It’s no secret that our office is filled with policy wonks. They watch the Michigan government livestream for entertainment, they get excited about scatter plots and they celebrate the release of census data like most people celebrate the arrival of a new puppy.
Our policy staff is so engaged in following the numbers—and so good at finding data-driven solutions for Michigan—but at the heart of their work lies, well, heart. All of us who spend our days at the League are here because we care deeply about the people of our state. We do our work because we want all Michiganders to thrive.
Our blog, Factually Speaking is designed to expose that heart of our work … to share the stories that personalize and humanize the policy issues we care about. Over the last year, posts from our staff, interns, national partners and fellow Michiganders explored issues that matter to the people of our state.
As the communications director for the League, my data analysis has less to do with the census and more to do with digital media. And I’ve been crunching the numbers the last few, er, seconds to discover the top ten most-read blog posts of 2018. Here’s the big reveal!
- Legislators thwart the will of the people … over and over again: We were eager to see a proposal to raise Michigan’s minimum wage on the ballot in November. More than enough signatures were gathered to do so, and voters were eager to weigh in. Unfortunately, opponents in the Legislature passed the same proposal in both chambers, which constitutionally kept it off the ballot. It was a big step backward for Michigan workers, and a sign that lawmakers are reluctant to support the will of the people. In this, the most popular blog post of 2018, senior policy analyst Peter Ruark explored the dangers of procedural tactics by the Legislature.
- ‘Shame Duck’ tradition is alive and well in Michigan: The Legislature’s Lame Duck session often results in hasty decisions that do little to strengthen our state. In this blog post, senior policy analyst Peter Ruark looked deeper into how the paid sick leave and minimum wage issues were weakened during this year’s session.
- Don’t throw in the towel on voting: Just ahead of the 2018 midterms, League communications associate Laura Ross reflected on her great-grandmother’s connection to the suffrage movement and reminded us that there’s still much to fight for when it comes to fair voting.
- A Very Think Tank Thanksgiving: A perennial favorite, our Thanksgiving blog post features messages of gratitude from all League staffers.
- A Torn Family: One mom’s experience with a child in prison: Raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction is something the League has worked hard to do. In this blog post, we met Mary, whose 17-year-old son Jacob is currently in adult prison. She shares how she and her husband have struggled watching Jacob endure life behind bars.
- In the educational shell game, Michigan students lose: In August, senior policy analyst Peter Ruark wrote a report raising awareness that the Legislature has been raiding the school aid fund to pay for postsecondary education. Here, he explains the damage done.
- The Lame Duck that could lay a golden egg: I’m no stranger to Lame Duck shenanigans, having worked with the Legislature for nearly a decade. But this time I wanted to focus more on the potential positive outcomes of the session, particularly the push to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction. Spoiler alert, it didn’t happen in 2018, but we’re a lot closer to making it a reality in the coming session!
- Gilda’s top ten voting tips: Our president and CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs doesn’t take voting lightly, and she wants to make sure we all use our voice in every election. You’ll want to bookmark this for the next time you vote!
- The modern Renaissance woman: Part of a series called “Strong Women, Strong Michigan, this blog post explores the strength of women in our world. League policy fellow Victoria Crouse highlighted the women in her world to illustrate the impact women have on our communities.
- A Tale of Two Onions: My personal victory in activism: Health policy analyst Emily Schwarzkopf noticed a shortage of grocery stores in her neighborhood. It hindered her ability to throw together a quick dinner, but she knew the problem was much deeper for people with low incomes and lack of transportation. So she used her voice (and lots of charts, of course) to explain to lawmakers that something had to change. Spoiler alert: Wait. We’re not going to spoil this one. Read for yourself how Emily’s work paid off!
In 2018, the League tackled a lot of important issues and continued to make policy and budget analysis the backbone of our work. But I’m so glad that you’re able to see the heart of our work revealed in our blog posts each week.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to subscribe to our blog via email so you can stay up to date on everything we’re working on. And please continue to share posts on social media so we can reach a wider audience and generate greater support for the issues we all care so deeply about.
Thanks so much for your support of the League. May 2019 be an excellent year for you … and for all Michiganders!
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.
