Diving into Democracy

Making Cents of Michigan Data

The 2025 A2 Data Dive brought UMSI, the State of Michigan, and the Ann Arbor community together for a hands-on day of data exploration and collaboration.

Few things can pull people into a classroom on a weekend, but data, democracy, and a good challenge did just that in early November. More than 50 U-M students and community members dedicated a portion of their well-earned Saturday to analyzing real-world data from the State of Michigan inside the Leinweber Building.

The 2025 A2 Data Dive, an annual one-day hackathon for good hosted by the UMSI Engaged Learning Office, invited participants to dig into campaign finance data from the Michigan Transparency Network in partnership with the Michigan Department of State. By working with these datasets, attendees sought to uncover meaningful trends and insights into Michigan politics and the flow of money within it.

The event marked another successful client-driven project completed with the State of Michigan, underscoring UMSI’s ongoing commitment to civic engagement. This collaboration, held outside of traditional client-based courses, was especially meaningful because it opened civic engagement and skill-building opportunities to the broader Ann Arbor community. The Data Dive also highlights the continuous evolution of UMSI’s long-standing partnership with the State of Michigan, shaped by years of productive collaboration and successful student projects. These continued relationships create the foundation for transformational learning experiences for students year after year, both inside and outside the classroom.

In the spirit of Gratitude Month, we want to acknowledge the many hands that shaped this year’s Data Dive. The event would not have been possible without the ideation, support, and partnership of the Michigan Department of State, including Neil Tambe, MDOS Deputy Chief of Staff; the dedication of our student leaders who prepared the project and guided participants; the ELO staff who provided coordination and day-of support; the Marketing and Communications team for promotional guidance and post-event storytelling; and Nikki Sunstrum for helping establish connections and the event framing. We are equally grateful to all of the faculty and staff who encouraged student involvement and championed the event’s success. These collective efforts continue a tradition rooted in Cliff Lampe’s early work connecting UMSI with local government through the Citizen Interaction Design program nearly 15 years ago.

Building on the success of the A2 Data Dive, the ELO remains committed to creating impactful engagement opportunities that benefit both our students and external partners. Events like this give UMSI students invaluable, hands-on experience applying their skills to civic issues through data analysis, while also providing meaningful insights to community and government collaborators such as the Michigan Department of State. By continuing to foster these collaborative projects, we aim to strengthen our civic connections and support the development of the next generation of information leaders and engaged citizens.