Before her tenure at Tobacco-Free Michigan, Karen served because the Executive Director of Common Cause in Michigan for 14 years. Parker attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County as a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in well being administration and coverage. He went on to obtain a master’s degree in public policy from UMBC in 2017. Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a coverage analyst in June of 2019.


Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. This work prompted an curiosity in exploring social determinants of well being and the role of policy in selling equitable alternatives for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work centered on Social Policy and Evaluation, throughout which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted native nonprofit organizations in creating knowledge and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement choices and enhance cultural competency throughout the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth.


Alex holds a Bachelor of Science in enterprise administration and sports activities management from Aquinas College, where he also ran cross nation and monitor. Alex grew up in Lansing, and used to ride his bike by way of Old Town where he now works. Jayme Vosovic joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in January of 2019 because the West Michigan Community Engagement Specialist.


Rep. Mark Schauer the place she collaborated with a diverse array of neighborhood leaders, agencies, grassroots organizations and CCbuy.Site native items of presidency. She additionally served as Constituent Relations Director and District Representative for the Office of Michigan Senate Minority Leader, has managed a nonprofit that provided applications for youth and families and operated a toddler care program. Her bookkeeping and accounting expertise began when she started recording the receipts for her mother’s enterprise at the age of thirteen. She additionally has intensive data in the preparation of payroll and payroll compliance points and is a Certified Payroll Professional. Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as Digital Communications Specialist in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and households and has a fantastic love for Michigan.


She values the connection of analysis and data with lived experiences and private tales to have the ability to improve well-being in Michigan. She taught English and journalism in the Lansing space from 2005 to 2018 and prior to that worked in neighborhood growth in Lansing’s Old Town neighborhood. Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 because the Fiscal Policy Director engaged on state budget and tax insurance policies. She brings together with her over a decade of expertise in policies centered on economic opportunity, including workforce points, tax, and state price range.