Innovation + Incubation Fellowship

Highlights

Fostering innovation and experimentation in the fields of data, design, technology, and policy to promote social impact.
Advancing cutting-edge ideas by empowering and enabling practitioners and field experts to push the boundaries of civic technology.

The Innovation and Incubation (I+I) Fellowship is a dynamic program that invites experts from diverse fields into the Beeck Center to research and test innovative ideas at the forefront of civic technology.

The I+I Fellowship program is designed to advance human-centered solutions that make government services more accessible and equitable for those who need them most. Fellows are senior subject matter experts and practitioners in the fields of data, design, technology, and policy who join the Beeck Center team to publish research, document best practices, share lessons learned, and push the field forward with cutting-edge ideas.

I+I Fellowships span 12–24 months, providing the Beeck Center with a dedicated capacity to explore, experiment, and advance the ever-evolving field.

Current I+I Projects

Family Benefits Lab

Led by I+I Fellow Maya Mechenbier,

the Family Benefits Lab (FBL) at the Beeck Center applies human-centered design to improve how young mothers access health care, education, and career pathways that build lasting economic security for their families.

Many American mothers lack basic support, such as health care, paid leave, and affordable child care—and barriers for very young mothers are even harder to overcome. As federal support for health and public benefits programs grows more uncertain, the needs of young mothers are only continuing to grow.

FBL conducts qualitative research that elevates the lived experiences of young parents and translates those insights into practical, actionable policy and program interventions. Our team identifies ways to support families sooner, such as connecting mothers to health and nutrition benefits, supporting their educational goals, and preparing them for family-sustaining careers.

FBL is partnering with state and local agencies and community-based organizations in California and Maryland to identify, validate, and test scalable interventions that reduce poverty, expand opportunity, and better support young families. In 2026, we intend to expand our research-in-action model to more states. For more information or to inquire about future partnerships, please contact: FBLBeeck@georgetown.edu.