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COVID-19 Transparency – A Step Backwards
/0 Comments/in Better Government, Blog: Better Government, Blog: Transparency, COVID Health, COVID Transparency, Featured, News, rCOVID, Transparency /by David ClancyMassachusetts 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.
Announcing the Fall 2020 Pioneer/Nichols Sports Management Policy College Case Competition
/0 Comments/in Blog, Featured /by Andrew MikulaIn 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 […]
“City Upon a Hill” Massachusetts Monuments & Memorials: 25 Resources for K-12 Education
/0 Comments/in Blog: Education, Blog: US History, COVID education resources, Featured, US History /by Jamie GassIn 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.
“Every Child is an Artist…” – 15 Resources for K-12 Art Education
/0 Comments/in Academic Standards, Blog: Education, COVID Education, COVID education resources, Jamie Gass, News /by Jamie GassIn 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.
“Music is liquid architecture” – 15 Resources for K-12 Education
/0 Comments/in Academic Standards, Blog: Education, COVID Education, COVID education resources, Featured, Jamie Gass, News /by Jamie GassIn 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.
HVAC Systems’ Influence on the Spread of Covid-19
/0 Comments/in Blog, Healthcare, rCOVID /by Darley BoitHVAC 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 […]
The 65th Anniversary of the Murder of Emmett Till: 6 Key Resources for K-12 Education
/in Academic Standards, Blog, Blog: Education, Blog: US History, Civil Rights Education, COVID education resources, Featured, Jamie Gass, US History /by Jamie GassContinuing 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.
Daughters of Liberty: Celebrating the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage & History – 10 Key Resources for K-12 Education
/0 Comments/in Blog: Education, Blog: US History, Civil Rights Education, COVID Education, COVID education resources, Jamie Gass, US History /by Jamie GassIn 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.
Effects of Covid-19 on the Accommodation and Food Services Industry
/0 Comments/in Blog, COVID Economy, Featured /by Darley BoitSince 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.
Mapping K-12 School Reopening in Massachusetts
/0 Comments/in Blog: Education, COVID Education, Featured, rCOVID /by Editorial StaffAs 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.
Drawing on State Guidelines to Keep Youth Baseball Alive during COVID-19
/0 Comments/in Blog, Featured, rCOVID /by Andrew MikulaSince 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 […]
Massachusetts PPP Benefits Big Businesses, Data Called Into Question
/0 Comments/in Blog: Economy, COVID Economy, Economic Opportunity, News /by Thomas O'RourkeYouth Basketball and COVID-19: Preparing an Indoor Winter Sport for a Global Pandemic
/0 Comments/in Blog, Featured, rCOVID /by Andrew MikulaWith 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 […]
Where Did the Largest PPP Loans Go? Assessing the distribution of loans by industry
/0 Comments/in Blog: Economy, COVID Economy, Economic Opportunity, News /by Nina WeissThe 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 […]
Pioneer wants to know how many people with dementia have died in Massachusetts nursing homes. State government can’t even tell us how many people live in them.
/0 Comments/in Blog, COVID Health, Featured, Healthcare, rCOVID /by Andrew MikulaLast month, Pioneer Institute sent a public records request to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) asking for data on the population of the state’s long-term care facilities. The goal was to determine whether COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people with serious pre-existing conditions particular to the old and frail, such as dementia. Pioneer was extremely disappointed with the response sent to us by the state Department of Public Health (DPH), which potentially revealed shocking gaps in information on the facilities that the agency oversees. Specifically, Pioneer asked for the following: The number of residents of long-term care facilities in Massachusetts as of February 29, 2020 The number of residents of long-term care facilities in Massachusetts […]