The University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is establishing the Kohn Social Policy Conference, a biennial convening designed to examine emerging social policy challenges and practical, evidence-informed solutions.
Bringing together invited scholars, practitioners, policymakers, civic leaders, community partners, students, and members of the Ford School community, the conference will create space for cross-sector exchange on the policies and systems that shape opportunity, stability, and well-being.
The inaugural gathering will take place Friday, September 18, 2026, at The Godfrey Hotel in Detroit. This year's program asks, "What can a city do to promote human thriving?" and will explore interconnected issues including health, education, childhood poverty, and housing and homelessness.
The conference builds on the broader Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy, which advances interdisciplinary research, student engagement, and policy impact on issues of equity, inclusion, and opportunity. The Collaborative, made possible through support from Hal and Carol Kohn and the Kohn Charitable Trust, includes endowed professorships, student support, and initiatives designed to catalyze actionable policy research and engagement.
"The Kohn Social Policy Conference reflects the Ford School's commitment to bringing rigorous research into conversation with policy practice and public service," said Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of Public Policy. "We are deeply grateful for the Kohns' extraordinary generosity and vision. Their investment gives us a lasting platform to elevate timely social policy questions and support the exchange of ideas that can lead to meaningful change."
This year, conference participants will examine how policy implementation, literacy and learning, family economic security, and housing stability shape opportunity and well-being in cities.
Sessions will emphasize practical, evidence-informed approaches and the ways research, policy, public service, and community experience can inform one another. Additional program announcements, including featured speakers, moderators, and panelists, will be shared in the coming weeks.
The Detroit setting gives the conference a concrete context for exploring how social policy ideas are put into practice. It also reflects the Ford School's ongoing connections to the city, including the work of Kohn Professor Luke Shaefer, who is currently on leave from the Ford School while serving as Chief Executive of Health, Human Services, and Poverty Solutions for the City of Detroit. While this year's program will focus on questions facing cities, the ideas and lessons generated by the conference will be relevant to communities across Michigan and the United States. Space for the conference is limited.
Those interested in attending can learn more and join the interest list on the Kohn Social Policy Conference webpage.
About the Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy
Since 2018, Hal and Carol Kohn and the Kohn Charitable Trust have made transformational commitments to the Ford School to establish and grow the Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy. The Collaborative supports endowed faculty positions, student engagement, and initiatives that catalyze interdisciplinary research and policy impact. Its work reflects a commitment to advancing rigorous, actionable social policy research focused on equity, inclusion, and opportunity.