Kohn Social Policy Conference: What can a city do to promote human thriving?

The 2026 Kohn Social Policy Conference brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, students, and community partners to examine pressing social policy challenges and explore how social policy can advance equity and promote human thriving.

Organized around the guiding question — "What can a city do to promote human thriving?" — the conference will focus on practical, local-level policy solutions. Through moderated, problem-solving sessions and a featured conversation, the program will examine interconnected challenges in areas such as health, education, housing, childhood poverty, and economic opportunity, with attention to questions facing Detroit and relevance for cities across Michigan and the United States.

Attendance will be coordinated through targeted invitations, with limited space available. To express interest in attending, please join the interest list.

Faculty Expert

Luke Shaefer

Hermann and Amalie Kohn Professor of Social Justice and Social Policy; Director, Poverty Solutions; Professor of Social Work

Luke Shaefer serves as the inaugural director of Poverty Solutions, an interdisciplinary, presidential initiative at U-M that seeks to partner communities and policymakers to find new ways to prevent and alleviate poverty.

Faculty Expert

Pamela Herd

Carol Kakalec Kohn Professor of Social Policy

Faculty Expert

Christina Weiland

Co-director, Education Policy Initiative; Karl and Martha Kohn Professor of Social Policy; Professor of Education

Faculty Expert

Samuel R. Bagenstos

Arlene Susan Kohn Professor of Social Policy

Bagenstos specializes in constitutional and civil rights litigation, with interests in labor and employment, disability rights, and housing. He currently serves as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is on leave from the university.