Mitten
Corps

Spring 2024
Ann Arbor, MI

Role — Student / Consultant

Professor — Ron Bronson 

Partners — Bella Kressaty, 
     Emma Moore, 
     & Dylan Shefman

Coursework For — UT 360



UT 360 Studio, Service Design, was a semester long project in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Let’s Grow Michigan that aimed to produce deliverables aimed at tackling the state of Michigan’s declining population. 

After two months of research, road trips to four small towns in Michigan, and conversations with city planners, residents, and students our team proposed MittenCorps, a talent retention program aimed at connecting recent college graduates with jobs and housing in small towns. The proposed program was designed in the vein of Teach for America and AmeriCorps and aims to connect Michigan’s best and brightest with opportunities they otherwise would not have considered.

The project culminated in pitching MittenCorps to members of Governor Whitmer’s growth council, Let’s Grow Michigan, MEDC, and UM officials. 

I personally contributed to our team’s background research, onsite interviews around the state, strategic iteration, and program operation process as well as designing the MittenCorps logo and branding palate. 



Presentation & Conversations at NewLab Detroit



Abridged Deck



MittenCorps Executive Summary



Media Coverage

Michigan Municipal League, “Like It or Not, College Kids Might Have the Next Best Idea for Your Community to Grow” (06/03/24)
Urban Technology Newsletter, “Week 196” (05/03/24)
Taubman College, “Student Work, MittenCorps”

 
Photos by Dori Sumter
Updated December, 2024
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