Date: Jun 24, 2008

Hofstra's National Center for Suburban Studies Partners with Brookings Institution's "Blueprint for American Prosperity" Project

NCSS Executive Director Lawrence Levy named to Brookings advisory panel on initiative

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University® has been designated a partner to the "Blueprint for American Prosperity" project of the prestigious Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

"Blueprint for American Prosperity: Unleashing the Potential of a Metropolitan Nation," is an ambitious, multi-year initiative to build long-term U.S. prosperity by reinvigorating the federal role in promoting the health and vitality of America's metropolitan areas.

As part of the partnership, NCSS Executive Director Lawrence Levy was named to the Brookings advisory panel on the initiative and delivered a keynote address and moderated the luncheon plenary panel at "The Summit for American Prosperity: Washington and Metropolitan Areas Working Together" in Washington June 11 and 12, 2008. The Summit launched the next phase of the project and builds on the Blueprint's earlier efforts to demonstrate that the nation's assets are concentrated in our metro areas and are the vital engines of the U.S. and global economy. NCSS Academic Director Christopher Niedt also participated in the conference.

"There isn't a more prestigious think tank in America than Brookings and no more important project for the economic future of this country," Mr. Levy said. "The suburbs and their economic and political clout need to play an important role in revitalizing metro areas. And I'm delighted that Brookings would recognize Hofstra, its National Center for Suburban Studies and especially its faculty as worthy partners and key resources. This recognition and opportunity is good for the university, Long Island and the suburbs in general."

The NCSS and Brookings collaborated on a conference at Hofstra, "MetroNation: Blueprint for American Prosperity", on March 27, 2008. Bruce Katz, vice president and director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, presented the blueprint at morning and afternoon sessions to local government leaders, academic experts and students. The conference was part of Educate ’08, Hofstra’s unprecedented educational effort that engages not only students and faculty but also the public in a year-long series of conferences, events and lectures leading up the presidential debate at Hofstra on October 15, 2008.

The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra is a nonpartisan research institution dedicated to promoting academically rigorous study of suburbia’s problems, as well as promise.  The center studies a broad range of issues from local and national perspectives.  The tasks of identifying, analyzing and solving the problems of suburbia are essential for the health of the country, and central to the center’s mission.

Created in 1996, the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program provides decision makers with cutting-edge research and policy ideas for improving the health and prosperity of cities and metropolitan areas.  The Brookings Institution believes that the United States is a metropolitan nation, and the metropolitan areas (and the cities and suburbs within them) are the drivers of our economy, and that the ability of the U.S. to compete globally and to meet the great economic, environmental, and social challenges of the 21st century rests largely on the vitality and prosperity of the nation’s major cities and metropolitan areas. Their work is designed to help these metro areas prosper and grow in robust, inclusive, and sustainable ways.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 145 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law.