April Newsletter: What's Happening at Interfaith Action SW Michigan |
In this Newsletter: - Protect and Restore Michigan’s Environment
- Ox Creek Clean-Up on Saturday, April 22
- Drivers Licenses for Migrant Workers
- Gene Schoon's letter to the editor of The Herald Palladium
- Recap on Panel Discussion by intern Mia Moran
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IA policy commitments that have been approved by the Michigan legislature and signed by the Governor
- Michigan’s Attorney General Joins in Coalition to Protect Dreamers
- IA participates in rallies in Lansing to advance gun safety policies
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Interfaith Action joins in wishing a happy holiday season to Christians, Muslims and Jews. |
Protect and Restore Michigan’s Environment! From 1990 until 1995, Michigan had the strongest “polluter pay” law in the country. Today we are no longer a leader in environmental protection. There are contaminated sites across our state that have gone unaddressed for too long. The current PFAS crisis, the Gelman 1,4 dioxane plume in Ann Arbor, increasing algal blooms in the Great Lakes from nutrient pollution, and repeated violations are all warnings that we must do more.
Right now there are hundreds of contaminated sites in Michigan that were contaminated by corporate polluters, and yet Michigan taxpayers are on the hook to pay for cleanups.
Those who are responsible for environmental contamination need to be held responsible for cleaning it up. This is a basic issue of fairness – taxpayers should not be liable for cleaning up after wealthy corporations.
Ask your Michigan State Senator and Representative to support reintroducing, passing, and enacting this common sense legislation. Polluters should be picking up the bill for contamination cleanup - not Michigan taxpayers. ↓ |
Join the Conservation District for an Ox Creek Clean-Up as part of our Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 22. Volunteers will be meeting at Hall Park in Benton Harbor at 12:30 pm and plan to spend about an hour to 90 minutes cleaning up the creek and nearby mall area. Gloves and bags will be provided, and a few chest waders will be available for anyone who wants to help with the more marshy areas. All volunteers will need to fill out and sign waivers, and any youth helpers must have their waiver signed by a parent or guardian. If you have a kayak and would like to help collect trash from the nearby Paw Paw river, please contact Nancy Carpenter ahead of time (269-471-9111 x3).
Let's work together to keep our community clean and beautiful this Earth Day! |
Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash
Drivers Licenses for Migrant Workers
Lupita, Tejeda, Interfaith Action Board Director was recently featured in a front page article published in The Herald Palladium, a major media source in Berrien and Van Buren Counties. The article focused on Lupita’s work with Drive Michigan Forward to secure drivers licenses for migrant workers and other immigrant populations. In response to the article, Gene Schoon, Interfaith Action’s Coordinator of Policy and Justice wrote a letter to the editor of The Herald Palladium and asked the Director of Berrien Immigrant Solidarity Network to co sign the letter with him. ↓ |
Last month, Interfaith Action hosted a panel discussion on efforts to restore specialized driver's licenses for immigrants residing in Michigan. The conversation, facilitated by Gene Schoon, includes panelists from three key advocacy groups in Michigan.' |
Please click the above image to read Mia Moran's recap on the panel discussion. |
It’s been a busy three months in Michigan’s halls of government. Amidst all the activity, we’re pleased to report that the following policy commitments that we announced at the beginning of the year have been approved by the Michigan legislature and signed by the Governor:
Expansion of the State Earned Income Tax Credit from 6% to 30% which will help more Michiganders transition out of poverty. Amending the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity thereby ensuring equal protections under the law for lgbtq people. Approving gun safety policies to address gun violence particularly as it is now the leading cause of death for children and youth. Policies approved by the legislature include: expanding background checks on all gun purchases (not just hand gun purchases), and requiring the safe storage of guns in homes where children are present.
The Michigan Senate approved extreme risk protection orders to be approved by a judge to temporarily remove firearms from an individual legally determined to be of risk to self or others, and the Michigan House will consider such legislation in early April. |
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash Michigan’s Attorney General Joins in Coalition to Protect Dreamers
Dana Nessel, Michigan’s Attorney General, has joined with 20 other states to push back against an effort led by Texas to end protections for DREAMERS (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). These protections currently benefit more than 6,500 Michiganders. Protections and permanent solutions for DREAMERS are a priority for Interfaith Action. |
Interfaith Action, as a member of the Steering Committee of End Gun Violence Michigan, participate in rallies in Lansing to advance gun safety policies. These rallies included Michigan State University students, religious leaders, lawmakers, community representatives, advocates and gun owners. Gabby Giffords, former member of the US House of Representatives, and a survivor of gun violence, participate in a March 15th rally at the state capitol. |
Photo: Ryan Bates, End Gun Violence Coordinator; Vicki Schroeder, Interfaith Action Co-Director (2nd from left); Episcopal Bishop Bonnie Perry; Gabby Giffords; Dylan Morris, Oxford High School Survivor and Executive Director/Co Founder No Future Without Today at the rally for gun safety in Lansing. |
In the month of March, we invited Jack Gordon to discuss his work in creating spaces for Interfaith Dialogue, and the intersection of dialogue and action. You can find the conversation on YouTube and Apple Podcasts. |
Be a Part of Interfaith Action Work -- Donate Today!
Consider giving a financial gift to Interfaith Action. To learn more about our mission and goals, visit www.swmichinterfaith.org. You can donate online now, or learn more about our other donation options on our website. |
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