Making government work: finding and fixing root causes of the U.S. affordability crisis
Washington D.C.
The American Dream is broken. We don't have enough of the most important things that people need to build a good life. Entrenched interests and dysfunctional institutions limit how many homes we build, the energy we generate, the transit we deliver, the physicians we have, and more. To respond to this crisis and deliver, we must investigate why government is currently falling short and work to rebuild an innovative state for the 21st century.
America’s affordability crisis isn’t just about rising prices; it’s about why our institutions have failed to build housing, fix transit, or ensure social programs reach the people who need them. This trip is about learning from the people who are trying to fix that: federal staff, policymakers, think tanks, civic technologists, and community organizers who are reimagining what a functional, responsive state can look like.
Meet the co-leads:
Shreya Mehta
Howdy! I’m Shreya, a senior studying data science and social systems from West Richland, Washington. I have the privilege of serving as co-president of Stanford Abundance, facilitating civil discourse in my role as an Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Program senior fellow, and am a proud board director for the middle school mentorship program Stanford Women and Youth Supporting Each Other. I'm very passionate about public service and have worked in AI policy and education policy. I am also a huge lover of literary fiction and cats!
Victoria Ren
Hi! I’m Victoria, a senior studying data science and history from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I run Stanford Abundance and Students for Abundance, a national student movement advancing Abundance ideas. I love new media, institutions, and political ideas — and am very excited to organize this trip to D.C. and meet you all!