Empowering immigrant leaders: A model from Nashville

Last week I wrote about how critical immigrant populations have been to those cities where a decades-long population decline has slowed or, in some cases, reversed. But fully harnessing the power of immigrants to contribute to the culture and economy involves integrating them into the community. As I suggested last week, one needed approach is […]

Distinguishing between high and low quality charter schools

As I feel a need to do every time I write about charter schools, Michigan Future is a long time supporter of charters and more broadly education choice. Still are. But we have been disappointed in the results of charters (choice too) in Michigan––particularly in our central cities. Its in urban areas where breakthrough charters […]

More on why school funding matters

In my last post, I argued that we should be spending more on our k-12 schools. And I argued we should do that in order to provide for all students what parents of means make sure are provided for their children: well-paid teachers, small class sizes, broad and engaging curriculum. But I also mentioned that […]

Why critical thinking skills matter for Michigan students

At a recent meeting, a member of a prominent elected body in Michigan objected to the use of the term “social justice” in an official document, suggesting that the term is code for redistribution of wealth and class envy. When a colleague asked him to support his definition of the term, he cited Wikipedia, the […]

Immigrants and urban population growth

Michigan Future has long argued that states must be “welcoming” to be attractive to the college educated workforce that employers seek—and who are “mobile,” meaning that they are the most likely to pull up stakes and move across the country for a new job or a new adventure or, increasingly, a new urban experience. The […]

It’s not the time for happy talk about Michigan’s economy

I did a post after the Michigan presidential primary about how the results sent a clear message that Michigan was not back. Which is the story we have been told over and over by our political and business leaders for the past six years. That post is obviously as relevant––if not more so––after the general […]

Money, schools, and what matters

For years there’s been a persistent myth that school funding is unrelated to student outcomes. Politicians on both sides of the aisle decry the rising spending and stagnant test scores. It’s not the money, these politicians say, but how the money is spent. In a certain sense, they’re right. School funding in the aggregate certainly […]

How a liberal education saved a racist from himself

As I’ve written here before, I’m a huge fan of liberal education because there is ample evidence that the 21st century economy will increasingly rely on workers with broad knowledge who know how to collaborate, be creative, communicate and critically think. These are the very skills that are built by the liberal arts. First, it […]

Helping young offenders get back on track: a model from Florida

If Michigan is going to be broadly prosperous again, it’s imperative that we reduce barriers to people who want to participate in the workforce. More and more research shows that time behind bars—even a few days in a local jail—can significantly impact a person’s ability to find and keep a job, maintain housing, and pursue […]

Books to understand today’s economy

We are going to feature more in these posts and our newsletter (sign up here) recommended readings that have helped us understand constantly changing economic realities, the skills that are required to do well in the context of those realities and what we as individuals, families and communities can do to succeed in that context. […]