On January 30, 2026, Florida State University’s Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration & Policy hosted its Economic Mobility & Opportunity Summit in the Student Union Ballroom, bringing together students, faculty, practitioners, and community partners to examine research-driven strategies to improve economic mobility.
Through a series of panels and presentations, the summit highlighted ongoing Askew programs and research while fostering cross-disciplinary connections focused on strengthening community and economic stability.
“One of the most valuable outcomes of the Economic Mobility & Opportunity Summit was the connections among our students, Askew faculty, practitioners, and colleagues across FSU who do this work every day,” said Raoul Lavin, MPA, co-director of Askew’s Master of Public Administration program. Lavin co-hosted the summit alongside Danielle Atkins, Ph.D, a Jerry Collins Endowed Professor in Public Administration in the Askew School.
The summit featured a keynote presentation by Eddy Moratin, the Executive Director of Lift Orlando, titled “Lessons from LIFT Orlando and West Lakes Neighborhood”. Moratin’s leadership enabled business leaders to help communities in the Orlando area strengthen and thrive.
Panel discussions highlighted programs such as the City of Tallahassee TEMPO Disconnected Youth Program and the Regina B. Shearn Corrections Transition Program. The summit also included two presentations and a spotlight on an Askew School capstone project titled “Earned Wage Access for Tallahassee Municipal Employees” by Rodolph Adonis, Isabella Bodnar, Maria Paula McIntyre Newnyi, and Carmen Sanchez.
Presenters also shared research on improved poverty measures, the importance of supporting economic mobility, and the benefits of free school meals, proposing solutions to various issues affecting individuals today.
COSSPP presenters and contributors, in order of appearance:
- Tim Chapin, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
- Sofia Castillo, Askew School, MPA Candidate
- Danielle Atkins, Associate Professor, Jerry Collins Endowed Professor in Public Administration
- Raoul Lavin, MPA, Co-Director & Teaching Faculty, Askew School
- Madeline Gonzalez, Askew School, MPA Candidate
- Matthew Brooks, Charles B. Nam Assistant Professor in the Sociology of Population; Associate Director, FSU Center for Demography and Population Health
- Katie Yewell, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
- Rodolph Adonis, Askew School, MPA Alumni Class of 25
- Isabella Bodnar, Askew School, MPA Candidate
- Maria Paula McIntyre Newnyi, Askew School, MPA Candidate
- Carmen Sanchez, Askew School, MPA Candidate
Other faculty and community presenters and contributors, in order of appearance:
- Dr. Kimball Thomas, Director, Housing & Community Resilience, City of Tallahassee
- Ellen Piekalkiewicz, Director, FSU Stoops Center
- Margarita Amado-Blanco, Program Manager, FSU Stoops Center
- Gary Russ-Sills, Program Manager, FSU Stoops Center
- Eddy Moratin, Executive Director, Lift Orlando
- Eddie Fordham, Jack Kent Cooke Scholar & FSU Student
- Warren Cave, CEO of Bless My Ride Custom Mobile Detailing
- Whitney Culbreth, Chief Innovation and Advocacy Officer at CoRe Services
- Thomas “Free Me” Herold, Founder, Coming Home Coalition
- Jerily Ward, Founder & Owner, Sewing with the Lady
- Melissa Radey, Professor, Agnes Flaherty Stoops Professor in Child Welfare, FSU College of Social Work
“Events like this help us bridge research and practice, strengthen our partnerships with the community, and create meaningful networking and learning opportunities that benefit our students,” Lavin said.
The summit was made possible through a grant from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), with additional support from the Gates Foundation.
Overall, the summit showcased emerging solutions to various economic challenges and fostered an environment for students, faculty, and staff to exchange ideas and build connections.
For more information about the Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration & Policy, visit askew.fsu.edu.