The Institute for Urban Policy Research is dedicated to improving lives and quality of life through community-based research that informs, motivates, and empowers ordinary people and the policy makers, civic leaders, and organizations who serve them.Working at IUPR involves collaborating with practitioners and academics on a multitude of projects concerning community and resident well-being. Projects on which I have been actively involved include reentry programs for offenders, and after school programs for youth, as well as reporting for local hospital councils, city officials, police departments, and a variety of non-profit and grass roots organizations. Our Institute offers program design and evaluation and grant writing guidance, among other general research services.