The Roosevelt Institution at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, now in its sophomore year, continues to make a name for itself and for its fellows in the field of policy research and advocacy. Through partnerships with other student organizations, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and the Public Policy Department, UNC-CH's Roosevelt Chapter has established the role and right of students at Chapel Hill  to contribute their ideas to policy debates.

In the fall of 2006, UNC-CH's Roosevelt Chapter held a special Conference on State and Local Policy.  Taking from the philosophy of  Edward Kidder Graham, revered former president of UNC-CH who believed that "the boundaries of the University should be coextensive with the boundaries of the state," Roosevelt fellows from UNC-CH and neighboring schools joined together to propose new solutions to some of North Carolina's greatest policy challenges.

The energy and ideas generated at this conference have led to the creation of a new policy center. The Roosevelt Institution at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is pleased to announce the creation of the Graham Center for State and Local Policy. Through this center, students interested in state and local policy issues have the opportunity to give back to their state and their communities through progressive policy research.

The success of the Conference on State and Local Policy builds on the success of past UNC Chapel Hill  Roosevelt Chapter conferences, most notably the conference held in spring 2006 for the Institution's Special Center for Emergency Preparedness and Relief (SCEPR).  At this conference, students from all over the country met in Chapel Hill to discuss policy responses to the catastrophe that was Hurricane Katrina. Their ideas and research are now being put into action in New Orleans and surrounding areas through the work of Roosevelt's Tulane Chapter, SCEPR's permanent home.

We are strong.  We are dynamic.  We have new and bright ideas.  Join us.  Together we just might change the world.

For more information about the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Roosevelt Institution and its partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Research in sponsoring the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, April 27th please visit the following website.