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Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan

Joan and Sanford Weill Hall
Suite 5100
735 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3091
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Student Engagement

Poverty Solutions is commited to training the next generation of thought leaders and practitioners dedicated to preventing and alleviating poverty.

We aim to:

  • increase students’ awareness and understanding of poverty through interdisciplinary, student-oriented events;
  • teach students how to do action-based research through hands-on, real-world experience contributing to Poverty Solutions projects; and
  • increase students’ interest and confidence in pursuing careers related to poverty alleviation.

Poverty Solutions Course

Poverty Solutions offers a Real-World Perspectives on Poverty Solutions course (SWK 503 section 001), which is open to all students. The one-credit course explores interdisciplinary, real-world poverty solutions from a wide variety of perspectives and encourages the formation of a community of learners at U-M committed to engaging these issues together. Lectures take place Fridays at noon in the fall semester, and the talks will be recorded and posted on YouTube.

“This has been the most inspiring class I’ve taken at the university and has been something I looked forward to every week. I hope the speaker series continues [next year!]” – Zoe Xuan Qin, MBA 2025

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Student Research Opportunities

Student research assistants work alongside faculty and staff while gaining real-world experience in action-based research and often contributing to policy change.

Research assistants contribute to data analysis, longitudinal research, literature reviews, data preparation, collection and analysis, event support and reporting. They engage with community partners, connect their learning and experience to our projects, and provide the capacity to take on many projects we couldn’t otherwise consider.

Current openings

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If you are a U-M student experiencing economic hardship, visit the basic needs portal for a list of resources available at the university and beyond

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Get the latest updates on Poverty Solutions research and events, delivered to your inbox at the start and end of each semester.

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Student Stories

Innovation Workshop 2024: Debt

More than 50 lawyers, policymakers, students, and coders from around the country convened over two days to tackle the pressing issue of debt collection and its impact on Michigan’s families and legal system at a workshop organized by Michigan Law student Malcolm Phelan.

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Students: share your story!

Upcoming Events

  • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Institute For Social Research

    SRC Seminar Series Presents: Parents, Neighborhoods, and the Developing Brain

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  • 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Art and Architecture Building

    “Where the Hood At? Fifty Years of Change in Black Neighborhoods”

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