The Michigan Women’s Commission was created in 1968 made up for representatives from the Department of Education, Social Services, and Labor and Civil Service.  The Commission was created in response to President Kennedy’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Women founded 1962.  From the time it was created until today, they are dedicated to improving the quality of life for Michigan women. They do this through a variety of sources. This Commission provides workshops and conferences across Michigan to educated women on public issues, as well as to get women more socially acclimated or prepare them to overcome prejudices they may face in the social or working realm.   They get involved in legislation through a variety different Task Forces.  The Commission also publishes many reports for women to read on specific issues that relate to women.  Currently, over 100 women contact the Michigan Women’s Commission each month.

Michigan’s state budget for 2008 had School Aid as its biggest spending area using 34.9% of the total expenses.  With such a large proportion of money going to one area it can only be expected when making budget cuts that this area would receive large cuts. Michigan is currently in the process of deciding the State’s budget and early childhood funding has been proposed to take a large amount of cuts. Not only are people worrying about this from educational standpoints for Michigan’s future but also from a position for the community’s well-being.

Michigan cities have taken President Barack Obama's national concept of "Promise Neighborhood," and started putting them into action. Michigan has used the Harlem Children's Zone in New York as their model, as suggested by President Obama during his campaign. The notion of a "Promise Neighborhood" is a system of institutions which will provide basic services for the area. These services would include "working with schools on education, community organizations to enhance health care, community development organizations and developers to improve housing stock, and creating community gardens"(Crain Service News). The City of Kalamazoo and Detroit are currently working on their own Harlem Children's Zone.

In Detroit, Williams Jones is trying to find a way to improve the community in the north central Detroit neighborhood. Project Focus: Hope as Jones has named it would be a foundation for a "layer of nonprofit services for children and families, with a focus on education"(Crain Service News). Focus: Hope's main focus will be on education from preschool through 12th grade. The project already on its way but they need backing from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which they are currently waiting on a $50,000 grant approval. However, Jones did say that "Even if federal funding doesn't come through, the project will move forward"(Crain Service News).

Kalamazoo's program, Communities in Schools (KCIS), is dedicated to supporting families in need of basic services. KCIS's main focus is on education because the community has realized that the current system is not supporting the kids to become successful adults. Committee members have visited the Harlem Children's Zone and have witnessed the success of the program there and have high hopes for KCIS. Don Cooney, city commissioner of Kalamazoo, is currently looking into "increasing funding and strengthening partnerships" with the current community members involved (Micha Center). In the city of Kalamazoo there are high hopes for success for this program.

Sources:

http://micahcenter.blogspot.com/2009/04/don-cooney-touts-harlem-childrens-zone.html

 http://www.detroitmakeithere.com/article/20090827/DM02/908279994/-1

Q: Why did you decide to form the PAC Republicans for Choice?

A: Well, it's really interesting. I have been a Republican all my life and I have been political all my life. I believe in civil rights and rights for women. I am also a strong believer in individual rights. After 1973, the decision of Roe v. Wade, I knew that my party did not mean to be anti-choice, they were just mouthing the words ultimately. Nixon and Ford were pro-choice, so it really didn't bother me, but in the 70s the Republican Party got hijacked and essentially had a group take over the party. As a result after the 1980 campaign things started to heat up. In 1989 the Supreme Court had the Webster Decision which was the first decision ever to limit Roe v. Wade. It became a voting issue and in 1989 and 1992 I saw the party be crushed because of the issue of choice. There were two governorships that we didn't win because of the issue of abortion. People like myself became worried. I had dinner with Lee Atwater and he told me that if I wanted to do it they would need new spokespeople in the party to talk about the issue of abortion. Atwater said that they would need someone who was conservative and preferably a female. I decide to launch the organization with Nancy Johnson and Susan Molinari. A lot of the older pro-choice Republicans were really resentful that we got so much attention.