Explore actionable solutions to one of the most pressing issues of our time—homelessness—at a moment when our local community is reporting the fastest and highest rates of homelessness in its history. This event features a powerful new documentary, Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness, which examines the root causes of homelessness and explores comprehensive solutions, followed by a panel discussion.
Join us for an event that’s more than just a celebration—it’s a call to action. In alignment with the University of Michigan’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium's 2025 theme of "Restless Dissatisfaction: An Urgent Call for the Pursuit of Justice and Equality," we invite students, staff, faculty and the greater community to a powerful and inspiring gathering.
Kahn Auditorium
Biomedical Science Research Building
The 35th Annual Health Science MLK Lecture, hosted by the University of Michigan School of Medicine / Michigan Medicine, will focus on the exploration of interdisciplinary approaches to achieve health equity. After the lecture, Ford School Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes will participate in a panel discussion on health equity.
Jazz musician Etienne Charles explores the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities. We are excited about his appearance as the Ford School of Public Policy’s annual Martin Luther King Day speaker on January 17.
Joan and Sanford Weill Hall
Annenberg Auditorium (1120)
This session will examine innovative policies that promote direct cash transfers and tax credits to low-income families, new mothers, and other sectors of society.
On Thursday, March 30 at 4pm, the Center for Racial Justice invites you to attend our CRJ Visiting Fellows Spring Showcase featuring the work of our inaugural cohort of visiting fellows: sociologist and legal scholar, Dr. Atinuke (Tinu) Adediran; freelance journalist, Makeda Easter; and writer and filmmaker, Julian Brave NoiseCat. Fellows will present their racial justice catalyst projects to the U-M community, followed by remarks from U-M community members: Vikramaditya S. Khanna (U-M Law), Srimoyee Mitra (U-M Stamps), and Forrest Cox (BA '13 and U-M Ross). A post-event reception will be held in the Rebecca M. Blank Great Hall. Please register here!
The Center for Racial Justice proudly welcomes Angela Harrelson to the Ford School and the University of Michigan for the Masterclass in Activism. Angela Harrelson is the aunt of George Floyd, as well as the author of Lift Your Voice.
The Poverty Narrative: Confronting Inequity
Join us as we discuss connections between structural racism, and poverty in the U.S., and confronting policies and practices that perpetuate inequity in public health, housing, education and data.
Paula Lantz, associate dean of the Ford School and James B. Hudak Professor of Health Policy, and Michael S. Barr, dean of the Ford School, will discuss the emerging social epidemiology of COVID-19 and current understanding regarding public health and social policy responses.
Robin Jacob and A. Foster will discuss how the partnership has developed since initially proposed by WCJC, the challenges involved in beginning such work, and other lessons learned after more than 8 months of partnership.
Causal Inference in Education Research Seminar (CIERS)
The objective of the Causal Inference in Education Research Seminar (CIERS) is to engage students and faculty from across the university in conversations around education research using various research methodologies.
Education Policy Initiative is pleased to host a free and public conference in Washington, DC on student debt policies with international and US-based student loan experts.
Mariam Noland has been widely recognized as the "hero of the Grand Bargain," the landmark effort to save Detroit from bankruptcy. She was a central figure in organizing a collaborative of foundations to donate $816 million to bail out Detroit's pension system and protect the Detroit Art Institute's art from being sold, and will help oversee the Foundation for Detroit's Future, which was established to oversee Grand Bargain funds, for the next 20 years.
Ms. Noland will engage in conversation with Megan Tompkins-Stange, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, about her experience as a foundation professional, her views about the role of philanthropy in providing for public needs, and how community foundations act as agents of social change.
Sister Simone Campbell has led three cross-country “Nuns on the Bus” trips, focused on economic justice, comprehensive immigration reform, and (most recently) voter turnout. She will discuss these issues and more.
Never before have so many people in so many developing countries made so much progress in reducing poverty, improving health, increasing incomes, expanding health, reducing conflict, and encouraging democracy. The Great Surge tells the story of this unprecedented progress over the last two decades, why it happened, and what it may portend for the future.
Policy Talks @ the Ford School,
University of Michigan Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium
Authors Kathy Edin and Luke Shaefer discuss the majorn themes of their revelatory research on income inequality and extreme poverty in the United States.
This program features some of the best scholars of interest groups, policy advocacy, and social movements in the country. The papers presented span three disciplines (Political Science, Economics, Sociology) and include work that is experimental, formal, historical, comparative, qualitative, and quantitative. They deal with a number of topics, including corporate and nonprofit advocacy, health and environmental policy, and campaign finance.
Michael Pagano, Dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will discuss comparative research aimed to help better inform city leaders, public policy makers, and government officials in making fiscal policy decisions.
Dr. Shelley Metzenbaum talks about the excitement of working in government and how one person can make a difference using the tools of outcomes-focused goals and measurement to illuminate, motivate, and communicate.
The Policy Case Collective will hold an annual Ford School Case Competition - a 10-day consulting project in which teams of policy students compete.Description
The NPM Social Impact Challenge is an opportunity for graduate students to collaborate on solving real issues for an organization that focuses on social impact.Finalists will present their recommendations to a panel of expert judgesThe winning team will be awarded $2500Detroit Future City leadership will give keynote addressNetworking reception with hor d'oeurvesThis event is free and open to the public
The NPM Social Impact Challenge is an opportunity for graduate students to collaborate on solving real issues for an organization that focuses on social impact. The NPM Student Advisory Board invites graduate students with social sector interests from all schools to learn more about the 2014 Challenge and connect with other students. The event features small group activities focused on social change in Detroit, with the opportunity to find teammates.
Register now Free and open to the public with registration. About the event: Join leaders from across sectors including keynote Matt Flannery, Co-founder and CEO of Kiva, at the 2013 U-M Social Innovation Summit as we debate and discuss the following:What funding avenues exist for an idea, organization, or business with an explicit
