Compass Fellowship

Program Description

North Star Civic Foundation's Compass Fellowship is a unique and dynamic learning opportunity at the nexus of data-driven public policy development and effective civic leadership. Fellows apply and develop their research and analytical skills by delving into current policy issues. Fellows also attend discussions with professionals and experts in the fields of public policy to learn skills and develop professional connections. This experience equips Fellows with research experience, policy concepts, leadership training, and a network of relationships.

2023 Projects and Highlights

The 2023 cohort of Compass Fellows took on research in some heavy hitting areas. Fellows tackled seven different projects. Here are project highlights, outcomes, and next steps:

  • Sub Population Profiles for the Point in Time Homelessness Count: Fellows worked with data collected from The 2023 Tri-County Point-in-Time Count to create reports showing data trends and themes for various demographic groups. Fellows also interviewed community-specific service providers and incorporated these qualitative findings into the profile reports. (This project was in partnership with PSU’s Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.)

  • Basic Needs Services for Students in Higher Education: Fellows studied basic needs insecurity among students in higher education, namely food and housing needs. They conducted a systematic literature review of services provided to students in higher education, studying types of resources available and how students access resources, and sharing recommendations for improving services. (This project was in partnership with PSUs Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.)

  • Long-Term State Expenditure Forecasting: Fellows researched long-term expenditure forecasting in other states by interviewing public finance experts and developing a comprehensive literature review. They developed recommendations for expenditure forecasting changes in Oregon, which they may be able to formally present to a state legislator! (This project was in partnership with ECONorthwest)

  • Local Government Budgets: Fellows updated forecasts for financial health of ten jurisdictions in Oregon, contributing to ongoing North Star research, which show significant fiscal shortfalls. Highlighted impacts of these budget imbalances and possible solutions.

  • Cap and Invest Research: Fellows conducted research to compare carbon cap and invest programs in the United States, exploring impacts and efficacy of these programs, relating these findings to existing climate policy in Oregon. (This project was in partnership with Tom Bowerman)

  • Climate/Disaster Migration: Fellows studied if climate change and migration are connected, identifying how state population forecasters should take a changing climate into account in their future projections. (This project was in partnership with Dr. Jon Rork of Reed College)

  • Compensation of Elected Officials: Fellows studied how pay for elected leaders varies across states and how compensation can influence outcomes like productivity and reflective representation in elected bodies. (This project was in partnership with Dr. Jon Rork of Reed College)

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Two people, a young man and a woman, are standing in a park engaged in conversation. The man is wearing a teal t-shirt, beige shorts, and sneakers, and the woman is dressed in a black blazer, black pants, and black boots, holding a drink and a large patterned bag. They are smiling and appear to be enjoying their conversation surrounded by green trees and park lamps.

Compass Fellows – Where are they now?

  • Smiling young person with short brown hair, wearing a gray sweater and plaid shirt, outdoors with blurred greenery background.

    Frankie Spurbeck

    Senior Researcher for the Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative (HRAC) at Portland State University

    2023 Compass Fellow

  • A young woman with blond hair, wearing large blue earrings, a black shirt, and a beige jacket, smiling outdoors in a park with green trees and a bench in the background.

    Georgia Langer

    Council Office Intern at Metro and Patient Advocacy Fellow at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

    2023 Compass Fellow

  • A young man with long curly black hair and glasses smiling outdoors in front of a building with a brick wall and windows.

    Miles Woo

    Litigation Assistant at Fenwick & West

    2023 Compass Fellow

  • A young man with red hair and glasses wearing a black shirt.

    Ian Meisner

    Assistant Program Specialist at the Portland Housing Bureau

    2022 Compass Fellow

  • A woman smiling, wearing a plaid blazer and hoop earrings, in a room with large windows and greenery outside.

    Wani Pandey

    Transportation Research Fellow at UNC’s City and Regional Planning program

    2022 Compass Fellow

  • Portrait of a young man with wavy dark hair and a beard, smiling slightly, outdoors with purple flowering bushes in the background.

    Allen Saakov

    Asset Operations Analyst at National Equity Fund (nonprofit real-estate syndicator for affordable housing)

    2022 Compass Fellow

  • A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing glasses and a blue puffer jacket, smiling outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Shana Waldman

    Policy and Planning Associate at Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

    2018 Compass Fellow

  • A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and bangs, wearing a gray jacket, smiling while looking to her left outdoors, surrounded by green foliage.

    Giselle Herzfeld

    Defunding Climate Disaster Campaign Coordinator at 350 Colorado

    2018 Compass Fellow

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