor of Massachusetts
3. Andrea Dukakis · Daughter of Kitty and Michael Dukakis
4. Ted Landsmark · Distinguished Professor of Public Policy & Urban Affairs; Former Director, Dukakis Center
5. Maria Ivanova · Director, School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs, Northeastern University
6. Beth Winkelstein · Provost, Northeastern University
Panel 1: Addressing Housing Insecurity and Affordability – 1:15-2:15 PM
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Moderated by Alicia Modestino, Director of Dukakis Center, Northeastern University
Panelists:
1. Patrice Williams · Assistant Professor of Participatory Action Research & Provost Impact Fellow, Northeastern University
2. Robin Gibson · Emerging Scholar, Healthy Neighborhood Study
3. Dr. Aisha Miller · Former Chief of Civic Engagement, City of Boston; Related Beal
4. Rachel Heller · CEO, Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
5. Matt · Director of State & Federal Advocacy, CHAPA (Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association)
Panel 2: Destigmatizing Mental Health and Substance Use – 2:15-3:15 PM
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Moderated by Kim Lucas, Associate Director of Civic Research, Dukakis Center for Urban & Regional Policy, Northeastern University
Panelists:
1. Dr. Beth Molnar, Professor of Public Health & Health Sciences; Faculty Scholar, Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research, Northeastern University
2. Jade Bulger · Director of Clinical Services, Bridge Over Troubled Waters
3. Brendan Little · Executive Director & Co-Founder, HALO Initiatives (Healing After Loss to Overdose); Former Policy Director, Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, City of Boston
4. Dr. Nathaniel Van Kirk · Program Director, OCD Institute, McLean Hospital; President, OCD Massachusetts
Panel 3: Building Resilient Urban Neighborhoods – 3:30-4:30 PM
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Moderated by Joan Fitzgerald, Professor of Public Policy & Urban Affairs, Northeastern University
Panelists:
1. Sarah Carr · Professor of Architecture, Northeastern University
2. Chris Osgood · Director, Office of Climate Resilience; Senior Advisor for Infrastructure, Office of Mayor Michelle Wu, City of Boston
3. Sherry Ruane · Chief Development Officer, Weston & Sampson Design Studio
4. Gregory King · Managing Director, TSK Energy Solutions; Advisory Committee Member, Dukakis Center School of Public Policy Presenting on behalf of Ed Gaskins · Executive Director, Greater Grove Hall Main Street
Panel 4: Preserving Community through the Arts – 4:30-5:30 PM
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Moderated by Ted Landsmark, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy & Urban Affairs, Northeastern University
Panelists:
1. Anne Hawley · Director Emerita, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
2. Jody Kipnis · Co-Founder, Holocaust Legacy Foundation
3. Kate Gilbert · Artist; Founder, Now + There (Temporary & Site-Specific Public Art)
4. Killian Mukwete · Assistant Professor, School of Architecture (KMD), Northeastern University
5. Heather Kaplow · Boston-Based Artist; Featured Artist, Boston Public Art Triennial
Student Awards and Closing Remarks Honoring Ted Landmark – 5:30-6:00 PM
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1. Alicia Modestino, Director, Kitty & Michael Dukakis Center for Urban & Regional Policy, Northeastern University
2. Paula Sampson · Director, National History Day, Massachusetts Historical Society
3. Elyssa Tardif · Director of Education, Massachusetts Historical Society
4. Lydia Dang & Maria Dang · Recipients · Lexington High School
5. Hannah Beaser and Anne Kourtz · Recipients · Needham High
