The Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative bridges the gap between theory and practice, empowering future leaders to make informed decisions and advocate effectively for the needs of children and families. In partnership with the Institute for Public Leadership (IPL), the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative has expanded to include its first research fellowship, offering graduate students a $5,000 stipend to pursue research on issues impacting children, youth and families, which will ultimately help inform policy decisions.
The 2024 inaugural recipient is Maisum Murtaza. Murtaza earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from The Pennsylvania State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. As an economic researcher at Pennsylvania’s Keystone Research Center (KRC) policy think tank, he has co-authored the 2019-2024 “State of Working Pennsylvania” reports and worked on projects related to sustainability, immigration and labor force developments. Recently, Murtaza collaborated with the PA Schools Work campaign to create school funding fact sheets highlighting the benefits of the latest funding proposal from the Basic Education Funding Commission. During his tenure, he has contributed to more than 30 publications.
Through the Karabelle Pizzigati research fellowship, Murtaza will develop a prototype for a Maryland children’s budget. This project seeks to examine existing state budget expenditures for children and families and, in the future, provide annual analysis on investment priorities for the state’s children. This comprehensive and cogent resource will shine a spotlight on often-overlooked aspects of children’s lives by compiling and presenting relevant information in an accessible manner.
Murtaza’s work is supported by a team of thought leaders, including Ben Orr and the policy team at the Maryland Center on Economic Policy; Professor Philip Joyce, senior fellow at IPL; Associate Professor Cullen C. Merritt, research director of IPL; Associate Research Professor Nathan Dietz, research director of the Do Good Institute; Bruce Lesley, CEO of First Focus on Children; and Associate Clinical Professor Brandi Slaughter, Program Director of the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth and Families.
