green light for meep

today i learned that our minnsoc team got just enough funding to launch the minnesota entries and exits project, a collaborative multi-method reentry study. a bunch of us have been investing heavily since summer, but now it finally feels real. we'll be interviewing and ultimately surveying young adults in their communities, as they return from correctional institutions, drug treatment, mental health facilities, the foster care system, and military combat.

all of the state actors involved -- including my college within the state's great land grant research institution -- have been remarkably cooperative. we've put together teams of faculty, grads, and undergrads for each of the populations, and have been meeting since summer to work out readings, design, human subjects protections, and other important details. to be sure, some daunting coordination problems arise in such a sprawling endeavor. but what could be more fun than vibing with one's colleagues and students on a big ol' honkin' social science project?