Casey Paskus, Intern
By Intern, Casey Paskus
My name is Casey and I am one of the newest interns at the Michigan League for Public Policy. I am so excited to begin working with this amazing group and experience working with a policy institute dedicated to helping the people of Michigan.
I am a senior at Michigan State University (Go Green!) studying international relations and Muslim studies. In the limited free time I have between late nights writing research papers and my internships with the League and the Michigan House of Representatives, I help run social media for an on-campus club for student activists. Learning more about how citizens interact with their governments in my classes inspired me to become more engaged in the surrounding Lansing community and the state, and to make sure other young people are aware of ways to become engaged!
The Michigan Legislature has a big impact on all of our lives. It may not seem as exciting as the weekly crises that arise in the U.S. House and Senate (not to mention the White House!), but the State Legislature has a lot of say in our statewide education system, our ability to receive medical treatment and even in the treatment of the many refugees and immigrants we welcome into our state. Decisions are being made every day that impact all of us, so it is important for young people to be involved in the process.
Young people may not have the ability to vote until the age of 18, but there are many other ways they help advocate for their communities, from joining local advocacy groups or youth advisory councils to organizing protests, petition drives and social media campaigns to calling or writing policymakers.
Throughout Michigan’s history, coalitions of families, young people and adults have launched many successful advocacy campaigns across the state. For example, in 1976 Michiganians collected signatures for the well-known Bottle Bill, which placed a deposit on bottles and cans to encourage returns and recycling. The bill passed in 1978, and Michigan made history as one of the first states with container deposits. And it was local families and community members that made the Emmet County Dark Sky Park a reality in 2011 with their passion for astronomy and the beauty of the night sky. Because of low levels of light pollution in this area, nighttime visitors can see billions of stars and even the arms of the Milky Way!
Young people can also find inspiration in 9-year-old Amariyanna Copeny, also known as “Little Miss Flint,” whose letter to former President Barack Obama about what her community experienced due to lead poisoning spurred his visit to the area and brought national attention to the ongoing water crisis. No matter your age, if you or a young person you know has an issue to discuss with state or national policymakers, make sure to check out these advocacy tips from the League!
If advocacy seems overwhelming, there are many organizations around Michigan that facilitate exchanges between young people and their elected officials. Michigan’s Children has created many programs that connect policymakers with the young people they serve, including their KidSpeak and Youth in Public Policy events.
The Youth Advisory Committee at the Council of Michigan Foundations is another great way for young people to get involved in state policy. This committee is made up of Michigan residents ages 12-21 and is responsible for allocating grant money to nonprofit youth programs around the state.
If you don’t have much free time to spare between classes and after-school activities to commit to a youth committee or similar organization, you can also write a quick email to your elected officials about an issue you are passionate about!
It may seem that young people can’t do much within their communities because they cannot vote—however, nothing is further from the truth. There are many ways for young people around the state to get involved, from writing letters to joining advocacy groups. South African anti-apartheid activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu put it best when he said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Stay educated, stay alert and stay active!
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.
