Question.Think.Plan.Act.

The Grata Connects Policy Lab is a nonpartisan, student-led organization that brings together students who are passionate about turning research into real-world change. We work to bridge the gap between campus and community—researching local policy challenges, developing practical solutions, and advocating for meaningful, evidence-based reform.

Our goal is to empower students to work on the issues they care about most—housing, education, public health, the environment, and beyond—while creating tangible benefits for the Chapel Hill and Orange County communities.

Through project-based teams, students gain hands-on experience in policy research, data analysis, and community engagement. Each team partners with local stakeholders to study a policy issue in depth, refine findings through collaboration and mentorship, and produce professional deliverables such as policy briefs, white papers, and stakeholder memos.

We believe good policy starts with good ideas—and that change begins when those ideas are informed by research, collaboration, and local voices.

Grata Connects Policy Lab: Students building better policy for a better community.