What we do
A hub of research excellence, the CSCD creates healthy communities by fostering innovation in health promotion and disease prevention through change in systems design.
The Center for Systems and Community Design at CUNY SPH develops and tests innovative strategies to tackle complex problems in public health.
Researchers use systems thinking to address different health disparities on the community level. The center is at the forefront of a NYC policy initiative that led to the redesign and renovation of dozens of neighborhood parks.
Center researchers are evaluating the impact of this initiative on community health.
Functional Objectives
Research
Foster and conduct collaborative and trans-disciplinary research through the lens of systems science and design thinking, leverage theories and methods from diverse disciplines.
Education
Train the next generation of systems thinkers and practitioners in public health through engagement in the Center’s work.
Collaboration
Serve as a think tank and forum of multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral dialogue and solution generation for urgent and complex public health issues.
Practice
Provide expert consultancy to communities and organizations in diverse sectors on strategies for creating and evaluating systems change.
