Our Work
Expanding Life Options for Young Males of Color
The Dellums Commission was created by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute to analyze the impact of public policies on the well-being of young men of color. PPA provided strategic consultation to help the Commission to achieve its goals of recommending policies to improve the lives of a population facing high unemployment and over representation in the criminal justice system.
The Commission planned a review of national, state, and local policies in areas such as health, education, and juvenile justice, to understand how key policies affect young males of color and what innovative approaches could lead to cost-effective reforms.
PPA's Role: The PPA team, led by senior policy consultant Willard K. Walker, provided strategic consultation from the outset to help the Commission in project planning and design. PPA assisted in establishing the project leadership group and principal researchers and in orientation services.
Outreach: PPA helped the Commission identify key state and local policymakers whose decisions impact the life prospects of young males of color. It also assisted in establishing connections with national associations of state, local, and tribal offices.
Strategic Consultation: PPA provided advice on state and local opportunities to improve public policies that negatively impact young men of color. It also laid out strategies to ensure that the Commission's work was widely disseminated.
Results: The Commission released a report, "A Way Out: Creating Partners for Our Nation's Prosperity by Expanding Life Paths of Young Men of Color," that was a clarion call for change. The report included a concrete action plan for improving health care, enhancing job opportunities and reducing violence. It was covered extensively in the national media and has helped frame the debate over how policies have damaged the lives of young men of color.
Links: The Dellums Commission Report
Services Provided:
Survey research
Interviews with industry leaders and experts
Strategic consultation
Focus groups
Secondary analysis of existing databases
Site visits
Expert facilitation