Capstones

The capstone projects in the YIP Fellowship represent the culmination of an intensive eight-week program, embodying the essence of inquiry-driven learning. These projects, crafted by fellows at the program's conclusion, are a testament to their intellectual growth and understanding of complex policy issues. Each capstone is a unique reflection of the skills and insights gained, demonstrating a synthesis of research, analysis, and innovative thinking. Serving as both a personal and academic milestone, these capstones highlight the fellows' readiness to engage with real-world challenges, marking a significant step in their journey as emerging policy leaders.

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Capstones may reflect individual viewpoints and do not represent YIP's nonpartisan stance.

All Fellowship Capstones

Preventing Drugs and Substance Abuse in Youth

Capstones Fall 2025

This policy brief is about preventing drugs and substance abuse in teens. It talks about why kids start using drugs, like peer pressure, stress, or family issues, and explains how schools, families, and communities can help stop it. The brief looks at programs that teach kids about drugs, give support through counseling, and involve families and mentors. The goal is to help teens make better choices, stay healthy, and avoid long-term problems.

The National Teacher Retention Crisis

Capstones Fall 2025

This brief examines the root causes of the U.S. Teacher Retention Crisis, analyzing its impacts and possible policy solutions.

Economic Prosperity Through Global Relations

Capstones Fall 2025

The economic power of the United States of America is well correlated to its bipartisan formulation and execution of policies concerned with trade and those related to immigration and employment. There is an added complication in trade and immigration policies. Inconsistencies in trade and immigration policies can cause confusion to workers and employers as well as to foreign nations.

Tourism Infrastructure Development in Uzbekistan: A driver of Economic Growth or Division?

Capstones Fall 2025

In an increasingly globalized world, tourism can be seen as a driver of economic growth, increasing GDP, creating jobs, promoting foreign investment, and providing exposure to diverse cultures. Uzbekistan, a nation seeking to expand their tourism sector through the improvement of infrastructure, has released their 2030 Plan to build new tourist accommodations and renovate existing sites.

Mathematical Pathways to Responsible AI Governance: A Quantitative Policy Model for Equity, Safety, and Innovation

Capstones Fall 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming governance, industry, and society, but global regulation remains fragmented and largely qualitative. Existing frameworks emphasize ethics, yet few provide measurable accountability or comparable data across nations.

Parul Kabre

Capstones Fall 2025

Youth diversion programs offer a critical alternative to traditional court processing by redirecting young juvenile offenders (containing Class C misdemeanors) toward rehabilitative resources rather than punitive outcomes, including a charge that will stick with the individual for life. However, the availability and effectiveness of such programs vary drastically depending on geographic location, leading to unequal justice outcomes for teens based solely on zip code. This policy brief proposes a federally standardized diversion model that guarantees the universal access and automatic record clearing upon program completion for youth nationwide. By integrating emerging technologies like AI to preliminarily assess individual risk factors and connect youth to relevant services, regardless of race, income, or school status, this initiative aims to create a fair, efficient, and restorative juvenile justice system throughout the United States.

The Criminalization of Migrants in the United States

Capstones Fall 2025

This policy brief examines the growing criminalization of migrants in the United States and its impact on civil rights, due process, and community trust. It highlights how immigration enforcement increasingly treats civil violations as criminal offenses and proposes several reforms to ensure humane and effective immigration policy.

Strengthening Cycling Laws for Safer Roads

Capstones Fall 2025

Cycling is a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation, yet cyclists face disproportionate danger on U.S. roads. In 2022, over 1,000 cyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes—tragedies that are largely preventable with stronger legal protections. Outdated, weakly enforced cycling laws, such as three-foot passing requirements, fail to adequately protect riders, underscoring the urgent need for a legal framework that prioritizes cyclist safety for the benefit of all road users.

The Middle East Lobby: How International Cash Affects American Policy

Capstones Fall 2025

This brief examines the notable influence of Middle East lobbying on American policy and its resulting effects on trust in government domestically and international stability. It traces the evolution of foreign lobbying since World War II and highlights how financial contributions and relationships have bypassed existing legislation, the Lobbying Disclosure Act and Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in particular. The paper emphasizes the need for nonpartisan reform and change to limit biased decision-making. Proposed solutions include institutional FARA reform, stronger enforcement through the Department of Justice, and the closure of the “revolving door” between Congress and lobbying firms. Ultimately, the brief advocates for greater transparency and accountability to ensure more objective policymaking and to promote peace, economic growth, and civic trust both in the Middle East and within the United States.

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All Fellowship Capstones

Preventing Drugs and Substance Abuse in Youth

The National Teacher Retention Crisis

Economic Prosperity Through Global Relations

Tourism Infrastructure Development in Uzbekistan: A driver of Economic Growth or Division?

Mathematical Pathways to Responsible AI Governance: A Quantitative Policy Model for Equity, Safety, and Innovation

Parul Kabre

The Criminalization of Migrants in the United States

Strengthening Cycling Laws for Safer Roads

The Middle East Lobby: How International Cash Affects American Policy