mission statement
The RAC Fund for Social Justice will work to support Rebecca’s dreams of improving health and health care for everyone through bold policy change and health system reform. Rebecca believed that health is a basic human right, not a privilege for some. And she therefore also believed that major public policy and system reforms were needed to ensure that everyone has equal access to all of the main social determinants of health – quality education, safe physical environments, food security, affordable housing, and affordable and quality health care--regardless of race, income, or where people live. Rebecca also believed that the U.S. health care system, including hospitals and insurance plans with their major resources and influence, needed to be reformed to have a stronger focus on prevention, community health, and the social factors that drive health inequality.
The overall mission of the RAC Fund for Social Justice is to keep Rebecca’s dream for health equity alive. To reach this goal, the fund will provide scholarships to like-minded University of Michigan graduate students who are committed to the same vision and goals as Rebecca, and who are also investing in dual graduate degrees that combine deep training in both public policy/advocacy/system reform and health, including public health and medical care.
Funds could also be disbursed to tax exempt organizations working toward the goals Rebecca believed and organizations that impacted Rebecca’s life.
Ford School Recognizes 2023 Rebecca a. Copeland fellows
Olivia Morris (MPP/MSW ‘25) and Jenna Scheerer (MPP/MPH ‘24) were chosen for their commitment to public service and focus on promoting health equality.
The Ford School is proud to recognize Olivia Morris (MPP/MSW ‘25) and Jennie Scheerer (MPP/MPH ‘24) as the 2023 Rebecca A. Copeland Fellows.
Morris’s interdisciplinary studies and experiences in policy and social work inspire her to shape and reform health policy. Prior to graduate school, Morris served as a mental health counselor for unhoused clients with concurrent mental and physical health diagnoses in Los Angeles, California, developing a commitment to making state-wide healthcare systems more equitable. Most recently, Morris served as the legislative intern for the Michigan 47th House District State Representative Carrie Rheingans. She supported the office’s introduction of MiCare–a state-based single-payer healthcare system that would provide universal coverage to all Michiganders–and is finalizing two opioid reform bills that focus on harm reduction.
Morris believes that too often the cost of healthcare prevents vulnerable people from accessing necessary health services, an ever-present sentiment expressed by her clients over the years. After graduation, Morris plans to reform state-level health policy to address intersectional health challenges faced by America’s most vulnerable people.
Scheerer’s interests lie in the intersections between maternal and reproductive health, anti-racism, and U.S. domestic policy. She strongly believes that every person with a uterus should have access to safe and affordable healthcare, regardless of income status and race.
She currently interns at the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) where she researches how to create better collaborations between social service agencies and OB-GYN physicians. In 2022, Scheerer interned with the U-M’s OB-GYN Department and the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation (IHPI), where she managed research related to abortion access and Title X family planning programs in Michigan.
Through her research, Scheerer aims to inform healthcare policy that meets the diverse needs of our country’s population. She specifically hopes to improve health systems for people capable of pregnancy and address the racial disparities that exist within U.S. maternal mortality rates. Scheerer emphasizes that reproductive choice is an essential human right, and that high quality policy is key to creating sustainable healthcare for all people capable of pregnancy.
The fellowship was established by the Copeland family in fall 2021 in memory of Rebecca Copeland (MPP/MPH ’21). Rebecca passed just months after completing her dual master’s degrees at the University of Michigan and on the verge of beginning a career of tremendous impact in health policy. Rebecca was devoted to achieving health equity by improving health and health care for everyone through bold policy change and health system reform.
A Letter from the Copelands
Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters of the Rebecca A. Copeland Fund for Social Justice,
It has been just over 2 years since we have seen Rebecca’s smile or heard her laugh. We miss her terribly but continue to work diligently to make sure that her dreams are fulfilled. With heavy hearts, we established the foundation in Rebecca’s honor to do just that.
We are proud to share that – thanks to the generosity of Rebecca’s incredible community – we had a very active and impactful 2023. Our third cohort of RAC Scholars were named. This year’s scholars are Olivia Morris and Jennie Scheerer. Both are in their final year at the University of Michigan, and both are dual degree majors, as was Rebecca. To learn more about each of these well‐deserving students, please scroll up for their full bios. For the first time this year, we are providing a subsidy to cover the cost of attending a conference away from the Ann Arbor campus that will offer our scholars the opportunity to make professional connections which can help them identify career opportunities. This is in addition to providing the same tuition assistance that we have in previous years.
With your help, we have been able to add two new grants that support areas Rebecca would have applauded. The first is a sponsorship of a research project in the School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. This project is spearheaded by a professor who was Rebecca’s mentor and close confidant while in graduate school. Rebecca shared many debates and conversations with her mentor discussing a wide range of topics relating to public health and general health policy. This year will be the inaugural year of the Copeland Consulting Project. Three graduate students will assist in providing a Michigan legislator with economic, political, and social analyses for a bill that could improve the Michigan health insurance system. This is the type of work Rebecca thrived on and would have loved to be part of.
The second new grant is to CHRT, the Center for Health and Research Transformation. CHRT convenes people and organizations, providing expert resources to align research, policy, and practice for better health outcomes, precisely the goal Rebecca was working toward. While attending graduate school, Rebecca interned at CHRT where she developed a wonderful relationship with the health policy director. In Rebecca’s memory, CHRT has created the Rebecca Copeland Memorial Health Policy Internship. This full‐time internship will research and analyze relevant and timely health policy issues. Jennie Scheerer, a 2023‐24 RAC Scholar, was a Rebecca Copeland Intern at CHRT this past summer.
Additionally, we plan to continue our effort, that was started last year on Giving Tuesday, to send girls that need financial assistance to Camp Marimeta. This was highly successful last summer as two girls were able to experience a wonderful summer away from home in beautiful northern Wisconsin. Rebecca’s time at camp helped develop her independent spirit and shape the person we all loved so much.
From the bottom of our hearts, our family thanks all of you so much for your ongoing generosity with your support of the Rebecca A. Copeland Fund for Social Justice. Our goal with the foundation is to keep Rebecca’s spirit alive and support people and organizations where there is a desire to improve health outcomes for all. Your giving will allow us to continue this effort. Please visit RACFund.org to make a contribution and for more detailed information on the foundation and Rebecca. Donations to the foundation can also be sent directly to us.
Warmly,
David, Liz, Sarah, Jason, Warren, Rhodes, Ella, Jonathan and Mallory
2023 In review
REmembering REbecca
STUDENT, TEACHER, COLLEAGUE, FRIEND
In her time at the University of Michigan, she had a profound impact on the people who knew her. The community that was touched by Rebecca stretches across states, the nation, and even international borders.
sCHOLARSHIP
SUPPORTING FUTURE LEADERS
The first grants $15,000 scholarships from the RAC Fund were awarded to two dual degree masters students at the University of Michigan. Both are pursuing dreams and objectives similar to Rebecca’s. Our hope is that Rebecca’s aspirations have inspired others to take bold action and pursue careers that impact our society. Together, we can build a community of well-educated, thoughtful individuals dedicated to improving the lives of many.
Bringing Change
The RAC Fund for Social Justice will work to support Rebecca A. Copeland’s dreams of improving health and health care for everyone through bold policy change and health system reform.
Officers
David Copeland
Elizabeth Copeland
Sarah Kozin
Jason Kozin
Jonathan Copeland
Mallory Copeland
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