I’ve spent my entire life in the Greater Lansing area. I’ve been here for the opening and closing of more sandwich shops than I can name, couch burning at MSU, and the revitalization of many Lansing neighborhoods including REO Town and Old Town (where the MLPP office is). I left for a few years for college but as someone graduating with a political science degree – apart from moving to DC – Lansing really was my best bet.
Once I started working in the Legislature I became aware of how often bills that were introduced came from concerns raised by constituents. Many times during committee meetings, representatives and senators would have the constituent who inspired the bill testify with them.
Mayor Schor and Emily Schwarzkopf at the announcement of Lansing’s new grocery store.
It wasn’t until I was missing a recipe ingredient that I participated in this personal activism.
Long story short, I was in need of an onion – but had no walkable access to a grocery store or healthy food from my downtown Lansing apartment. I walked to the nearest “market” – NOTHING. The closest convenience store – NOTHING (but a few very ripe bananas). The adventure ultimately ended with me getting in my car and driving to the nearest grocery store, which was absolutely not in walking distance of downtown. When I arrived back to my apartment, I reached out to my state representative Andy Schor (now Lansing’s Mayor) to express my concern regarding the lack of healthy food and grocery stores in downtown.
My concerns stemmed from the fact that while I, a person of privilege, could very simply get in my reliable car to drive the few miles down the street to get my hands on either missing items or my weekly groceries, not everyone could. This was both an issue of health but also an issue of talent attraction. Research has shown that access to grocery stories and in turn healthy food, lower risks of obesity and other chronic diseases, spurs economic development and brings new jobs to residents. Walkable communities are also attractive to young people, like me, looking to move into new neighborhoods.
It turns out many people felt the same way I did, and Representative Schor introduced legislation that incentivizes grocery stores to move into downtown and commercial corridors. An idea that the League is also in support of and testified to during a committee hearing last year. The legislation ultimately passed and was signed by Governor Snyder.
And just last month, Mayor Schor announced the building of an urban grocery store just blocks from the Capitol, close to new developments that are attracting young professionals, and actually just steps from my former apartment. A similar grocery store concept was also just opened in Grand Rapids.
I’m excited to see how a grocery store helps our downtown and how it improves the health of my fellow Lansing-ites. And I’ll admit it is pretty cool to see how my missing onions inspired legislation and hopefully a lot of good for Michigan communities.
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.
