Teach For America's Political Engagement With Alumni: A Case Study in Detroit

• In Event: Division L Roundtable Session

Abstract

We describe the alumni engagement efforts by Teach For America (TFA) Detroit as a case study of the specific ways that the organization works to influences its alumni’s political engagement and dispositions towards particular types of reform. During the 2019-20 school year, TFA Detroit facilitated a series of “policy workshops” for its alumni, intended to inspire TFA corps members and alumni to engage in political and policy advocacy. Combining field notes from the policy workshops with a social network analysis of the featured participants and central organizations, we show how TFA Detroit drew upon its local, state, and national policy networks to construct workshops intended to politically mobilize alumni in support of their preferred city and state policies and reforms.

Authors

• Jeremy Lee Singer, Wayne State University

• T. Jameson Brewer, University of North Georgia