Who We Are
This is not a collection of work by distant consultants or career lobbyists. This website is the culmination of a semester of deep investigation by undergraduate students at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.
As students in one of the most diverse justice-focused institutions in the world, we don't just read about social issues, we live them. We are the first-generation college students, the immigrants, the activists, and the community members who feel the direct impact of the housing crisis, climate anxiety, and systemic stigma.
Why Our Voices Matter
For too long, the "fate of the world" has been decided by a small circle of people who look at social issues from the outside in. We believe that for the world to be truly liberatory, it must be shared.
In our Research Methods in Psychology course, we set out to bridge the gap between "ivory tower" academic research and the front lines of social change. We recognized that:
- Knowledge is a tool for liberation: Psychological science shouldn't be locked behind paywalls; it should be in the hands of the organizers and activists who need it.
- Expertise comes from experience: Our perspectives as students living these issues allow us to see the "gaps" in traditional research, the voices that are silenced and the questions that aren't being asked.
- Research is an act of resistance: By translating complex data into actionable insights, we are reclaiming the narrative and providing the empirical "teeth" for advocacy.
How to Use This Site
On this platform, you will find 14 unique toolkits covering the most pressing issues of our time—from the psychological impact of the housing crisis to the rise of authoritarianism. Each page provides:
- Critical Insights: Academic findings translated for immediate use in advocacy and organizing.
- In-Text Citations: Trace every insight back to the original scholarship to lend authority to your work.
- Urgent Research Gaps: A call to action for researchers and organizations to fill the knowledge voids we've identified.
- Actionable References: Full APA citations for your own policy briefs, grant applications, and educational materials.
Explore Our Research Topics
Academic Freedom & Intellectual Autonomy
→Authoritarianism and the Limitation of Freedom
→Immigration, Belonging, and Structural Resilience
→Housing Crisis & Mental Health
→Climate Change and "Eco-Anxiety"
→Neurodivergence and Autism in the Educational System
→AI Assistance and Critical Thinking
→Youth Mental Health Crisis
→Political Polarization & Misinformation
→Women's Rights, Bodily Autonomy, and Digital Ideologies
→Color-Blind Racism & Anti-DEI Backlash
→The Loneliness Epidemic
→Mental Health Stigma & Access to Care
→Voting Behavior & The "Self-Interest" Paradox
→Our Collective Goal
We invite you to use this information, share it, and build upon it. In our research methods course we weren't just learning how to do research; we are learning how to use evidence to demand a more just world.
The world belongs to all of us. Let's build it together.
Get in Touch
Have questions about our research? Want to collaborate? We'd love to hear from you.
This work is an invitation to think together. If something here resonated with you, raised questions, or sparked connections to your own experiences, as the faculty supporting this work, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you're a student, researcher, community member, activist or someone navigating similar questions, it would be wonderful be in conversation..
Reach out to share questions, ideas, or to co-dream about what's possible: dr.emese.ilyes@ gmail dot com