The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research has been bringing together leading scholars, community organizers, and research leaders at every level for a wide-ranging series of academic presentations on urgent issues related to social work, global public health, and poverty. Combining panel discussions from mid-career investigators with keynotes from premier experts, our recurring program of events is serving as a platform for connecting scholars and translating findings into real-world impact across local, national, and global communities.
Our fall lineup connected experts working on diverse research, from behavioral care implementation in NYC to novel public health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, and established a vital platform for interdisciplinary dialogue:
- Global economic interventions took center stage on September 24, with “The Impact of Economic Empowerment on Child and Family Well-being.” Dr. Samuel Kizito, Dr. Josephine Nabayinda, and Vicent Ssentumbwe evaluated over 15 years of research testing economic interventions in Uganda. They outlined how financial stabilization improves health, social, and educational outcomes for children and families affected by HIV, while offering insights into applying these models to vulnerable populations in the United States.
- The first Spotlight Seminar of the new academic year featured Dr. John Santelli (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health). Dr. Santelli’s lecture, “The Changing Face of HIV in Rakai, Uganda: Orphanhood, Family, and Adolescent Social Transitions,” drew on NICHD-funded longitudinal data from the Rakai Health Sciences Program. Dr. Santelli analyzed how shifting family dynamics and social milestones influence adolescent health in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.
- On October 22, Dr. Sahnah Lim (NYU Grossman School of Medicine) and Dr. Michelle Munson (NYU Silver School of Social Work) co-hosted “Advancing Equity Through Collaboration: Community-Engaged Research Strategies.” Their presentation provided actionable frameworks for centering community leadership at every research stage—from initial study design to legislative advocacy—while confronting power imbalances and navigating institutional constraints.
By bridging local practice in New York City with international field research across sub-Saharan Africa, our series of research-focused events underscore our commitment to evidence-based policy, social justice, and systemic poverty disruption. Find recordings of select presentations on the McSilver Institute’s YouTube channel.
Coming Up
On November 19, 2026, the next Spotlight Seminar aims to help researchers understand federal funding priorities. Dr. Mary Acri, Program Chief at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), will present “Navigating the NIMH Funding Landscape: Current Priorities, Opportunities, and Strategies for Success.” Dr. Acri will guide researchers through evolving federal funding mechanisms, emerging research priorities, and strategies for designing competitive proposals aligned with NIMH goals.