Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy

The Honorable Lori Lightfoot, the 56th mayor of Chicago, reflects on her background and preparation for public service, the challenges she faced as mayor, and lessons about leading in crises. February, 2024.

The Ford School welcomes Montgomery, AL, Mayor Steven Reed to Weill Hall for an event in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. January, 2024.

Two leading voices for rural prosperity: Tony Pipa (Scholar, Center for Sustainable Development, Brookings Institution, and Host, Reimagine Rural Podcast), share his experiences visiting rural communities across the country, and Sarah Lucas (Direc

The 2023 Mayors Forum will focus on topics particular to Big Ten college cities including development of infrastructure that promotes social cohesion, challenges and opportunities of creating an infrastructure for urban technology, and campus and

Former Michigan Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Amb (ret) Susan Page, Michigan Law and Ford School professor will explore the bipartisan challenge of restoring faith in o

In a final webinar in our redistricting series, a panel looks back on Michigan's new approach to redistricting by an independent citizens commission. November, 2022. 

The tumult of the first years of this decade has played out in our nation’s cities and thrust the challenges and opportunities for mayors and their leadership into the spotlight. September, 2022.

The Ford School is proud to celebrate the achievements of the graduating classes of 2022!

Ford School Dean, Michael S. Barr, welcomes graduates and their families and gives opening remarks for the 2022 Ford School Commencement. April, 2022.

U-M Regent Paul Brown speech at the 2022 Ford School Commencement. April, 2022.

U-M Provost Susan Collins welcomes the class of 2022. April, 2022.

Julian Brave NoiseCat gives the 2022 Commencement Charge of the Class. April, 2022.

Betsey Stevenson gives the remarks on behalf of the faculty at the 2022 Ford School Commencement. April, 2022.

Gerald Sill gives remarks on behalf of the graduating BA class at the 2022 Ford School Commencement. April, 2022.

Crystal Olalde-Garcia gives remarks on behalf of graduating MPP/MPA class at the 2022 Ford School Commencement. April, 2022.

Join us for a lively discussion on Michigan’s new redistricting approach and new maps that will shape elections and decision making in Michigan for the next decade. January 19, 2022.

This webinar analyzes the testimony the Commission has received from citizens and Communities of Interest about their mapping preferences, a discussion of the timeline for creating final maps, and useful tips for the public. September, 2021.

Jacqueline Patterson, Founder and Executive Director of The Chisholm Legacy Project, and Kyle Whyte, Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, discuss environmental and climate justice. September, 2021.

Tom Ivacko discusses Michigan's innovative approach to political redistricting by a citizens' commission instead of by the legislature. September, 2022.

Stephanie Leiser, lecturer in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, discusses the Local Fiscal Health Project, an initiative of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy to help local governments navigate fiscal challenges.

In this webinar, MICRC Commissioners Douglas Clark, Rebbeca Szetela and Dustin Witjes introduce themselves and discuss plans for their first public hearings, which will take place all over the state in May and June.

Learn how to participate in the process of drawing the new district maps in Michigan, the role of "communities of interest", and how to engage with the new Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in the redistricting process.