Bridge the Gap

Standing in the middle of Harvard Yard, it is easy to imagine that within a two-mile radius, there are historic homes, multimillionaires, labs with scientists researching cures for cancer, and technology companies working to make our world faster. From the perspective of that history and entrepreneurial spirit, the possibilities for a positive life seem endless.

Yet, in that same circle surrounding the Yard, there is a vulnerable group of people, perhaps living in public housing or on the streets, for which life’s daily challenges are endless. Their jobs, if they have them, don’t pay enough to make the rent. Their health may be fragile due to inadequate health care. Their children or grandchildren are at risk. Their future is bleak.

This two-tiered society of the “haves” and the “have-nots” is not new, but the distance between the two has become a chasm and can no longer be closed by individual hard work alone.

In a city known for its liberal values, in a state considered very blue, we are aware of this growing gap and many other profound concerns within our community and country, and we are frustrated by the lack of serious response from the federal government.

In the past, Americans believed that the needs and concerns of our citizens would be addressed by the federal government —the president, Congress, or the courts. Though the solutions provided were often imperfect or short-term, Washington still managed to address issues of poverty, civil rights, the economy, the environment, education, and healthcare.

But in recent years, all that has changed. With an unpopular war fought on false premises, attacks on our personal freedoms, inadequate responses to environmental and immigration concerns, and growing deficits that hinder our ability to offer adequate public services, it has become obvious that Washington is not now capable of providing legitimate answers to the problems of social inequity that leave so many Americans behind.

Frustrated with our national leaders, some of us are now looking toward states, and, by extension, municipalities, as laboratories of change for issues that affect the daily lives of our citizens. Although the federal government has long overshadowed state governments, it is becoming clear that states can be more effective in finding creative solutions to the critical issues that challenge our society.

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a landmark health care bill that we hope will have enough reach to meet its goal of providing health care for virtually all Massachusetts residents. It is an experiment that requires everyone, including the government, businesses, health care providers, and individuals to share responsibility. During debate on the bill, thousands of people, from union workers to senior citizens, held rallies and meetings in support of broad reform. I can tell you firsthand that the resulting legislation reflected their input. By contrast, the federal government’s reform of Medicare prescription drug coverage in 2003 was far removed from those whom it actually affected.

And while newspaper headlines continually highlight the federal No Child Left Behind Act, it is the states that are responsible for education standards and guidelines, and it is the states that, along with municipalities, pay the bulk of the cost of educating our students. Many local officials have innovative ideas to address the achievement gap that is the shame of our nation, but they are stifled by the “testing first” approach mandated by the feds. In addition, researchers across the country have provided extensive data on the benefits of high-quality early childhood education in the struggle to address the achievement gap; it is state governments working with the business community across the country that are acting on this evidence. In Massachusetts, the Legislature recently created the Department of Early Education and Care to develop a system of high quality early education and care accessible to all three- and four-year-olds.

Many states, including Massachusetts, are well ahead of the federal minimum wage, though we could still do better. In addition, many citizens are looking to the states to protect the environment, civil rights, and reproductive freedom, and to stimulate job growth. The list goes on and on.

Despite its high visibility, the federal government’s purported power to solve these problems is little more than an illusion. It is state and local actions that touch the daily lives of our citizens. This is the place where true change can happen. This is also where the influence of citizens is felt most directly, and it is where we most need their energy and input.

We count on this year’s Harvard graduates to help in this endeavor. You have just spent years as part of the Harvard community and, in many cases, also the broader community. During your time at Harvard, you have demonstrated your stake in the world around you: in the campaign to pay the University’s janitorial staff a living wage, through your participation in Phillips Brooks House projects, through activism at the Institute of Politics, and as a volunteer at the Lutheran Church homeless shelter, CityStep, or other Cambridge school programs.

Don’t stop.

Whether you stay here or move to other pastures, be involved in your community. Attend a city council meeting or a legislative hearing to voice your concerns. Use the first-class education you have received to contribute to the public good, especially in ways that most immediately benefit your community.

While we all must pay attention to critical national issues, as disheartening as that might be, the conversation should not stop there. State and local communities are working to find solutions to everyday problems, and they need your fresh ideas and energy. You can carve out a stake in the future.



As you walk out of the gates of Harvard Yard, remember the two worlds that exist only blocks away. No longer can Americans rely on national leaders to close the chasm between these two worlds for us. We in state and municipal governments are working to create real solutions, but our efforts depend on your active participation in the process. We need you to help bridge the gap.



Alice K. Wolf is the Massachusetts state representative for the 25th Middlesex District, which includes the University’s entire Cambridge campus. She received her master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government and served as a fellow at the Institute of Politics.