The Think Tank - The Thinkubator

We are a youth-oriented research center focused on understanding The Bronx as a contested, complex urban form, and addressing narratives of marginalized - Black, Brown, Female, and Low-Income communities.

The Think Tank at The Thinkubator was originally launched at The Thinkubator, a New York–based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth voice through research, analysis, and policy. Founded by a group of committed scholars and researchers, The Think Tank began as a hub for rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional research that documented and evaluated The Thinkubator’s activities and explored the Bronx and New York City as a contested urban form.

Today, while The Think Tank remains housed at The Thinkubator, it has expanded its scope to take on a national approach to policy-oriented action research. Co-led by Dr. Edward Summers and The Thinkubator, The Think Tank continues to uphold its founding goals: to produce relevant, accessible, and action-oriented research that informs public policy and drives social change.

The Think Tank provides the following activities:

Produce Policy Briefs and Reports
Conduct Research and Analysis
Evaluate and Measure The Thinkubator programs and activities

Host meetings, seminars, and public forums to elevate voices
Provide young people with research and analysis to elevate their voices

Allow young people a platform to conduct research, analysis, and provide policy reports and papers
Support the reimagining of a youth driven economic development strategy in The Bronx

Internship Paper(s) August 2020

“The Overcoming of Food Deserts and Food Swamps in The Bronx”

By Naomi Okunrobo, Student at Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics

* Data Can be Retrieved by contacting The Think Tank Staff

Research Report

Press Release

What is Missing? Diversity and Inclusion in the US Advertising and Commercial Production Industries.

Policy Briefs

Counteracting Institutional Discrimination: Evaluating the Trump Administration’s LGBTQ+ Policies

This policy brief examines the resurgence of institutional discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals under the second Trump administration, with a particular focus on policies targeting transgender youth. Drawing on legal analysis, public health data, and educational research, the brief assesses the consequences of executive actions that limit participation in school sports, restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare, and eliminate federal recognition of nonbinary identities. Empirical evidence indicates that these policies have exacerbated mental health disparities, heightened legal vulnerability, and disrupted inclusive educational environments. In response, the brief offers a multidimensional set of policy recommendations across federal, state, and local levels, emphasizing the restoration of civil rights protections, investment in intersectional coalitions, and the development of monitoring systems to promote accountability and long-term equity for transgender communities.

Working Policy Brief – April 21, 2025

Policy Brief Press Release – April 21 , 2025

Policy Brief Graphs

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Disinvestment in Equity: The Disproportionate Impact of 2025 Federal DOGE Budget Cuts

This policy brief from The Think Tank at The Thinkubator examines the 2025 federal budget cuts enacted by the Trump administration and their disproportionate impact on communities of color. Drawing on national data and academic research, the brief highlights how reductions in education, healthcare, environmental justice, and diversity-focused programs have exacerbated systemic inequities. Case studies from the Bronx (NY), Riviera Beach (FL), and Watts (CA) illustrate the localized consequences of these cuts, including loss of vital funding for schools, public health, and community-based environmental initiatives. The brief calls for the restoration of federal investments, equity audits for budget proposals, and renewed support for diversity and inclusion infrastructure. Data visualizations underscore the year-over-year decline in funding, reinforcing the urgent need for equitable fiscal policy.

Working Policy Brief – April 18, 2025

Policy Brief Press Release – April 18, 2025

Policy Brief Graphs

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The Thinkubator’s Institutional Review Board

What is the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of the institution with which it is affiliated.

The IRB is charged with the responsibility of reviewing, prior to its initiation, all research (whether funded or not) involving human participants. The IRB is concerned with protecting the welfare, rights, and privacy of human subjects. The IRB has the authority to approve, disapprove, monitor, and require modifications in all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction as specified by both the federal regulations and institutional policy. The IRB shall have at least two members of varying backgrounds in order to provide complete and adequate review of human research and its institutional, legal, scientific, and social implications. The IRB has several consultants who advise the Board and are periodically involved in protocol review.