Roosevelt Review Fall 2019

INTRODUCTION
Established in Fall 2018, Roosevelt Institute at USC is a student-run policy think-tank focused on the research and advocacy
of progressive policy ideas. We offer a welcoming community for members to develop policy ideas that improve
access to public goods at the local, state, and federal levels. Supported by policy research committees and skills training
workshops, our members take on projects in the areas of education, environment, economy, health, human rights, transporation,
and urban development. Part of the Roosevelt Network, a national association of chapters at colleges across the
country, Roosevelt at USC works to rewrite the rules by combinding strong policy research with meangingful advocacy.
Manushri Desai, Executive Director
Issues related to energy and the environment are often seen as removed from public policy but, in reality, hold immense
political contention. Issues such as land tenure, green gentrification, and renewable energy are merely examples
of a collection topics occurring in the environment that hold significant political weight. It is essential that we
understand the political and ethical implications of human-environment interactions to make sure they don’t negatively
impact people or fragile ecologies. Outside of Roosevelt, I conduct research using satellite imagery to better
understand and model vegetative patterns in Southern California as a proxy to track the extent to which human’s
behaviors negatively impact vegetation. I bring this knowledge to my policy analysts interested in political ecology
to craft highly informed policies. I truly enjoy working with these policy analysts because they bring such diverse
interests to light in this field that I’m able to learn something from them as well through the policy writing process.
Cameron Levine, Policy Research Director
Policy analysts Kartikeya Juneja and Stephen Kim worked diligently in their policy research to address issues involving
disparities in access, proposing innovative and tangible solutions to close the resource gap for underserved communities.
Kartikeya investigated how communities associated with poverty and welfare dependency often suffer from food deserts
alongside a lack of available community wellness resources. In his memo, Kartikeya proposes a local initiative in the city
of Los Angeles that will help curb the rate of obesity and other health-related issues prevalent within ethnic and low-income
neighborhoods. Stephen dedicated his research to finding a tenable solution that addresses the shortcomings of the
current San Diego immigration court system. His memo proposed a city partnership with public and private defenders to
provide adequate legal representation for immigrant individuals and families, thus ensuring equal access to due process.
Through my role as policy director, I had the honor of working with analysts who are committed to eliminating discretionary
inequity and equalizing access for currently vulnerable identities. Their semester-long projects truly reflect
the nature of Roosevelt’s ultimate mission to restore “America’s promise of opportunity for all.” I have thoroughly
enjoyed working with Kartikeya and Stephen, and I am incredibly proud of the outcome of their policy proposals!
Rushawnda Russ, Policy Research Director
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