A version of this blog originally appeared in Michigan Advance.
Kids growing up today deserve to live in safe communities that prioritize their well-being and guard them against hate. But right now Michigan’s kids are being exposed to increased political polarization, growing ideological extremism and high levels of political violence.
Although extremism and political violence are not new, virtual platforms allow fringe beliefs and hateful ideas to gain traction, particularly with young people. Kids encounter a huge amount of supremacist ideologies in virtual forums, gaming platforms and social media, where racist, anti-LGBTQ+, antisemitic and misogynistic content thrive.
According to a 2023 Gallup Poll, teens report using social media on average 4.8 hours a day, a trend that is not only linked to negative effects on physical and mental health but also exposes teens to hate-based content. Although social media can offer many benefits to teen mental health – including through opportunities for connection, creativity and identity development – many social media platforms use algorithms to target harmful, hate-based content to vulnerable young people.
The targeting of misogynistic content to adolescent boys has been especially well documented. Gaming chats have become notorious for the sexist attitudes that prevail there, including both misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ+ ideas, while popular male lifestyle influencers play into the male loneliness epidemic while advocating violence against women and downplaying sexual violence.
These kinds of messages risk normalizing everyday harassment and violence against girls and nonbinary kids. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 13.8% of high school students in Michigan reported experiencing sexual violence, a 21% increase from 2017 to 2023. Reports of sexual violence are even higher for girls and students identifying as LGBTQ+.
But hate is not only spread online. Political extremism is becoming more commonplace and puts vulnerable populations at risk. Research from the Southern Poverty Law Center shows Michigan is home to 34 hate and anti-government extremist groups, making our communities less safe for Black people, women, immigrants, Jewish people, Muslims and LGBTQ+ people.
Just five years ago, members of one such anti-government extremist group were indicted in a plot to kidnap the governor that occurred following a relentless online disinformation campaign fueled by sexism. More recently, a politically motivated assassin took the lives of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband.
Increasing polarization and ideological extremism makes it difficult for our leaders to do their jobs and keep our public institutions working. From 2022 to 2024, Michigan has seen 80 incidents of public officials facing threats and harassment – including doxing, stalking and death threats – in the course of their work as civil servants.
In a recent survey conducted by the Bridging Divides Institute and CivicPulse, 36% of school board officials reported experiencing hostility in 2024. This hostility does not just harm school leaders, but can also create an unwelcoming environment for students, especially if the hostility centers around the politicization of a child’s identity.
It’s time for us to lower the temperature. We can demonstrate the values we want kids today to take into adulthood, whether that means lawmakers reaching across the aisle or neighbors working together to better their community. We can all find things to agree on when we listen with curiosity and set aside the defensiveness.
Some legislators are already making efforts to reduce tensions and build relationships. State Reps. Brenda Carter and Greg Markkanen became the first lawmakers to invite each other to visit their districts as part of the inaugural Michigan Legislative Exchange Project, which seeks to strengthen understanding and cooperation between lawmakers in Michigan.
We also need to address the role of online platforms in allowing misogyny, disinformation and extremism to flourish. A Stanford University study found a majority of middle school students surveyed could not evaluate the credibility of online content, demonstrating the need to equip young people with the tools to identify misinformation.
Social media platforms have become essential tools for promoting democracy and civic engagement, but they also lack the guardrails to prevent the spread of conspiracy theories and the promotion of violent extremism. If we want kids today to grow up in communities free of threats, harassment and violence, it’s up to us to create them.
The Michigan League for Public Policy’s Kids Count in Michigan project and the team of people behind it believe all kids deserve this and more. Kids deserve to grow up in a state that offers belonging, economic security, a world-class education, access to health care, and thriving families and communities. The 2025 Kids Count Data Book, coming out in September, will take a look at these themes and the progress we are making towards achieving this reality.
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.
