New England UTC Year 24 – Research/Education Project Description
UTC Project Number: MITE24-36
Project Title: Engaging Emerging Minority Youth in Real-Time, Community-Based
Transportation Research and Modeling
University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator:
Mark Jarzombek, ph: 617-258-8440, e-mail: mmj4@mit.edu
Co-Principal Investigator:
Darian Hendricks, ph: 617-435-0703, email: dhendricks@rrtn.org, manwarin@mit.edu
Funding Sources: New England University Transportation Center
Total Funding:
Federal:
$ 10,000
Matching:
$ 10,000
Total:
$ 20,000
Funding Agency: USDOT/RITA
Grant number: DTRT12-G-UTC01
Start date: 1/1/12
End date: 12/31/13
Abstract: The Robert R. Taylor Network (RRTN), in collaboration with MIT, will pilot an educational
research project to engage underserved youth, primarily minority and first generation immigrants, in a
community-based, data-driven mapping around the Cambridge MALL Project. The program deliverables
are (1) a documented participatory curriculum which engages minority high school and college youth from
the Brockton, MA area to urban planning and research from an architectural, economic, transportation,
and user-centered lens; (2) a transferable model for data-driven community engagement and planning;
(3) a baseline open-source technology platform for a community-based virtual Community Development
Corporation (CDC); (4) active youth engagement in planning while acquiring workforce development
skills; and (5) a formal evaluation. The program will begin in the summer of 2012 and end on December
31, 2013. The learning objectives are (1) to understand the interconnection of urban planning,
architecture, transportation, IT, environment, system dynamics, and human behavior; (2) introduce youth
to math, computation, research, real-world problem solving, and transportation-related careers; (3) apply
visual design and math skills to data analysis; (4) learn basic HTML, database design, GIS-mapping,
information architecture, and visualization skills; and (5) develop pre-professional skills in user research,
scoping, planning, modeling, analysis, critical thinking, business writing, and communication. The
Cambridge Massachusetts Avenue Living Laboratory (MALL) is a model for the vision Brockton seeks to
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be with development along a transportation corridor of 3 Commuter Rail stops (Campanello, Brockton,
and Montello) and a BAT / MBTA Hub in Downtown Brockton. Cambridge has three main Massachusetts
Avenue MBTA stops (Kendall Square / MIT, Central Square, and Harvard Square). The Metro-Boston
area is much interconnected with the resident commuters of Brockton and provides access to resources
not accessible or available in Brockton. This is a golden opportunity to include Brockton youth in city
planning and research around transportation as a means to attract them to ASTEM fields, transportation
careers, and the application of math and science to real-world problem solving and everyday life.
Describe implementation of research/education outcomes (or why not
implemented):
Through a 7-10 week summer academy program at MIT, called XStudio, for elective credit and stipend,
high school and college students working with professionals and MIT researchers were introduced to
foundational concepts of scoping, planning, budgeting, business writing, problem definition, team building,
designing an approach, public speaking, and delivery. The students developed an open-source web
platform and local server to provide the means for future data collection, GIS mapping, archival storage,
and then publishing to the cloud the GIS Map. In parallel, the students used various transportation
modes and means to get to and from Brockton, MA to Cambridge, MA. They had hands-on, experiential
learning living a professional commuter’s lifestyle everyday of the week including weekends. The students
were then introduced to the CAMBRIDGE MALL Project and several of the partners involved in the
project. There was a baseline independent evaluation and assessment of the program and students for
the summer and the start of the academic year program to measure impact, change in attitudes and
behavior, and improved math and science skills.
During the academic year and for credit and stipend, the students worked virtually from Brockton and
Foxborough, on-site at MIT, and on-site in Brockton, MA and Cambridge, MA. They worked side-by-side
with MIT Researchers, Professional Planners and Architects, and City Administrators from Brockton and
Cambridge, to develop a current state versus future state model of the Cambridge MALL including links to
Brockton. Their research included (1) looking at transportation and economic opportunity patterns
between Brockton and Cambridge and possibly Cambridge and Somerville; (2) creating a model that can
be re-leveraged by Brockton including insights about access, happiness, well-being, livability, and
economic development. Students were active and equal participants developing their skills to perform
core research and data models from conception. The process ensured the youth lens is included in
community data and bring an outside perspective. And they explored how to use or develop mobile
technology to help capture, record, visualize, and view information.
During the academic year, the students will plan a trip the Women of Color (WOC) Conference in Dallas,
TX 2012 and the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Conference in Washington, DC in 2013 to
present their work, network with transportation professionals and be immersed in a professional
conference with ASTEM Minority Professionals and Leaders. The students will also seek other sponsors
and use their research as a competitive differentiator to recruiters at the College and Job Fair. A behind
the scenes tour is being planned for Amtrak in DC and MBTA in Boston area.
By summer and fall 2013, the students working with the professionals will be able to pull the prototype
model together as a public website for use by intended users and then replicate the model for a similar
mapping of Brockton. They will also be responsible for documenting their learning and final deliverables.
And a final evaluation and assessment can be performed to document all learning, impact, processes,
and lessons learned.
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Impacts/benefits of implementation (actual, not anticipated)
Together with the work performed during last year’s Y23 UTC Grant, we created a baseline for a full
program around transportation, research, and minority youth introduction to ASTEM. This feeds into
ongoing conversations with MA DOT and Boston COMPTO to partner regarding several proposed
transportation-related initiatives to increase minority youth interests and career-choice into transportation
careers.
Impact: High school and college students that are interested in ASTEM careers gained invaluable
experience working in professional level environments. We have a database GIS system accessible for
people to use. With the virtual CDC, students have a way to fund and incubate projects that have a
community impact. They learned the skills necessary to be leaders and innovative entrepreneurs.
Benefit: The City of Brockton directly benefits from the contributions of the students working on this
project. The students are better educated in ASTEM fields and transportation. They gained tangible work
force skills that will make them competitive in college and future employment. The City of Brockton
receives a data-driven map around the Cambridge MALL project.
Web links
Permanent file download link to the XStudio 2012 final presentation:
https://www.yousendit.com/download/TEhVeUNNNnlnYU9wSHNUQw
Link to the video of the final student presentation:
http://techtv.mit.edu/collections/rrtn/videos/20466-robert-r-taylor-network-xstudio-2012-final-presentation
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