Home Faculty and Staff Rackham Interdisciplinary Problem Solving Initiative Reparative Justice in Southeastern Michigan Research Group Reparative Justice in Southeastern Michigan Research Group The Reparative Justice Research Group (RJRG) seeks to understand and document the historic and ongoing harms experienced by African Americans in Southeastern Michigan from multiple disciplinary perspectives. The goal is to undertake rigorous research that produces data-driven insights into the compounded impact of harmful policies and practices on Black residents in the region. In 2023, the RJRG—in conjunction with other U-M units—partnered with the Detroit Reparations Task Force to research and write a report that focused on African American Detroiters. In 2025, it began a collaboration with the Washtenaw County Advisory Council on Reparations and will devote the next two years to researching the role of county government in racial injustice and harms experienced by Black residents of Washtenaw County. Who We Are Jeremy N. Bassis Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page Matthew Countryman Associate Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Associate Professor of History, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page Gretchen Keppel-Aleks Associate Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering; Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page Robert Mickey Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Faculty Associate, Center for Political Studies, Institute for Social Research Faculty Page Trina R. Shanks Harold R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work; Director, School of Social Work Community Engagement; Faculty Associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research Faculty Page Mo Torres Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page Camille M. Wilson University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor and Professor of Educational Leadership, Foundations and Policy, Marsal Family School of Education Faculty Page Past Members Lauren Hood Clinical Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning Faculty Page Allison L. Steiner Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering Faculty Page Harms Report for the Detroit Reparations Task Force Read the Executive Summary and Download the Full Report
Jeremy N. Bassis Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page
Matthew Countryman Associate Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Associate Professor of History, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page
Gretchen Keppel-Aleks Associate Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering; Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page
Robert Mickey Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Faculty Associate, Center for Political Studies, Institute for Social Research Faculty Page
Trina R. Shanks Harold R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work; Director, School of Social Work Community Engagement; Faculty Associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research Faculty Page
Mo Torres Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Faculty Page
Camille M. Wilson University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor and Professor of Educational Leadership, Foundations and Policy, Marsal Family School of Education Faculty Page
Lauren Hood Clinical Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning Faculty Page
Allison L. Steiner Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering Faculty Page