Since I learned we would be moving there, I haven’t gotten tired of saying “Kalamazoo.” It might be the best named city in the world. My partner and I arrived a little over a year ago from our home state of Maryland, and I quickly learned there was a lot more charm to the city than just the name.
In fact, our first year in Michigan has been filled with charming experiences – family fun activities in the fall, hiking in the spring and summer, days by the lake and small-town parades with local ice cream. Winter was a bit longer than I’m used to (snow in April!), but even that season had its charms. And even though we’ve only been in Michigan for a year, I feel lucky to have met so many generous people during our time here.
Kids Count Research Associate Parker James and his partner Allie enjoy a day on the Lake Michigan shore.
To me, people are why public policy is important. At the start of college, I knew I wanted to go into something that could improve the lives of people but was unsure what direction to take. During my freshman year I started volunteering with Health Leads, a program that trains college students to work with people to get them connected to the resources they need to live healthier lives. Working with patients in Baltimore as their assigned “advocate,” I helped navigate applications and communicate with caseworkers. Through this experience I saw the transformative impact that improved access to affordable healthcare, food, childcare, and housing can have on a person’s spirit. Policy change was also underway, and the Affordable Care Act resulted in some of my clients having reliable, affordable access to health care for the first time in their lives. I’ll never forget the sigh of relief from one of my clients after I told him he was covered.
While some policies were improving lives, I also saw how other policies made it harder for some to access services, get a job, or stay healthy. I listened to Baltimoreans about being “Too Poor for Pop Culture,” and how a legacy of policy decisions had left their communities unable to thrive and barely able to survive. I also saw how residents of the city rose up after decades of injustice to put forward new demands to improve their communities.
Absorbing all of this stirred my passion for policy. I began to want to take my “advocate” role further – by using data and evidence to push for needed change. In class I started researching the issues that hit home the most for me and the clients I had worked with. Outside of class, I got involved in grassroots campaigns, canvassing for earned sick leave in Maryland and the creation of an affordable housing trust fund in Baltimore. These experiences taught me the power of organizing, community-driven policy and coalition building. Along the way I found out that participating in these efforts can be a great way to make new friends, too!
When my partner found out she was accepted to a Ph.D. program in Kalamazoo, we knew we would be making a big transition. Being so far from our friends and family was daunting at times, but getting involved with activism here in Michigan was a great way to make connections. And I quickly learned there was a lot of work to do just like back home. From Baltimore (nicknamed Charm City) to charming Kalamazoo, people are still being left out and left behind by policymakers. Communities are building, rising, and saying enough is enough.
As the Kids Count Research Associate, I am ready to use my knowledge of data and passion for policy to equip local organizations with the tools to advocate for Michigan’s children. Across this state, as in others, more needs to be done to make sure children can thrive. I’m happy to now call Michigan home, and ready to get to work to make it better.
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.
Jacob Kaplan 
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. 
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.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
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.
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.
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.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
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.
