Spring 2025
Common Ground
Spring 2025
The Case for Common Ground
"In times when divisions might seem commonplace, a focus on common ground might seem like wishful thinking, or even naivety. Qualities unbecoming to a research lab. But at the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), common ground isn't something you bargain to reach or struggle to find. It's something built - brick by brick, partnership by partnership, truth by truth. When evidence leads the way, you're never lost."
Up at Night
No mother should have to choose between her dreams for her child and the ability to make them real. LEO’s managing director shares a personal story that fuels her fight against poverty—and why evidence isn’t just numbers, it’s justice.
Calling Poverty's Fiercest Adversaries
What happens when top researchers team up with nonprofits? Big questions get answered—and real lives are changed. From food insecurity in Texas to homelessness in Seattle, meet two of LEO’s affiliated researchers proving that evidence can lead the way.
What the Experts Say
"With a focus on organizations building programs from the ground up to support people in their communities, LEO takes on the work of building evidence no matter the time commitment, the georgraphy, or the type of anti-poverty program. That is our call to the common good."
Future Learnings
Preventing homelessness is possible—and now, scalable. Backed by LEO’s research, Santa Clara County’s prevention program grew from serving 215 families to 1,700 annually. And with a new toolkit, more communities can follow their lead.
Forming the Future
What happens when students get a front-row seat to policymaking? They see the power of research in action. Follow LEO interns as they bridge the gap between evidence and Capitol Hill—and find their calling in the process.
Force for Good
From convening 700 minds on homelessness to shaping new research partnerships and scaling proven programs, LEO is turning evidence into action. This section highlights how collaboration—with policymakers, providers, and communities—is accelerating impact. Whether it’s sharing data tools in King County or building replication models at Stanford, every effort moves us closer to one goal: ending poverty with what works.