When it comes to strong and enduring ties to the local community, few institutions can match Suffolk’s Center for Public Management. The Center has been working with local and regional public agencies for over 30 years, providing training, educational opportunities and research for a broad range of public service agencies.

Initially founded in 1973 to operate graduate and undergraduate programs in public administration, the Center has since passed its main academic mission to the Public Administration Department and turned its attention to research and community public service.

On the continuing education front, the Center offers certificate programs with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, the Haitian Multi-Service Center/ Black Ministerial Alliance, the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, the Massachusetts Council of Human Services Providers, the Town of Nantucket, the Cape Cod Community Media Center, and the UMass Shriver Center LEND Program. These pre-graduate credited courses are often the launch pad to careers in public service for participants.

Other ongoing efforts at the Center include: a 10-year partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission Bureau to assess the needs of people living with HIV in Massachusetts; providing technical assistance to the Massachusetts Department of Social Services; a partnership with the Federal Office of Personnel Management in which the Center provides training to federal, state and local government employees in New England; and contracts with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to study the impacts of gang-related crime prevention programs in Lowell and Springfield.