THE EMPATHY IMPERATIVE - ADDRESSING AMERICA'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS SERIES:

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Homelessness is a human and societal failure that demands shared responsibility — not judgment. It reflects how easily we turn away from suffering we no longer see. In his interview and opinion commentary, Dr. Brian Klausner calls for renewed urgency, compassion, and reform to address the complex realities behind this national crisis.

THE EMPATHY IMPERATIVE - ADDRESSING AMERICA'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS SERIES:

Why does chronic homelessness persist despite billions in healthcare spending? Matt Nathan, ALI ’20, interviews Dr. Brian Klausner about his new book, In the Gaps:Better Understanding the Expensive Human Suffering of Chronic Homelessness examining how trauma, inequality, and dehumanization fuel the crisis. Klausner’s insights reveal how empathy, data, and innovative care models can drive real, lasting solutions.

THE EMPATHY IMPERATIVE - ADDRESSING AMERICA'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS SERIES:

OPINION COMMENTARY:

Homelessness is one of America’s most urgent — and expensive — public health crises. In this powerful reflection, Dr. Brian Klausner shares what decades of caring for unhoused patients have taught him about empathy, policy, and humanity — and why solving chronic homelessness requires community collaboration, data-driven care, and compassion.

The recent replacement of the entire CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) raises serious public health concerns, as explored in this interview with infectious disease expert, Dr. Camille Kotton, former ACIP member, by Tom Mahoney (ALI ’24).

Dr. Katherine Koh and Michael Jellison from Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program share urgent insights on rising homelessness and the power of peer-led street teams in this compelling discussion with ALI Fellows Martin Goldstein and Matt Nathan.

Harvard’s Cass Sunstein unpacks climate justice, global responsibility, and what rich nations owe the future in this powerful conversation with ALI’s Keith Forman.

We must restore biodiversity in our neighborhoods. Christopher Brown, in an interview with ALI Fellow Tony Mohr ’21, shares how anyone can help “rewild” urban spaces – even junkyards and industrial zones.

OPINION COMMENTARY:

The Midwest is often overlooked for its cultural influence and electoral power. ALI Fellow Katie Kwo Gerson ’25 proposes a national initiative to elevate Midwestern voices and bridge America's cultural divides.

The transition to a sustainable economy is inevitable, but its timing and equity are uncertain, warns David Blood, Generation Investment Management, in a discussion with ALI Fellow Emily Chien. The finance community must lead and create the circumstances to achieve a sustainable economy and society.