Roosevelt Network Launches 2024 Emerging Fellows Policy Journal

New York, NY—​​Today, the Roosevelt Network celebrates the release of eight new issue briefs from the Emerging Fellows program, a yearlong fellowship designed for undergraduate students to engage deeply in writing skills training and policy research on an issue of their choosing. This year, the fellows dove deep into their interests and published briefs on a wide range of issues facing communities around the country. 

“Seeing the fellows’ briefs published is incredibly rewarding. These papers are not only a reflection of the hard work they have put in over the last year, but also a vital addition to the wider discourse on progressive policy. I’m proud of their achievements and can’t wait to see what they will do next,” said Eric A. Paul, the deputy director of the Roosevelt Network.

The Emerging Fellows represent a wide range of universities and backgrounds, and the topics of their briefs reflect this diversity:

1. “Rebalancing Bargaining Power in New York City’s Restaurants (and Beyond)” by Casey Williams, Hampshire College
2. “Tipping the Scale: How Wage Policy Impacts Wisconsin’s Food Service Workers” by Olivia Ligman, University of Wisconsin-Madison
3. “Barriers to Democracy Are Barriers to Housing: Strengthening Political Participation to Alleviate the Housing Crisis in Massachusetts” by Aryen Shrestha, Amherst College
4. “Transforming Virginia through Upzoning: Using Sustainability, Population Density, and New Data to Tackle the Housing Crisis” by Lina Hunt, William & Mary
5. “Reregulating Utilities and Energy Markets to Promote Public Power and Energy Democracy in Northern California: The Case of PG&E” by Catherine Tong, University of California, Berkeley
6. “Navigating Data Privacy: Addressing Big Tech’s Power under the California Consumer Privacy Act” by Evelyn De La Cruz, University of California, Irvine
7. “Rebuild or Rethink: Seattle’s Opportunity to Combat the Legacy of Urban Highways” by Henry Means, University of Wisconsin-Madison
8. “Ensuring Justice and Stakeholder Engagement in Michigan’s Renewable Energy Transition” by Mara Pusic, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

“The publication of the fellows’ papers is a moment of great pride for us every year. These fellows have worked intensively to contribute to the progressive policy space and can now use this invaluable experience to launch themselves into careers as advocates. Congratulations to all our Emerging Fellows for their impactful contributions to creating a fairer, more just society,” said Katie Kirchner, national director of the Roosevelt Network.