This project focused on researching the framework for approaching and defining food systems in Michigan with the intent of informing future policy recommendations. These recommendations will aid in the creation or revision of educational and technical training programs to fill identified workforce/talent gaps. Student provided assistance with conducting informant interviews and developing a case study example around Michiganders who perform various food systems jobs. The student also helped with secondary data collection and analysis, as well as employer outreach, cataloguing and vacancy...

NC3 is a national organization that advocates for changes in policy and practice to open opportunities to small-scale investors. NC3 is motivated by the idea that democratizing investing benefits businesses, investors, and communities. To help create a knowledge base of best practices, successes and failures, students conducted in-depth case studies of local investments from across the U.S., developed an evaluation methodology and used it to analyze the cases, and wrote a report that will be used as background information at the National ComCap Conference in Detroit in Spring...

The students explored a variety of approaches that WISD could adopt and developed a set of policy recommendations for the agency in regards to distributing state special education funds to schools in its...

The Port of Monroe, Michigan, is a municipally owned port, strategically located on the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes Seaway. In recent years, the port has taken an aggressive strategy towards the development of its facilities in order to compete as a major player in maritime shipping. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) has taken a very stringent approach to how the port handles international cargo, causing the port to miss several key opportunities. Students examined the USCBP’s policies relative to other Great Lakes regions and estimated the economic losses, both direct and indirect,...

Six Ford School students conducted relevant policy research, engaged with the community, and provided recommendations to aid on legislative initiatives that addressed workforce development and water security for Detroit...

The students worked with YFSU to assess policies impacting custodial and noncustodial families in the child support system and develop a toolkit to be used with potential funders and...

The students worked with Detroit Hives to establish Detroit as an office Bee City.  They prepared the official application to Bee City USA and laid the groundwork for the passage of a Detroit City Council...

Provided research assistance to INL’s efforts to create nimble data tools to support informed...

The students provided a concept paper which analyzed the feasibility of the US Government working with the Government of Azerbaijan to develop its capacity to provide maritime security in the Caspian Sea as a block on...