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Ford students engage with leaders of color at Harvard's annual Black Policy Conference

April 13, 2016

On April 8, a group of Ford School master’s students traveled to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government to participate in the 12th annual Black Policy Conference, a student-led conference that brings together academics and practitioners to discuss pressing issues facing black communities.

"It was great being able to learn from some of the most prominent leaders in the African-American community at the conference. I believe this conference displayed the importance of unity and working together to create the changes people want to see," said Trevis Harrold, first-year MPP student.

This year’s theme was “Old to the Struggle, New to the Movement: Strategic Action for Fighting Racial Injustice.” Flint Mayor Karen Weaver delivered the opening keynote to the conference, which focused on the current situation in Flint and her strategic leadership throughout the crisis.

Other panel topics included mass incarceration, college access, voter engagement, police brutality and the intersection between technology and health disparities.

Student travel to the Black Policy Conference was supported in part by the Ford School's Professional Development Fund, which helps public policy graduate students take advantage of career-enhancing opportunities around the world. To learn more about the Ford School's professional development grants, contact Jennifer Niggemeier at jennig@umich.edu or 734-764-8076.