Catalyst Leadership Circle Fellowship Program

As a gold-designated community through the Michigan Green Communities Challenge, the City of Southfield had the opportunity to mentor a graduate fellow through the Catalyst Leadership Circle Fellowship Program. By submitting an application and being selected through a competitive process, the City of Southfield was able to participate in its first mentorship program targeted towards sustainability research. This program is made possible by the contributions of the University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

The 2025 graduate fellow, Alisa Sehgal, is a Master of Urban and Regional Planning student from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her research project titled "Southfield Vulnerability Assessment" analyzes the most vulnerable areas throughout the City by using Geographic Information System (GIS) software and some statistical analysis. Her work is integral to the Sustainable Southfield initiative and provides recommendations on how to address the deficiencies in the most vulnerable parts of the City.