Michigan Poised for Important Progress in Child Care Improvements
Never has there been a time when more attention was focused nationally on child care access. The pandemic has exacerbated the already grim state of the child care system in…
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Former Foster Youth Credits On-Campus, Post-Secondary Education and Help with Giving Her a Better Future
As a child of the state’s foster care system, I’ve had experiences that most people couldn’t relate to. But I’ve also gained incredible insights into what helps young adults like…
Measuring a Legacy: Michele Corey’s Inspiration and the Work Ahead
I’ve been thinking a lot about legacies lately and how we can best carry forward the life of people so significant. There are over seven billion people in the world…
Michigan’s Uber Advocate for Afterschool, Mary Sutton Built a System with Perpetual Grace and Grit
(May 28, 2021) In a Zoom-style farewell this week with over 50 of her closest colleagues, Mary Sutton was equally praised for her cool-headed knack for tackling the granular details…
Teens Talk, Leaders Listen: The Power of Youth Voice at Grand Rapids KidSpeak
The stories were often gripping, and always poignant. During last week’s KidSpeak in Grand Rapids, Jesus Garcia addressed community and government leaders via Zoom, and crushed it with a poetic…
Missing Michele: The ‘Inspiring Child Advocate and Indomitable Force’
Question: What is the definition of a child advocate? Answer: Michele Robotham Corey Michele Corey came on the staff of Michigan’s Children in the late 1990s while she was still…
Remembering Michele Corey
‘Michele Didn’t Talk-the-Talk on Making Systems More Anti-Racist; She Walked-the-Walked’ This past month has been incredibly challenging. Today marks one month since Michele’s passing. In that same month, we’ve seen…
With a ‘Bee in Her Bonnet,’ Michele Corey was the Ultimate Champion for the People
Michigan lost another brilliant soul. But we have not lost her wisdom. As a person, colleague, and advocate, Michele Corey was a role model. Michele grew up on dirt floors,…
Engaging Advocates across Michigan, and Lessons Learned about Outreach
A few months ago I was brought on board to a new position at Michigan’s Children as regional engagement and mobilization associate and tasked with engaging organizations and people in…
It’s a New Legislative Season: Review Michigan’s Children’s Updated Policy Playbook and Join our Work
Today we launch our Policy Playbook for the 2021-2022 Legislative Season and welcome you to review our priorities to assess where you can join the advocacy work necessary to improve…