Meet Sharanya, CEDAM’s new policy manager! In light of our recent and fast growth, CEDAM recently hired three individuals to increase our capacity. Sharanya is one of those three and the final of our summer new-hire interviews. Sharanya comes to CEDAM with a master’s in public policy and a strong background in policy and activism, centering equity, racial justice, and intersectionality in all she does. Prior to joining CEDAM, Sharanya worked at the Child & Adolescent Data Lab and the Center for Racial Justice; she was part of the team that founded The Center. Our communications specialist, Jennifer, talked with Sharanya to get to know her better.

Jennifer Lareau-Gee, Communications Specialist: Can you give me a brief overview of what you were doing before joining CEDAM and how that led you here?

Sharanya Pai, Policy Manager: Directly before I started at CEDAM, I was working at the Child and Adolescent Data Lab doing program evaluation and monitoring of prevention programs for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. I was evaluating these prevention programs to prevent children from entering into the foster care system/child welfare system. My motivation was to begin to alleviate the disparate impact that the child welfare system has on people of color, families of color, and on lower income families and work to address that. Prior to my work there, I worked at the Center for Racial Justice. I was an integral member of developing The Center in its first year. I believe that gave me the ability to view different policy and social problems through the lens of race and ethnicity, marginalized communities, and families.

I came to CEDAM with this background and this intersectional approach to be able to address a variety of policy issues. I really believe that the systems and institutions at all government levels have a direct impact on individuals. Being able to influence policy with the perspective of or working with marginalized communities was really important to me because the system doesn’t cater to these communities. And now we have actual feedback and data to go off of that shows that.

Jennifer: So you could say working with CEDAM is an opportunity to be able to work on the other side, like the front lines so-to-speak, of policy.

Sharanya: Yeah. There are multiple ways to influence policy and we can look at them chronologically or linearly. We start with identifying an issue that a community faces. Then you develop research and literature, gain context, and gather stories of impact and anecdotal evidence to be able to develop that problem. Then taking that research the anecdotal evidence, the stories of impact, to a more systemic level to be able to influence state-level policy and law. I have experience doing research, working with communities, and policy analysis. Being at CEDAM gives me the opportunity to take that to the next level by using an evidence-based practice and perspective to advocate and move the policy priorities forward. I want to bring this evidence-based approach to the policy-making process.

Jennifer: What are you looking forward to most in this role, working at CEDAM?

Sharanya: My approach to my work is intersectional. I believe that the problems CEDAM is addressing for their communities and partners are intersectional when it comes to alleviating and creating an equitable community economic development sector across the state. What I’m looking forward to the most is being able to develop our policy agenda and our policy goals with our member and associate communities. I look forward to being able to integrate their perspectives and look at the differences of needs between our partners in both rural communities and urban communities. I’m excited to be able to represent the wide diversity the state of Michigan has when interpreting and advocating for affordable housing policy, economic inclusion, and capacity building. In short, just being able to best represent all of our members in that process and advocate on their behalf to make intersectional systemic change.

Jennifer: What excites you most about community development as a field?

Sharanya: What really excites me the most is working at the state and city level. At this level, we’re able to identify innovative solutions and policies that other states have implemented, that researchers have advocated for, and what communities have championed for to be innovative in this field. We’re also able to address issues at the systemic level that affect individuals’ lives and their quality of living. I think the thing that excites me the most is just the sheer innovation in this space and working in the State of Michigan leading with innovation.

Jennifer: What do you want to get the most out of this role?

Sharanya: Probably to forge relationships. I see myself being here on a longer term and I want to take the time to be able to develop relationships with communities, state leaders, organizations and coalitions to be able to work together towards our common goal of alleviating the disparate impact of our systems. We all have the common goal of addressing and providing support the best way we can.

Lightning round get-to-know-you questions

What’s the last book you read?
Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen

What’s a current or recent TV/movie you enjoyed?
A Three-Body Problem, The Bear, Veep, Abbott Elementary

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
I grew up in different countries and I truly believe my family and community are where I want to be wherever that is in the world; that’s very important to me. Kochi or Bangalore in India to see my family.

What was the last concert you attended?
Afrobeats in 2023 and I saw Burna Boy, and the Movement Festival in Detroit

Do you have any hobbies right now?
Reading, hiking, yoga teacher, printmaking, cooking