We at the League love numbers. This year we set our sights on 12 priorities, created hundreds of geographic fact sheets and published 63 posts in Factually Speaking, the League’s blog page. But our numbers don’t mean anything without the beating hearts of Michiganders behind them. In each blog, we not only share data, but pair it with solutions in policies to build a stronger state for all Michiganders. Before we enter the new year, we thought we’d take a quick look back at our top blogs of 2024:
Prioritize Michiganders in Lame Duck, Nov. 21: League President and CEO Monique Stanton focused on our key priorities in the ‘lame duck’ legislative session. Our priorities included bills to advance economic security, housing, health and health equity, juvenile justice, child well-being and immigrant rights in Michigan.
What does a self-actualized Michigan look like?, Oct. 11: This year we welcomed Visual Communications Specialist Audrey Matusz to the League. In her introductory blog, Audrey paired psychology with Michigan’s housing issues and wrote on what excited her about her role at the League.
Bold action is needed to address poverty in Michigan, Jan. 22: At the beginning of the year, data released by the U.S. Census Bureau reported that more than 13% of Michiganders—roughly 1.3 million people—were living below the poverty line in 2022, coming in above the national average of 11.5%. League President and CEO Monique Stanton highlighted a few policy solutions that the League identified as transformative in making our state a place where more Michiganders can thrive.
A story of resilience in the face of housing insecurity, Dec. 9: Housing insecurity remains a top issue in our state, and policies to address housing shortfalls are a constant in our priorities. Writing and Messaging Specialist Mikell Frey shared an uplifting story about the inspiring Shearese Stapleton, who overcame struggles with housing insecurity and now works to help other families through hardship and trauma.
Michigan’s national education standing sounds alarm bells, June 18: In the 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report on child well-being from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Michigan ranked in the bottom 10 states for education. President and CEO Monique Stanton focused on this data point in her blog, highlighting multiple policies that would help to address the education crisis in our state.
Let’s focus on what immigrants give back to us all, Sept. 9: Senior Policy Analyst Amber Bellazaire centered the findings of a study from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, which estimated the total federal, state and local tax contributions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. In the blog, Amber highlighted policy changes that would be more inclusive and combated the myth that immigrants without a legal status fail to contribute to the nation’s fiscal health.
Let’s treat Michigan workers as whole people with paid leave, July 29: Small business owner and Michigan League for Public Policy Board Member Lisa Sauvé shared her thoughts on a paid leave program in Michigan. In the blog, Lisa explained how guaranteed paid leave would support Michiganders and enable them to balance their jobs and personal lives as well as benefit businesses and the state economy.
We must do more to help Michigan’s students come out on top in the global economy, June 21: The 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation not only showed that Michigan, once again, ranks in the bottom 10 states for education, but it also shed light on one of the greatest declines from 2019 to 2022: eighth-grade math achievement. As a former math teacher, Kids Count Policy Director Anne Kuhnen provided thoughts on why this decline is particularly alarming and named some smart investments Michigan can make to reduce inequities in educational achievement.
Now is the time for action on water affordability, Dec. 2: Senior Policy Analyst Julie Cassidy urged lawmakers to use the lame duck period to prioritize a bill package ensuring access to clean water for all Michiganders. As Julie pointed out, by paying a small monthly surcharge (relatively the cost of a 20-oz. bottle of pop per month), we could ensure that struggling families have the water they need.
Census data provides snapshot of all communities, May 9: Every year, the League publishes updated geographic fact sheets based on data from the United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Economic Security Policy Analyst Patrick Schaefer took us through the updated census fact sheets—which include information on local poverty rates, household income, educational attainment and much more—and explained how the fact sheets can be used in policymaking as well as advocacy efforts.
Partnering for paid family and medical leave in Michigan, Dec. 5: On Nov. 12, KConnect and the League partnered with Mothering Justice for an Advocacy Day at the Capitol to speak to lawmakers about access to paid family and medical leave. Dr. Shayla Young, Vice President of KConnect, and Jayme Vosovic, Community Engagement Director at the League, shared a summary of the day and reiterated the importance of paid family and medical leave legislation.
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.
