Public Policy & Research

As the world changes, the issues that matter most—public safety, livable neighborhoods, good health, job access, education—remain the same. Access to reliable data is fundamental to enhancing the region’s understanding of the things that threaten those values we all hold true. Through its research, UBRI has always provided focused analysis of key policy issues to inform decision making and policy action in the region. And has always made its publications and resources available and understandable for use by government officials, researchers, community activists, and citizens.

UBRI doesn’t tell people what to think; instead we present non-biased data in a variety of ways to inform a conversation about how to think about a particular issue. The State of the Region and our Policy Brief Series were tools to start conversations. We analyzed and tracked data that people would find useful and relevant. Data drove the discussion and determined who needed to be in the room—oftentimes the first such collaborations among certain groups—to develop regional understanding across the issue. We often worked with local experts and developed partnerships with UB faculty members who were engaged in relevant research. Because of this, conversations were targeted and focused and solutions were developed about how to move forward. This approach—asking critical questions, building understanding, informing decisions, and guiding change—for which UBRI has come to be known—was first explored and perfected in many of the public policy projects we’ve tackled.

Inaugurated as an ongoing series in August 2006, Regional Institute Policy Briefs provide objective data and succinct analysis in an illustrated format to frame issues, inform decisions and guide policy action.