Program in Practical Policy Projects

Oakland County Schools DEI Research Project

July 2020 - August 2020
Summer fellows evaluated and challenged the barriers to equity faced by students in the Oakland County School District. Using data primarily from government and research institutions, the fellows analyzed discrepancies in schools based on factors such as race, income, and school budget, and made policy recommendations to the...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Opportunities for Reforming Michigan Primary Elections

September 2020 - December 2020
To support Michigan reformers in their consideration of possibly adopting the top-two primary, the P3E student team conducted research and produced a report on the likely benefits and challenges of adopting the top-two primary in...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Oakland County Schools DEI Research Project

September 2020 - December 2020
This project examined the connection between schools and the juvenile justice system that creates barriers to diversity, equity, and...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Detroit Police and Community Relations

September 2020 - December 2020
Five students partnered with Peace and Justice in Detroit to support the organization’s grassroots efforts to improve police and community relations in the City of Detroit.  The students reviewed the Detroit Police Department’s policies and provided recommendations that included  the use of more intensive de-escalation and trauma training for both police officers and...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Communities of Interest Video

September 2020 - December 2020
The students worked with Voters Not Politicians (VNP) to create a video to raise awareness of Communities of Interest (COIs) to engage historically underrepresented and marginalized communities in the redistricting process.  The video is being used in VNP’s public engagement...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Beneficial Uses for Coal Bottom Ash

September 2020 - December 2020
The project involved identifying, describing, mapping, and making recommendations about the myriad rules, regulations, and restrictions relating to the usage of coal bottom ash, an industrial byproduct, as well as how to transport the material in an environmentally safe...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Resources for Southeast Michigan Micro-businesses

September 2020 - December 2021
The team of students provided a report for the New Economy Initiative to share with state and local policymakers and key stakeholder that includes a catalog of the resources and services available today to micro-businesses in Detroit and the metro area, and identified local and state policies/ ordinances/rules in peer regions that advance and/or hinder the growth of...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Workforce Development Research Assistant

December 2020 - April 2021
Student research assistant is helping with the design of a comprehensive, integrated service delivery system for workforce development by integrating workforce and essential skills...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Active Transportation Pilot Project – Asset Mapping

December 2020 - April 2021
The City of Adrian, MI, Active Transportation Pilot Project with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding non-motorized trails and Complete Streets project.  The internship provided an asset mapping demonstrating where assets are in relationship to the current and planned trail/Complete Streets features locations.  The work may also involve additional surveying of the targeted population over time and designing an evaluation plan to assess the project’s...