About CSEM - Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University’s Center for the Study of Economic Mobility (CSEM) launched in September 2017 with a $3 million grant from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s Center for Advancing Opportunity (CAO), an initiative supported by The Charles Koch Foundation and Koch Industries. The CAO focuses on researching barriers to opportunity in fragile communities. WSSU is the first announced center from CAO.

Our Mission

The mission of CSEM is to better understand the causes of low economic mobility in Forsyth County. We study pragmatic policy-based solutions. The aim is to explore “win-win-win” opportunities that provide positive incentives for all stakeholders to be involved. This means examining bold and innovative policy ideas that will simultaneously improve job opportunities for residents, business profits and strengthen property tax bases.

Our Vision

Tremendous barriers exist for East Winston-Salem residents that prevent them from successfully participating in the positive progress made by the wealthier citizens on the west side of the city. CSEM’s vision is to reduce, if not eliminate, these barriers through innovative policy solutions that can substantially change lives for these residents in the short and long term.

Founding Director

Craig Richardson