What We Do
The J. McDonald Williams Institute takes a holistic approach to understanding and examining the complex issues faced by the residents of distressed urban communities. Our atypical research strategy is centered around the concept of quality of life. We utilize the interdisciplinary perspectives of six focal areas—Education, Crime and Safety, Health, Housing, Social Capital, and Economic Development—to underpin our research initiatives. Yet we recognize that the many strands woven into the fabric of community do not exist independently, and so we must study them as they are—linked to one another in ways we do not fully appreciate. Because quality of life is multidimensional, we know that the solutions that will improve it must also be multidimensional. The Institute not only seeks to better understand the mechanisms by which indicators of quality of life interact with each other, but also to apply that understanding to generate lasting revitalization—across all dimensions of quality of life—in distressed urban neighborhoods.
How We Do It
Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as cutting-edge GIS mapping techniques, the Institute has established a reputation for producing research that is informative, actionable, and place-based. The Institute collaborates with scholars from universities both local and nationwide, enhancing its studies with fresh perspectives and approaches, while simultaneously advancing the concept of quality of life as an investigative framework. In addition, the Institute welcomes students to its staff as interns and research assistants, providing them with valuable training and the rewarding experience of working with such critical social issues.
Where We're Headed
After years of research by scholars around the world on poverty, housing, and social justice, we’re often asked the question “Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?” We believe the answer is, emphatically, “yes.”
The end of the tunnel may still be some distance away, and the light may be too dim for many to see, but the good news is we’re on the right track to get there. At some level, most people understand the interconnectedness of quality of life indicators in urban neighborhoods. It doesn’t surprise many to learn that communities with high crime rates tend to have lower property values and higher mortality rates. Likewise, it’s not surprising to the casual observer to find lower levels of educational attainment and minimal access to retail in areas of concentrated poverty. Yet in spite of this “common knowledge,” traditional academic researchers from different disciplines have tended to operate in isolation, each with their own methodologies, theories, and research agendas.
The Institute’s focus on quality of life and a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach is changing that paradigm. Hand in hand, scholars from different backgrounds are approaching the light at the end of the tunnel.