Dear Neighbor,

As we step into 2025, I’m excited to continue serving you and working together to make our community stronger. January marks the beginning of the 103rd legislative session, and I’m eager to tackle the challenges ahead and push forward on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to another year of progress!

As always, as your representative, I want to hear from you. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0476 or email at CAGlanville@house.mi.gov. And follow me on social media for the most up-to-date information.

Yours in service,

Carol Glanville
State Representative
House District 84

In this edition:

  •     Meet the Office
  •     Carol in the Community
  •     Discover What’s Happening in Our District
  •     Legislative Updates
  •     Coffee Hour

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Meet the Office:

Michigan State Representative Carol Glanville with her staff, Stephen Martin and Paige Maguire.

Team Glanville is here to serve!

I’m pleased to have Steve Martin returning for my third term. Steve has a background in journalism. He was working for the house as part of the member services team when he joined my office shortly after the special election in 2022. He’s been serving the 84th House District ever since and has worked his way up from constituent services to legislative director. Currently, Steve oversees the office team and works alongside me on legislative priorities.

Paige Maguire is a GVSU graduate with a degree in political science. She started as an intern in my office in the spring of 2024. She quickly became an asset to the office, and I was pleased to bring her on as a full-time staffer after two short months. She is the voice of the office, answering phones, scheduling and assisting constituents. 

 

Carol in the Community:

I started the year with my official swearing in ceremony at the capital. I’ve also been taking advantage of time to continue working in-district as we get things rolling in Lansing. 

Michigan State Representative Carol Glanville is ceremoniously sworn in by Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden.

Swearing-In Ceremony 

I am honored to be sworn in once again as the state representative for Michigan’s 84th House District as we begin the 103rd Legislature. Serving our community is a true privilege, and I remain dedicated to building on our progress, addressing the challenges ahead, and working for the people of our district.

Michigan State Representative Carol Glanville with Angela Steele, executive director at Artists Creating Together.

Tour: Artists Creating Together 

Thanks to Angela Steele, executive director at Artists Creating Together(ACT) for taking time to share the incredible work ACT does to empower individuals with disabilities to learn, grow and celebrate through the arts. It was inspiring to witness their impact on the West Michigan community firsthand, especially by watching the students in their ukulele club!

Michigan State Representative Carol Glanville visits the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Tour: Grand Rapids Art Museum

Thanks also to Cindy Myers Foley, president and CEO of Grand Rapids Art Museum for taking me through the recent Steve McQueen exhibit. She also shared new education programming and we discussed the importance of the arts community in GR. Not only does art enhance the community visually, it also serves as a strong economic driver as a recruitment and retention asset for residents and businesses.

Michigan State Representative Carol Glanville attends an Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast.

MLK Day Breakfast 

Finally, thank you to Eric Brown, president and CEO of the Urban League of Grand Rapids for having me as a guest at the annual MLK Breakfast. This annual celebration started 25 years ago with a small but dedicated group and has grown to nearly 1000 attendees. It is such an inspiration to have leaders from across the region and state come together each year reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy and renewing our commitment to equality, justice and service.

Discover What’s Happening in Our Community:

Silva: I had the privilege of touring a new restaurant coming to the district, Silva. This restaurant is an entertainment experience located in northwest Grand Rapids, with games like darts, pool and bocce ball. It is located at 975 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The historic building is full of surprising elements of Grand Rapids history, including the iconic moose head mount that graced the walls of Tootsie Van Kelly’s years ago. Silva will soft open Feb. 1. Official ribbon cutting to follow Feb. 15.

World of Winter: Each winter, downtown Grand Rapids becomes a breathtaking winter wonderland. The World of Winter Festival, the largest of its kind in the Midwest, brings this seasonal magic to life.

World of Winter 2025 runs not through Sunday, March 2 at 11 p.m. Art installations are open daily from 8 a.m. to11 p.m. Many of the installations are light-based and night-based, so it gets busier after dark and on weekends. For more information: World of Winter Festival in Grand Rapids

 Grand Rapids Art Museum Exhibitions: There’s always something to see at the GRAM, but Feb. 7 will see the new opening of Christopher Myers Exhibit on Myth and Migration. Chris spent time in our local migrant community listening to stories and translating lived experiences into various works. The exhibit runs through April 27.

Legislative Update:

House Bills 4001 and 4002 recently passed the house. These bills address important concerns about wages and benefits in Michigan. Based on a voter initiative from 2018, this package intends to address concerns related to the Michigan Supreme Court ruling handed down in July.  These issues impact individuals, families and communities trying to make ends meet. However, the one-size-fits-all approach in the original initiative, now nearly 10 years old, does not account for how employment and work has shifted since the pandemic and has serious implications for small businesses and nonprofits that have just gotten back on their feet. Local businesses are vital to our communities, offering jobs, services and support. The new policies, effective in February, treat all businesses the same, regardless of size or resources, which could burden small employers who lack the HR infrastructure for the required reporting. I voted yes in what was largely a procedural move which sends these bills to the senate for further negotiation. While these bills are not perfect, voting yes allows the process to move forward, and I look forward to a final version that balances the needs of workers and small business owners.

You can view my full statement here.

Coffee Hour:

My next coffee hour will be held at the Walker City Hall, 4243 Remembrance Road NW on Feb. 7 from 10-11 a.m. Come share any concerns that are important to you and your community and hear what legislation will be on the docket for the remainder of the year. Hope to see you there!