A version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance.
It’s pretty hard to sum up a 50-year career in any amount of time, let alone in 600 to 700 words. That’s less than 200 words a decade! But that is my charge and I appreciate this opportunity to reflect on my retirement, so I will do my best.
Looking back, my career in public service was definitely shaped a lot by my environment, where and when I grew up. Coming of age in Detroit and seeing a literal wall built between communities and people of different races and ethnicities.
Attending the University of Michigan in the ‘60s, still a rarity as a woman. Amidst the civil rights, feminist and anti-war movements, I awakened to activism and got involved in sit-ins, protests and even bra burning. I saw so many things I wanted to change in the world, but I also felt empowered to try to change them any way that I could. I have always been driven by my heart, even the days when a motorcycle (well, motor scooter) was my primary mode of transportation (true story!).
My career began as a special education teacher, continued as an advocate for people with disabilities, and then led into my foray into elected office. I was proud to be the first woman elected to the Huntington Woods City Commission in 1981, and I also served as an Oakland County commissioner and was the Democratic caucus chair, a first also. I then headed to Lansing to represent Oakland County in the Capitol, serving 12 years in the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, including making history again as the first woman floor leader in either chamber of the Legislature.
In 2011, I had the good fortune of landing at the Michigan League for Public Policy, getting to continue to work on the issues I cared deeply about, but transitioning back to trying to fix the system from the outside — and in a “nonpartisan” way, no less! There were some growing pains, but I also found that the sum of my experiences continued to inform and improve my advocacy. And I want to try to share some of those insights with all of you.
Here are my main mantras for public service, advocacy and policy change:
Show up. The nature of my personal and professional politics means I have been constantly fighting uphill battles. It’s a slog. But you have to keep putting in the work and plugging away.
Don’t take yourself too seriously, take your job seriously. Whether it was participating in holiday sing-alongs on the Senate floor or getting way too into the League’s Halloween festivities, I have always tried to stay humble and have fun. Advocacy and policy work affects real people who are hurting and can and should be heavy, so we must always find ways to keep ourselves light and let off steam any way that we can.
Don’t spit in the water because you may have to drink it someday. In politics and the League, I have embraced compromise and flexibility. As a lawmaker and a multi-issue organization, our adversary on one issue can be our top ally on another, and we want to make sure our advocacy doesn’t backfire. Compromise is rarely easy, and definitely not preferred to absolutes and undisputed, undiluted victories. But it is usually the only path forward, and ultimately still progress.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. This approach is entwined with compromise. You have to pick your battles, and you have to learn when to let go and what to let go of. Ego, pride and micromanagement can get in the way of good things, and I always try to look at the big picture as much as possible.
Relationships matter. Public service, politics and policy advocacy—and nearly any endeavor — all come back to relationships. I’ve kept in touch with my first boss for decades and continued to seek his advice when I went to the Legislature. I also have maintained relationships with many of my staff members and mentees who have gone on to do amazing things. And you never know, your friend and colleague in the Legislature may end up governor one day!
Have patience. Policy changes can take years, but change is worth the wait and effort. This is probably the most important piece of advice for my fellow progressives, and the hardest to heed. But all of your work in the present is laying the foundation for the future. Change can and will come, but not always at the pace we’d like. Issues I have worked on for years in the Legislature and at the League have changed for the better in just the past few years, and the work and time invested make these wins all the more satisfying.
As I prepare to hang up my hat, I am so proud to have spent an entire career doing what I love and working to make a difference for my state and my fellow Michiganders. And I continue to be inspired by the passion and enthusiasm of the next generation of public policy advocates, and look forward to seeing them make their mark on this place we all call home.
I’ll continue to fight the good fight in retirement and I can’t begin to thank the hundreds (indeed thousands) of people who have touched my life over the years in such a significant way. I will forever be grateful to you all.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
