When you are involved in public policy, you help set the course for the future of the country. There are a number of matters related to the public interest that are addressed through public efforts on the city, state and federal level. It is possible to learn more about public policy by following what is happening on various projects. You can be more informed and participate more effectively in our civic life if you stay informed. Here are 50 public policy projects worth following on Twitter:
Poverty
One of the issues that affects the world is poverty. Learn about different ideas for addressing poverty.
- The Global Poverty Project: Follow the ideas and projects undertaken to help get rid of extreme poverty.
- The 1010 Project: Efforts to eradicate global poverty. Starting today.
- End Poverty 2015: An ambitious project aimed at reducing global poverty.
- Bollocks to Poverty: This U.K. group is working toward education to help get rid of poverty.
- National Homeless: This coalition aims to help end homelessness and poverty in the U.S.
- Shriver Center: Looks at poverty and how it conditions in the U.S. can be improved.
Food
How our food is regulated, as well as how it is grown, is the subject of public policy. Learn more about farming, organic options and more.
- FoodSecurityAB: This Canadian group looks at food policy and food security in Alberta. An interesting look at what security means in terms of food.
- Naomi Starkman: This food policy expert and advocate is a great person to follow if you are interested in food issues as they relate to public policy.
- American Farmland Trust: Looks at food policy and farm policy. “No farms, no food!”
- Sustain Ontario: Another food policy project from Canada, this one focuses on Ontario — and offers great insight for other places.
- Food Policy Council: This project is based in Ohio and looks at specialty crops, farm policy, and more.
Health
One of the biggest public policy debates in recent history has been waged over health care. Keep up on health industry developments.
- Fix Health Policy: A look at different issues related to health policy.
- USAID: Learn about what the U.S. is doing around the world for public health and health policy and education.
- Kaiser Family Foundation: Known for its interest in health care policy, you can follow the KFF on Twitter.
- Gates Foundation: Involved in a number of public policy projects and initiatives around the world.
- The Commonwealth Fund: Focuses on health care policy and issues in public health.
Environment
How we treat the world around us, and the earth’s ecology, is a matter of public interest — and policy.
- UL Environmental Committee: Promotes environmental awareness, and follows environmental news.
- The Energy Collectiv: Follow public policy moves and debate on energy development and its environmental impacts.
- Greenpeace: You know what Greenpeace is all about, and you can follow its policy making efforts on Twitter.
- WWF_Climate: The World Wildlife Fund has a wing devoted to environmental policy, and you can follow it on Twitter.
- Stop Climate Chaos: Focuses on climate change and issues related to climate change.
- Energy Action Coalition: A group of students working toward clean energy. An interesting and energizing public policy project.
Economy
With a recession ending, and some seeing a double-dip recession on the way, economic policy remains a hot topic.
- Economic Policy Institute: See the latest from the Economic Policy Institute when you follow on Twitter.
- The Center for Economic and Policy Research: Encourages debate and looks at economic policy.
- Tax Policy Center: Learn more about tax policy, and how it affects the economy, as well as follow policy positions and projects.
- Tax Foundation: This public policy project focuses on taxes and their effect on the economy.
- UNICEF Social Policy: Looks at socioeconomic policies and advocates changes in social and economic policies.
- NW Economic Policy Seminar: Aims to educate the public about economic policy.
Transportation
Our roads, bridges and public transportation are all matters of public policy and regulation. Learn about different ideas to help the flow of traffic.
- MADD Public Policy: Addresses drunk driving and other safe driving issues.
- Federal Transit Administration: Public policy and projects right from the federal government!
- AvegoUSA: Focuses on transportation policy and projects that encourage shared transit.
- TrailLink: Focuses on making public transit more efficient, and also focuses on the use of trails.
Education
What we learn, and how we learn it, has been the subject of public policy for decades, including how to help children learn better in school.
- AEI Education Policy: The American Enterprise Institute keeps you up to date on all its education policy projects.
- National Education Association: Education policy projects and positions from the NEA.
- Education Sector: Think tank that focuses on changing the way we think about education, and education policy.
- Education Equality Project: Works toward providing a good education for all children, not just the privileged.
- Get Schooled: Aims to improve the quality of education, and increase educational equality.
Media and Free Expression
The media itself, and how it defines public policy, is also the subject of different projects. Many of them are related to regulation, as well as to free expression.
- Poynter Institute: Focuses on media and journalism and public policy.
- New Media Policy: Looks at emerging technologies and the issues and policies surrounding them.
- Internet Policy: A look at Internet policy developments and projects.
- Internet Society: Looks to provide standards, education and access related to the World Wide Web.
- National Coalition Against Censorship: Works toward free expression in its many forms.
Law
How the law is applied, and the development of law and justice is part of public policy.
- Ars Technica Law Policy: A look at legal policy, especially as it relates to technology.
- Phoenix Center: This is a law policy center that looks at aspects of law and economics.
- National Agricultural Law Center: Focuses on the development of law and policy as it relates to agriculture.
- American Constitution Society: Focuses on law and policy projects related to the Constitution.
Drugs
Whether legal or illegal, drug policy projects exist. This includes projects regarding the regulation of pharmaceuticals, as well as thoughts on the status of illegal drugs, like marijuana.
- Drug Policy: White House policy project on drugs.
- USA 4 Marijuana Meds: Hopes to legalize marijuana for medical use.
- Marijuana Policy Project: A policy project aimed at legalizing marijuana.
- Food and Drug Administration: Projects and information on pharma and other issues from the FDA.
