We at the League love our numbers. We are a data-driven organization, after all. Our statistics are used to support our solutions, but numbers are sometimes meaningless without context.
We add this much-needed context in our blog posts. We break down the numbers and explain what they actually mean for fellow Michiganders. We present our case and provide reasoning with the data we use. But just as statistics need to be paired with context, our reporting would only consist of stark facts if it were absent of heart.
And that’s just not the League.
Numbers may drive our work, but compassion for our fellow Michiganders is what drives each of us. Our staff blog, Factually Speaking, offers data and context with heart. We truly care, and we know you do, too. It’s evident in our ten most-read blog posts of 2019:
The 1990s are over. Remove Michigan’s drug felony ban on public assistance: In Michigan, a person with more than one drug felony conviction arising from separate incidences that occurred after Aug. 22, 1996 is barred from receiving federal assistance for life. This ban on cash and food assistance further punishes former offenders and their families instead of assisting them in moving forward. Written by senior policy analyst Peter Ruark, this blog post includes moving responses from real Michiganders facing these very real, and unfair, consequences.
Michigan must count all kids in 2020 census: Census numbers determine federal funding for Michigan’s schools and infrastructure. Political districts are drawn based on census counts, and the counts also determine how many representatives Michigan has in the United States House of Representatives. In this post, Kids Count policy analyst Parker James presents a data tool that estimates the number of children that may be at risk of being undercounted in each Michigan county. This raises awareness so we can make sure everyone is counted in 2020!
A wonkish weapon against the poor, or how to bury the devil deep in the weeds: Senior policy analyst Peter Ruark details the history of poverty in the United States in response to a proposed change by the Trump administration, which would reduce the number of people and families that qualify for public programs and the benefits they receive.
Life’s full circle moments: Kids Count project director Kelsey Perdue reflects on the work and life events that led her to joining the League. Raised in Grand Rapids, involved in social issues, an advocacy volunteer with a deep love for the children and youth of Michigan? We’re pleased that Kelsey’s full circle brought her to the League.
Helping adults go back to school, find better jobs: Peter Ruark explains how Michigan Reconnect, a proposed program in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2019-2020 state budget, would be a great help to local workers, communities and economies in the state.
A glimpse inside immigrant detention on the southwest border: Guest blogger Melissa Stek visited a detention center that houses migrants in El Paso, Texas. She verified, sadly, that things truly are as bad as they seem for asylum-seekers, if not worse. She calls for us to do better, and we can if we join her in her closing words to help: “I can advocate and I can vote.”
Snow days aren’t always fun: Previously a high school teacher, communications director Laura Ross reminisces about cozy snow days. She makes the connection, however, that snow days aren’t ideal for everyone, particularly kids who live in families with low incomes in which heat, food and/or child care are in short supply. We can better support programs to help, however, and we’ll continue to do so until all children are safe, warm and fed every day.
It’s time to eliminate “Debtor’s Jail” — pass bail reform!: Senior policy analyst Peter Ruark makes his fourth appearance in our most-read list! As Ruark himself puts it in this blog, it’s time for us to reduce “the number of individuals with low income and few resources sitting in jail simply due to an inability to post bail.”
Child care is a critical part of the state’s economic infrastructure: The League published a report detailing the struggles of finding affordable, accessible, quality child care in Michigan. Senior policy analyst Pat Sorenson shares the main takeaways from the report and urges state leaders to build a child care system that works for all families.
My view from the ICU: Everyone deserves quality health care: External affairs director Alex Rossman shares a personal story and his gratitude for health insurance. The League will continue to fight for healthcare for all Michiganders, because we believe that health coverage is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Thank you for all of your support this past year. Thank you for reading and sharing these posts and standing with us in advocating for a stronger, healthier, more equitable Michigan.
If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to our blog via email so you can stay updated on everything we’re working on at the League.
We hope that like us, you’re enjoying some recharging time before we bring on 2020. We know we’ll have a lot to fight for ahead of us in the new year, and we’re glad to have friends like you joining us in our efforts.
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.
