Fixing Michigan’s Child Care System – a Big Lift but What a Payoff
September 4, 2019 – In one my favorite coffee shops in downtown Lansing, I arrived far ahead of the crowd one morning and had the chance to chit chat with…
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Meet Alexis Coleman, Intern Motivated by Advocacy
August 28, 2019 – Hello! My name is Alexis Coleman and I am so excited to be spending this upcoming year as an intern at Michigan’s Children. I am a…
A Hiker’s Guide to Citizen Engagement
When it comes to the work of improving our state, citizens deserve far more than just a chance to have their voices heard and their feelings placated. Citizens, with their…
Meet Reuben Glasser, Michigan’s Children Summer Intern
My first memory of talking politics was in 2008 under the blazing midsummer Indiana sun. Standing where the cornfield met my grandparent’s well-groomed yard, I chatted with my Grandpa Steve…
Student Voice Experience: Testifying about Foster Care
On May 15th, 2019 I had the experience of testifying in front of a House Committee during a hearing about including trades in the Fostering Futures Scholarship. I didn’t fully…
Supporting Families Isn’t Rocket Science
Child abuse and neglect cases in our state are rising. We’re seeing this not because parents have decided to care less about their children, but because the supports that families…
Listening When Students Speak
My grandfather has always told me, pick something you love and do it well. A wise adage that seems easy to follow but can always take a little twist or…
Perseverance and Partnerships
So much attention has been paid in this lame duck session, and rightly so, to efforts of the legislature as they make adjustments to either ballot proposals or the legislation…
Spotlight on Juvenile Justice Alternatives
Since the ‘90s, Michigan has funneled thousands of youth under 18 into adult corrections following passage of harsh laws aimed to get tough on juvenile offenders. Today, it is one…
Meet Lauren, Our Newest Intern
November 16, 2018 – Hello!! I am beyond excited to be spending my final year of Graduate School at Michigan’s Children. Come May 2019, I will be receiving my Masters…