Those with missions to serve the public–government agencies, philanthropies, community-based organizations, and others—are faced with increased demands due to the pandemic. Organizations must tackle the immediate challenges, but they can also anticipate the longer-term consequences of the economic, social, and health impacts. Based on best practices and PPA’s experience in consulting, we offer these suggestions … Continued
The staff members of PPA have been adjusting to the new ways of working and limitations on day-to-day activities. Here, some of the staff share how they have found ways to bring positivity into their days. “Photography is one creative activity that has always been a favorite pastime. Prior to quarantine, I dabbled at taking … Continued
Michigan’s unemployment rate has soared because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and economic uncertainty will hover for the foreseeable future. Nearly half of the state’s workers are in occupations considered to be high-risk for layoffs. The vulnerability of workers is not equally spread. Areas of disparity include race, gender, and education. In its latest issue brief, … Continued
In the weeks before the COVID-19 outbreak, PPA talked with staff and partners of 14 of the 16 Michigan Works! agencies in order to bring to light the strengths of their efforts and to identify common needs. (We plan to speak with the remaining two regions in the coming months.) Among the agencies’ roles in … Continued
Our researchers have seen a lot of project challenges: snow storms, client personnel changes, policy pivots, research question reboots, and even state legislative action to allow data-sharing! Most projects encounter some unexpected barriers to plans along the way, and we stand ready to address them as they come. Decidedly, the current pandemic is a new … Continued
Unequal access to computers and the Internet present important challenges to school districts and policymakers seeking to address educational equity gaps in Michigan and across the United States. These challenges are exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic, which forced schools to close months early, in March rather than June. A new issue brief, Digital Inequities and … Continued
