My name is Dwayne Barnes and I recently joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as the Community Engagement Specialist for Detroit. Prior to joining the League, I spent five years with The Center for Michigan and Bridge Magazine in several public engagement capacities.
League community engagement specialist Dwayne Barnes with his family.
I helped the Center to amplify Michigan residents’ opinions, concerns and perspectives about statewide public policy to their leaders in Lansing. I facilitated town hall meetings, led listening sessions and moderated panels. I conducted polls, sourced stories and built relationships with stakeholders in the state of Michigan.
My philosophy is centered around access and opportunity. The work is all about helping people help their communities. Having talked to numerous Michiganders, I’ve been fortunate to listen to the hopes and dreams that people have for themselves and their families. Michigan residents want an education that equips people with the skills they need to earn a living. A competitive career that allows hardworking families to buy a home, send their children to college, go on vacation and save for the future. A community that is safe and ripe with opportunities for its residents. A government that is responsive to the needs of its constituents and access to a fast and reliable internet connection just to name a few.
I am an advocate for social and urban policy that allows for hardworking families to live the American dream. I place an emphasis on authentic community engagement and sound policy. On the policy side, I am passionate about workforce issues related to education, skills, talent and the economy. My goal is to empower communities through advocacy, policy and entrepreneurship. I look forward to contributing to and learning from the community.
In addition to my policy work I am a family man. My family recently welcomed a new baby boy into the family, making me a proud father of two sons: Dwayne, 8 years old, and Dylan, the newborn. My wife Doria Barnes is the love of my life and we will be celebrating nine years of marriage in August. I am grateful for a wonderful family, an amazing new job and the chance to positively impact our community.
If you live or work in the Detroit area and would like to connect with the League’s work, you can email me at dbarnes@mlpp.org.
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.
