The Metropolitan Policy Center (MPC) was created in the Fall of 2014 within the School of Public Affairs at American University (AU). MPC serves as the metropolitan and urban research hub on AU's campus. MPC's mission is to create knowledge and propose solutions to our 21st century metropolitan and urban challenges. The insights gained through the Center are disseminated to policy makers, think tanks, foundations, nonprofits, community groups and academic and mainstream media outlets.

Announcements

America is at a critical moment in our nation’s history and democracy. We at the Metropolitan Policy Center stand for evidence-based policies that lead to a more equitable society. We unequivocally support the protests for racial justice.

New Release:
Racial Disparities of Daily Living in the DC Area: Findings from the 2018 DC Area Survey

With the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies, we've released a report on the way that racial disparities seep into the everyday lives of residents in the DC area. The report focuses on four areas of daily living: neighborhoods, local institutions, policing, and immigration. The racial disparities that we find in all four domains reveal the different life experiences DC-area residents have depending on their race and ethnicity. Our data come from the 2018 DC Area Survey and represent the population of the DC area.

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the life-and-death consequences of racial inequality. Our report reveals the context in which we can understand the racial inequality in infections and deaths. While racial inequality can seem like a daunting obstacle to overcome, this report lays out practical ways to direct policies to address racial disparities.

Find the Report Here Learn More About DCAS