Political Homes
Strengthening and Measuring Movement-Building Infrastructure
Praxis: Critical Consciousness
My research examines how young people analyze and resist systemic oppression. Drawing on Freirean critical consciousness, I investigate the relationship between youth social action and personal wellbeing, and challenge traditional boundaries between working “within” and “against” systems. This dual focus on individual liberation and collective transformation informs not only my research but also my approach to scholarship itself, as I work to align my institutional practices with my theoretical commitments to equity and justice.
QuantCrit: Equity and Statistical Methodology
My research advances the application of QuantCrit in developmental science. Currently, I am developing practical guidelines that integrate design thinking principles to help researchers implement QuantCrit approaches in their statistical analyses.
Leading Institutional Change for Inclusive Excellence
As chair of the DEIJ committee at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life, I lead institutional change initiatives that strengthen inclusive excellence through strategic vision, sustainable structures, and collective capacity building.
Organizational Shifts for Youth Voice
Youth voice and leadership are often celebrated but rarely centered in institutional decision-making. Through deep collaboration with long-standing institutions, I helped build bridges between young people’s lived experiences and institutional change, creating pathways for authentic youth engagement that transform both youth and adults.
Supporting the Emergence of a Community-Based Emergency Response
As a volunteer and board member with Cambridge HEART, I supported the development of a community-based emergency response through fundraising, volunteer coordination, and organizational development. Working alongside Black Feminist leaders and abolitionist organizers, I learned invaluable lessons about building sustainable alternatives to existing systems while being guided by movement elders and community wisdom.
Sara Suzuki 