Jermaine Toney is Research Consultant with the Applied Research Center. He holds a master’s degree in public policy and is working towards a doctorate in economics from the New School for Social esearch in NYC. Previously, Mr. Toney worked as lead researcher with the Organizing Apprenticeship project in Minnesota. There, he authored policy briefs on 14 Solutions that Expand Economic pportunity and Reduce Minnesota's Disparities and 16 Solutions that Deliver Equity and Excellence in Education; five Minnesota Legislative Report Cards on Racial Equity; a report on Weighing the Racial Equity Impacts of Minneapolis Schools Referendum and Pocket Guide to Budget Equity. He was presented policy research at PolicyLink’s Regional Equity National Conference in April 2008; Northwest Federation of Community Organizations’ Symposium on Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is: Getting State Budgets to Reflect Our Values in May 2010; Neighborhood Funders Group Annual Conference in September 2010.