About the Institute

About our Educational Programs | A Letter from our Chairman — Lee Fentress
About our Innovative Building Design

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate (the EMK Institute) is dedicated to educating the public about our government, invigorating public discourse, encouraging participatory democracy, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the public square. The Institute will be a dynamic center of non-partisan learning and engagement that takes advantage of cutting-edge technology to provide each visitor and other participants with a unique and information rich, personalized experience that will bring history alive.

Through innovative, participatory educational programs, the EMK Institute will engage the public in political debate by bringing them inside the legislative process. The EMK Institute will feature and celebrate the legislative career of Senator Edward M. Kennedy and use the progress of the issues he cared the most about to focus attention on how the Senate shapes public policy and the nation. The Institute will also heighten awareness of the Senate's role and broaden public access to the papers of all Senators through an extensive digital library, available on-site and on-line.

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate hopes to be one of the leading organizations working to turn the tide on civic education. Offering a new model for education and outreach, the EMK Institute will invite the American public into the discourse on the challenges facing the nation. Toward that end, the EMK Institute will be a portal into the legislative process and a training ground for the decision-makers of the future.

Envisioned as a new 40,000-square foot facility, the EMK Institute, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass), will be located on the campus of UMass Boston and adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. This proximity will encourage visitors to explore both facilities. The two institutions will partner closely to build the Institute and a variety of programs. The presence of this state-of-the-art Institute with its world-class programs will attract the highest quality students, faculty and visitors to the UMass campus. The academic and research programs of the EMK Institute will complement those currently offered at UMass and at the John W. McCormack Graduate School for Policy and Global Studies. UMass students and faculty will enjoy preferential access to classes, programs, and the Digital Library of the EMK Institute. In addition, the UMass faculty, administration and Board will be able to use the EMK Institute's conference facilities for their own meetings and programs.

The EMK Institute will house:

• Ceremonial/reception/lobby space
• Museum space for exhibits about the Senate and Senator Kennedy's career
• A representation of the Senate chambers for public forums and educational programs
• Three classrooms for visiting student groups and other training programs
• An archives library and research area
• A studio for archiving documents and running the website
• Archival storage
• Office space
• Cafe / Kitchen to produce a small daytime menu and host large catered dinner events
• Conference facility to allow groups to prepare for activities
• Gift Shop

About our Educational Programs

The educational programs inside the building will breathe life into the Institute, making it a dynamic laboratory of democracy. Our programs will serve the general public, students at all levels of their education, teachers, new Senators, Senate staff, and others in public service.

To fulfill our educational mission, the EMK Institute will serve as a unique resource engaging visitors in every dimension of our participatory democracy.

The Institute will emphasize civic education, providing educational programs in history and public policy issues, current and past, as well as in-depth information about the Senate, its history, rules, customs and personalities. These programs will emphasize the value of critical skills such as teamwork, leadership, negotiation, compromise, debating, and persuasion.

A distinguished board of advisors, scholars, teachers, and researchers will oversee, advise and guide the Institute's program development.

• For Students — Students will engage in immersive activities and experiential learning, drafting bills, debating historical and contemporary issues, and voting on legislation. Students will also view dramatic re-creations of significant moments in the U.S. Senate’s history, allowing them to gain insight into the struggles of the legislative process, and inspiring them to become active participants in public affairs. The Institute’s website will supply rich materials for students to prepare for their visit, and offer post-visit opportunities to stay engaged and continue learning.
  
  The Institute plans to host a Summer Senate program, where 100 students, two from each state, will come to the Institute to hold mock hearings and draft legislation.
  
  Offered in conjunction with UMass Boston and a consortium of other universities, the Institute’s college programs will emphasize an interdisciplinary approach to the study of government, drawing on faculty and guest speakers from such diverse fields as Political Science, Economics, International Relations, History, Law, and Urban Planning.


• For Teachers — Teachers will work closely with the Institute to create courses and programs that add a new dimension to the study of history and government. Teacher-development programs, in conjunction with leading colleges and universities, will advance their abilities to teach civics, and also fulfill eligibility requirements for in-service or college credits.


• For Government Officials — Programs designed specifically for public officials, incoming Senators, and their staff, will provide in-depth training sessions to prepare public servants to communicate effectively in Washington D.C., and with the citizens they serve.


• For the General Public and Life-Long Learners — Programs for the general public will be designed to develop and support a well-informed electorate. These programs will enable participation on a local and national level, through seminars, lectures, and symposia.
  
  Programs for history enthusiasts and retired citizens will enrich the Institute experience by connecting generations of knowledge and public service.


• Digital Library — The Edward M. Kennedy Institute will partner with the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and others, to digitize materials, and create a comprehensive digital library of US Senate archives and related materials. The Institute’s website will provide a public portal into this rich, interactive content, including historical documents, photographs, oral histories, film and more.

A letter from our Board Chairman — Lee Fentress

"I first met Ted Kennedy many years ago, when I was working for Senator Robert F. Kennedy as he pursued the Presidency in his inspiring 1968 campaign. Over the years that followed, I was proud to call Ted a friend, and when he explained his plans for the Institute — a place that he believed could invigorate public interest in American democracy and encourage the American people to become involved in the civic life of their nation — I knew I wanted to be part of it."

Read the full letter »

About our Innovative Building Design

The Institute is being designed by world-renowned architect, Rafael Viñoly.

Rafael Viñoly has been practicing architecture for over forty-five years. As principal of Rafael Viñoly Architects, he has completed many critically and publicly praised buildings around the world. He is known as an architect of imagina¬tion and rigor with a proven capacity to create beloved civic, cultural and institutional spaces. Mr. Viñoly’s projects include the Tokyo International Forum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Abu Dhabi Campus for New York University.

The Institute will be located on the UMass Boston Campus, adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The overall site plan has been designed to work in harmony with the UMass Boston campus, the JFK Library, and the Columbia Point waterfront. The facility will be designed and operated with sustainable practices, and is on track for LEED certification.

View the renderings »