Policy Pitch Competition

Christian Neubacher delivers his pitch about his experience at the International Organization for Migration during the 2022 Policy Pitch Competition.

Alexia Carrillo delivers her pitch about her experience at the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI) during the 2022 Policy Pitch Competition.

Caroline Leland delivers her pitch about her experience at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the 2022 Policy Pitch Competition.

Returning Ford School master's and BA students completing summer internship experiences will have the opportunity to reflect on their internship experience and celebrate the start of the upcoming school year.

Judges announce the winners of the 2020 Policy Pitch Competition. New this year is an audience prize, as selected by audience members.

Returning Ford School master's and BA students completing summer internship experiences answer questions from the audience.

Clary Baudraz  (MPP '21) says her time at Save the Children allowed her to promote her concern for women’s and girls’ political participation, to make sure that girl's voices are being heard in the policy debates that affect their lives. 

Dylan Horowitz (BA ‘21) said the COVID-19 interruption of his in-person internship at the U.S.

Hannah Rosenfeld (MPP ’21) said her background in science and technology had prepared for her internship at the U.S.

J'Taime Lyons (MPP/MBA ‘22) was able to apply the tools she has gained at the Ford School to make an impact in community engagement at the Durham Children's Initiative, which creates a pipeline high quality services from birth through high school

Eli Gold (MPP/MS ‘22) made a difference with Detroit-based Soulidarity, to help the people of Highland Park recover their street lights and have safer neighborhoods (and he made a true pitch for funding!)  

Karolina Ramos (MPP ‘21) contributed to The Aspen Institute’s Financial Security program by looking at how human-centered policies can help recipients of government aid better manage the process, happy that her social media skills can be policy-re

Emma Kern (MPP, ‘21) worked at the Hawai'i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice on their poverty report, collecting both data and personal stories on how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought inequity to the forefront.

Mariatu Santiago (MPP ‘21) used her passion for storytelling to help establish a blog series University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park, to highlight to its target community the range of opportunities available to them.

Mariam Sayeed (MPP ‘21) chose to work at Direct Relief to learn how international organizations impact communities that are in the most need by sending resources and care to local organizations, especially as COVID-19 affects displaced communities

Safiya Merchant (MPP ‘21) examined one issue while at the City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department: How to design an inclusive community that preserves affordable housing and improves the quality of life for the most vulnerable even i

Presenters deliver pitches highlighting their internship organization, policy interest areas, policy impact and engagement, skills gained and takeaways from their internship as they move forward with their careers.

Aloka Narayanan (MPP '20) speaks about her work withBrilliant Detroit to tackle issues regarding early childhood education, food security, and homelessness.  

Brooke Bacigal (BA '20) talks about her organization (Re)Vive that aims to improve the lives of refugee students by helping them with everyday tasks that can be barriers to these people such as emails, cover letters, and job applications.