Urban studies alumnus alleviates poverty in Cleveland

Devin H. Cotten ’13 came to The College of Wooster planning to major in economics, but he learned through an urban studies major he could look at economics from an interdisciplinary, theoretical perspective and further understand how real-world scenarios and people differ from theories. As the founder and CEO of Universal Basic Employment, Cotten uses his urban studies degree each day to provide jobs to under- and unemployed Clevelanders, investing not only in these individuals but the entire city. 

Before working to build up communities in Cleveland, Cotten began to find and build community at Wooster. He served as a student manager of the basketball team and as one of the founding members of Bodies of Diversity, a multicultural group where members discuss current events and civil rights issues in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Even casual conversations among friends in a dorm lounge were important parts of Cotten’s college experience, exposing him to new ideas and perspectives from his classmates. “One of the best things about Wooster is being in community with other people that want to take on hard tasks,” he said. 

The goal of Universal Basic Employment is to “show that federal jobs guarantee policy can eliminate poverty and work to stop its many symptoms,” Cotten explained. While several cities across the United States have already tested the idea of universal basic income—a social welfare system where all citizens receive a minimum income from the government—Universal Basic Employment works to guarantee a well-paying job to anyone who wants it. “We’re working on subsidizing employment and salary for 100 under- or unemployed Clevelanders to prove that a job guarantee policy is a simultaneous investment in people, place, and business,” Cotten explained. He envisions a world where a person can get a job in their own neighborhood and earn a living, autonomous wage—the amount of money a person needs to live independently without needing to use social benefits, transforming government investments on poverty from reactive responses to a proactive solution. 

Cotten (far right) spoke at Citizen’s seventh annual “Ideas We Should Steal” festival in 2024 about Universal Basic Income and the process of creating a more inclusive economy.

The process of creating Universal Basic Employment was not an easy or fast feat, but it is one that Cotten found incredibly rewarding. He took a grassroots approach, centering those most impacted by poverty and bringing on local leaders, organizations, and philanthropists to gain support and capital. “It was a human-centered design process,” Cotten said. In May of 2024, Cleveland City Council passed the nation’s first job guarantee legislation, helping build the infrastructure needed to bring on Universal Basic Employment’s first cohort of 100 Clevelanders by 2026. 

Cotten credits his Wooster education for his ability to understand and solve complex problems, especially ones where there may not be a clear answer. As a student, Cotten’s professors were not satisfied with simply describing a problem—he recalls James Burnell, professor emeritus of economics and urban studies, returning his papers covered in red ink and corrections. Although it was frustrating, Cotten realized that his professor was trying to get him to look more deeply at various social issues. “He asked me, ‘Why does this problem exist? Why does it happen, and how can you go about changing things?’ He pushed me to go beyond descriptive writing and be analytical,” Cotten said.  

Cotten believes that a liberal arts education makes a difference in situations where there is no one correct answer, like in his work to alleviate poverty. In his career, Cotten notes that he often must “triangulate the right answer,” by taking information from a variety of sources and disciplines to come up with a solution to a problem. “If you want to lead, you have to be able to triangulate, see different perspectives, effectively build teams, and effectively communicate,” Cotton said. “That’s something that you learn and develop at Wooster.” 

Photos provided by Cotten.

Posted in Alumni, Homepage Featured on May 9, 2025.