The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement

The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement is a nonpartisan policy research institution focused on the main policy areas that shaped Senator Tom Harkin’s career: people with disabilities, retirement security, and wellness and nutrition.

Vision: A future where everyone has equal access to opportunity, well-being, and dignity.

Mission: The Harkin Institute advances inclusive, evidence-based public policy by connecting research, civic learning, and diverse lived experiences. We provide access to trusted information and empower robust civic engagement to promote the public good.

Legacy Statement: We are inspired by Tom and Ruth Harkin’s decades of public service. Their enduring legacy demonstrates that all of us are interconnected, bound together in a single circle of inclusion, with no one left out.