Midwest v2.0

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2009-2010 Midwest Regional Initiative

As the millennial generation enters the  workforce, the Midwestern economy faces a disconnect between an industrial past and  the 21st century economy.  Chronic unemployment in Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland is at its worst in decades, and millions of families struggle  with lost jobs. Industries that once stood as the backbone of the American economy no longer promises a bright future, pushing a region once booming with productivity and opportunity to the brink of collapse. Yet, the Midwest persists as America’s heartland, refusing to surrender to the fate it has recently endured. 

However, progressive ideas that confront a fundamentally changing world can revolutionize the path of the Midwestern economy. In 2009-2010, Roosevelt Institute Campus Network students will use their valuable perspective to formulate policy to reverse and re-energize the direction of the region, addressing important questions, such as: What will it take to avoid a “brain drain” of students leaving the Midwest after pursuing higher education? How can cities and urban centers cope with chronic unemployment? What jobs can replace the thousands lost with the decline of industrial centers? And ultimately, how can we make the Midwest a place our generation wants and is able to live in?

Important Dates:
November 13-14, 2009: Fall Policy Workshop: Detroit, MI
February 1, 2010: Policy Journal Submission Final Deadline
April 10, 2010: Policy Journal Launch: Chicago, IL