The Pittsburgh Policy Initiative (PPI) is a student-run think tank that empowers undergraduate students to transform research into action through community-engaged scholarship and authentic local partnerships. This session will showcase how students research pressing societal challenges, such as food insecurity and housing injustice, while collaborating with faculty, community partners, and local policymakers. Participants will explore strategies for designing and supporting student-driven initiatives that strengthen both civic learning and community impact. Key takeaways of the session will include frameworks for aligning student-led projects with institutional and community priorities, approaches for sustaining partnerships that generate meaningful outcomes, and models for integrating assessment and communication into civic engagement.