For Immediate Release
April 15, 2024
Contact:
Laura Millard Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
(517) 281-1084
League’s 2024 Public Policy Forum brings together hundreds of individuals to discuss bold policy solutions for a more economically just Michigan
LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy held its annual Public Policy Forum today, bringing together hundreds of individuals as well as experts from across the state to discuss bold policy solutions for a more economically just Michigan.
With its annual Public Policy Forum, the League seeks to inspire policymakers, advocates, educators, members of foundations and community organizations, and other community members and stakeholders to work together to create a stronger state for all Michiganders through bold policy solutions. The theme of this year’s forum was Economic Justice for All.
“Michigan currently has the 13th highest state poverty rate in the nation and almost 18% of our state’s kids are living in poverty, pointing to the dire need for bold action that drives positive change for Michigan workers and families. Our state is also contending with slow population growth and a population that is projected to begin to decline by 2035 absent the changes needed to make Michigan a more welcoming place to live. It is our hope that this year’s forum attendees left inspired to seek out and advocate for solutions that will help current and prospective Michiganders to not only survive, but thrive here in our Great Lakes State,” said Stanton.
For this year’s forum, the League was pleased to welcome two highly esteemed keynote speakers, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Luke Shaefer. Dr. Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician, scientist, activist and author best known for the role she played in uncovering the Flint water crisis and leading recovery efforts, for which she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and recognized as one of USA Today’s Women of the Century. Dr. Shaefer is a professor, author and the inaugural director of the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions–an interdisciplinary, presidential initiative that partners with communities and policymakers to find new ways to prevent and alleviate poverty in the state.
During their keynote conversation, Dr. Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Shaefer discussed their groundbreaking work in improving public health and eradicating social and economic injustices in Michigan, including one of their most recently launched programs: Rx Kids in Flint.
“It was an honor to hear from two widely renowned experts in their field who have done so much amazing, trailblazing work on behalf of the people of Michigan,” said League President and CEO Monique Stanton. “Learning about the early successes of the Rx Kids program–a first-in-the-nation citywide cash prescription program for moms and babies–was beyond inspiring as we continue to fight for similar programs and policies that will help in building economic justice and advancing equity and racial justice in our state.”
The keynote discussion was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Michigan Public Political Director Zoe Clark and featuring Ann Arbor City Council Member Linh Song, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Deputy Director of Prosperity Kim Trent and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Deputy Director for Economic Security Aditi Shrivastava. Drawing from their experiences at the local, state and national level, these panelists each brought their own unique perspective to the table during their thought-provoking discussion on the power of cash as a tool to alleviate poverty and help create better outcomes for kids.
The forum also featured the presentation of the 2024 Sharon Parks Award to Dr. Renée Branch Canady, CEO of the Michigan Public Health Institute, who was honored for being a strong, influential trailblazer in her field, both statewide and nationally, and for her unwavering commitment to addressing health disparities, especially in racial health. Among her many achievements, Dr. Canady recently authored a well-received book, “Room at the Table: A Leader’s Guide to Advancing Health Equity and Justice.”
“Dr. Canady is widely known as an outstanding public health advocate, researcher, educator and facilitator. She is held in the highest regard for her work in public health equity and social justice, and she is an impassioned champion for the people of Michigan and beyond,” said Stanton.
###
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to use data to educate, advocate and fight for policy solutions that undo historic and systemic racial and economic inequities to lift up Michiganders who have been left out of prosperity. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
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.
