THE PIONEER BLOG

Jamie Gass

“Architecture is Frozen Music” Great Massachusetts Buildings – 25 Resources for K-12 Education

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , /by Jamie Gass

Understanding enduring public and private architecture is a key way to learn about art, ideas, and how they harmonize with our democracy. Yet, Massachusetts buildings are often never discussed in K-12 education. We’re offering a variety of links about outstanding houses and architecture across the Bay State for parents, teachers, and schoolchildren to enjoy, visit, and better appreciate, including:

David Clancy

COVID-19 Transparency – A Step Backwards

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Massachusetts has unfortunately taken the backwards step of ending its longstanding daily reporting of something basic and important: the virus’s cumulative impact on various age groups.

Andrew Mikula

Announcing the Fall 2020 Pioneer/Nichols Sports Management Policy College Case Competition

/0 Comments/in , /by Andrew Mikula

In recognition of the continued concerns COVID-19 poses to the sports management industry, particularly as many professional sports resume play in some capacity, Pioneer Institute has partnered with Nichols College to provide undergraduate college students an opportunity to solve problems pertinent to the present COVID-19 crisis in a rewarding, competitive format.    The Institute is working to facilitate the adaptation of professional sports leagues to these challenging times for the benefit of the many communities, businesses, and individuals that depend on economic activity and personal enrichment from their activities. Keeping sports leagues viable during a global pandemic can be extremely challenging, and we believe this issue deserves more attention in advance of a potential resurgence of COVID-19 later in the […]

Jamie Gass

“City Upon a Hill” Massachusetts Monuments & Memorials: 25 Resources for K-12 Education

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by Jamie Gass

In Pioneer’s ongoing series of blogs here, here, here, and here on curricular resources for parents, families, and teachers during COVID-19, this one focuses on: Introducing K-12 schoolchildren to Massachusetts monuments & memorials.

Jamie Gass

“Every Child is an Artist…” – 15 Resources for K-12 Art Education

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by Jamie Gass

In Pioneer’s ongoing series of blogs on curricular resources for parents, families, and teachers during COVID-19, this one focuses on: Introducing K-12 schoolchildren to great works of art.

Jamie Gass

“Music is liquid architecture” – 15 Resources for K-12 Education

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by Jamie Gass

In Pioneer’s ongoing series of blogs on curricular resources for parents, families, and teachers during COVID-19, this entry focuses on introducing K-12 schoolchildren to timeless music.

Darley Boit

HVAC Systems’ Influence on the Spread of Covid-19

/0 Comments/in , , /by Darley Boit

HVAC systems provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to millions of buildings, however in the age of the Covid-19 pandemic, these systems also pose a serious health risk. Many HVAC systems lack proper air exchange, instead recycling old air. Consequently, if infected droplets enter the system, the virus circulates throughout the area, potentially widening its spread and infecting more individuals. This is an issue considering HVAC systems are used widely across Massachusetts and the entirety of the United States in both large and small establishments.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) state that the virus is mainly transmitted through droplets or occasionally when an individual comes in contact with an infected surface and then touches […]

Jamie Gass

The 65th Anniversary of the Murder of Emmett Till: 6 Key Resources for K-12 Education

/in , , , , , , , , /by Jamie Gass

Continuing Pioneer’s ongoing series of blogs on curricular resources for parents, families, and teachers during COVID-19, this post focuses on the 65th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till, which is August 28, 2020.

Jamie Gass

Daughters of Liberty: Celebrating the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage & History – 10 Key Resources for K-12 Education

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by Jamie Gass

In Pioneer’s ongoing series of blogs here, here, and here on curricular resources for parents, families, and teachers during COVID-19, this one focuses on: Celebrating the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage & Women’s History.

Darley Boit

Effects of Covid-19 on the Accommodation and Food Services Industry

/0 Comments/in , , /by Darley Boit

Since March, lockdowns and safety regulations from the Covid-19 pandemic have dramatically affected the Accommodation and Food Services industry. The sector is predicted to lose at least 2.1 billion dollars in Massachusetts before recovering. These losses affect individuals, businesses, and Massachusetts’ economy as a whole. 

Editorial Staff

Mapping K-12 School Reopening in Massachusetts

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As the 2020-21 school year begins for the approximately 950,000 schoolchildren in Massachusetts, our state and country are working to adapt to the unprecedented moment presented by COVID-19. To aid in these efforts, Pioneer Institute is posting a database and map of districts’ reopening plans.

Andrew Mikula

Drawing on State Guidelines to Keep Youth Baseball Alive during COVID-19

/0 Comments/in , , /by Andrew Mikula

Since Major League Baseball finalized its reopening plans in late June, over 100 players have tested positive for COVID-19, throwing into jeopardy the prospect of completing a baseball season, however short, during a global pandemic. Now, a team of University of Massachusetts students are working to make sure that youth baseball organizations across the country aren’t put into the same quandary.    During this year’s Pioneer Institute & Nichols College Sports Management Policy College Case Competition, Alvin He, Xinran Liu, and Minying Zhou won 2nd place for a policy proposal discussing adaptations little league players, coaches, and parents can make to stay safe while continuing to participate in America’s national pastime.    In particular, the UMass students suggest that athletes […]

Thomas O'Rourke

Massachusetts PPP Benefits Big Businesses, Data Called Into Question

/0 Comments/in , , , /by Thomas O'Rourke

On July 6, the Small Business Association (SBA) resumed accepting applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). While the program has been heralded by many as a lifeline for small businesses, more recently, many have questioned both the true beneficiaries of the policy and the accuracy of the data. That is, the SBA released a database of businesses receiving PPP loans–separating businesses that received less than $150,000 from those that received more than $150,000–which details company names, loan amounts (in the form of a range), and the number of jobs retained as a result of the loan. Since the release of this data, Pioneer has released a PPP Loan Tracker, […]

Andrew Mikula

Youth Basketball and COVID-19: Preparing an Indoor Winter Sport for a Global Pandemic

/0 Comments/in , , /by Andrew Mikula

With a COVID-19 vaccine’s widespread availability still estimated to be sometime in 2021, the world faces a long winter in which the coronavirus will likely continue disrupting our daily lives by reshaping the realm of physical activity. Many of the most prevalent impacts of this ongoing hardship will be borne by children, whose physical and emotional development is greatly aided by participating in team sports.         This year’s Pioneer Institute & Nichols College Sports Management Policy College Case Competition sought policy-driven adaptive solutions that will allow youth to continue participating in these sports even during a public health crisis. The winning team, consisting of Isabella Nerney, Dylan Pella, Adam Phillips, and Shannon St. Lawrence, all undergraduates at Nichols College, has […]

Nina Weiss

Where Did the Largest PPP Loans Go? Assessing the distribution of loans by industry

/0 Comments/in , , , /by Nina Weiss

The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on all parts of the economy, including small businesses. As part of the $2.2 Trillion CARES Act, Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with the explicit intent of helping small businesses survive the tumult of the past few months. The PPP provides low-interest — and, in many cases, forgivable — loans to small businesses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines small businesses as establishments with 500 employees or less, and the maximum loans issued were for $10 million. On July 6, the SBA published a list of businesses that received loans in the amount of $150,000 or more. Using this data, Pioneer developed a PPP Loan Tracker, which presents loan recipient and lender information […]